The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
GREATEST STRIKE OF THE WORLD

DAYS. IT is SO gigantic in its proper
tons, involves so mucn, n Is SO por-
+anto,.s for evil we have held back un-
til now making reference to 1t IL may
proye a most protracted. stubborn and
disastrous strike and may be big with
fate" Hope a been INDUCED by close
observers that a settlement would be
arrived at and calamity avoided. There
ia so much involved that it is most Ia
mentable that a satisfactory arrange
ment could not be effected. The own
ers the strikers and the laborers not
in the strike are all involved, for the
latter class must suffer more or less in
the matter OF enplovment- 1t IS now
evident that the conflict of interests
having begun will continue and be as
oclaime "a fight to a finish" 1t is
phophesied that capital Will nnally
triumph as it usually does in a conflict
with labor, and it is thought that the
result will be disastrous to the Anal
gamated Association by its being SO
divided and broken as to be never able
again to resume it's old strength The
trust is willing to make the fight, being
confident in its power n resources. 1t
knows it's vast strength and unlimited
wealth, and it is not adverse to a test
of strength feeling confident of a COM
plete triumph. The skilled workers will
suffer a great deal in case Of victory,
for their present wages. The organiza-
ton has brought them superior wages.
A loss in the battle will be sure to re-
duce them all round The Philadelphia
Record says pertinently that the trust
is not adverse to the trial of strength
with organized labor as "its enormous
Capitalization has caused among in
yestors at home and abroad a distrust
OF its ability to continue to make pro-
fits, and il this condition the necessity
of a general reduction of wages may
be for the trust as essential a question
as it is for the steel workers to main
tain their union, and thus fence off g.
reduction of the scale of wages
"a little over a week ago the steel
workers could have obtained better
terms than are now offered them. The
trust was willing then to let them
~ IL Lie III III On SiA@ 1AiAAhSt
But since then the rust has
taken an uncompromiSing stand, doubt
less believing in it's ability to break the
strike"
We understand that President Shat
fer, of the ~Amalgamated Association,
favored the settlement offered, but was
overruled by the more radical element.
The cause of the final failure al agree
ment was the claim of the trust to en-
ploy non-union labor with union men.
President Shaffer is though to have
ton. decision and wisdom, and a we'll
impressed the great public. 1t will be
recalled that the attitude of the trust
was uncompromising. defiant from the
word 60. Later they discovered the
mistake and sought to rectify it by
agreeing to a conference. The steel
trust failed in it's terms offered, and
since then has been more openly re-
solved and stubborn than before. Hence
the present battle. Thus far some S.
600 men are in the conflict. 1t is sup
posed that by Saturday the army will
be 100, 900 strong on the sid of the
workers. Will there be a starve gu
process only. or will there be a battle
royal with blood. The Washington Post
says of the outlook:
1.-THE bloodiest internecine war which
the world has ever known. the wal be-
tween the states, was fought on account
of a principle. and there lave been re-
ligious wars without number wherein
the matter in dispute could not be set
tied by arithmetic. The strike which is
now in progress bears relation to these
great struggles because something more
than mere dollars and cents is involv-
ed. The labor unions regard 1T as
their final stand against the ~encroach-
ment of capital. 1t is a contest which
is to determine their right to organize
and protect themselves"
The strike began on July 1st, among
the workers in two companies, the
American Sheet Steel Company and the
American Steel Hoop Company. On
Company Joined the strike. The final
of the general strike ordered is a
difference of opinion as to recognizing
about a dozen mills as union, particu-
larry those at Wellsville, Ohio; McKees-
port, Pa, and Painters. Lindsay & Nc
Cutcheon's and Clark's in Pittsburg.
The total men employed by the trust
is $4,000. 1t is expected that the strik-
ers will receive help from many nom
union members. Report is that Mark
Hanna is to try his hand to heal.
The two rival generals are J.. P. Nor
gan and T. J. Shaffer. AS we learn
from the Baltimore Sun, Morgan was
born in Connecticut in 1887, vas edu-
Gated in Germany, has been banker,
railroad organizer. trust organizer and
leading financier. Worth $780, 600. 600.
He is backed by the Biliion-Dollar Steel
Trust.
Shaffer was born at P%ittsburg, Pa,
in 1S4S. He is a classical scholar. a
worker in steel mills, a Methodist
preacher, president of the Amalgamated
Association. He receives a salary of
$500 a year-a trife for these extrava-