The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-17
Meeting of Advisory board Called by
ton OF a General Strike.
TRADE UNIONISTS BARRED
CANNOT WORK IN LEADING WATCH
CASE MANUFACTORIES.
One Hundred Lackawanna Switch.
men ON Strike Because Two
Men Were Discharged.

PITTSBURG, April 16.-The close of the
second day of the strike at the w. De
Wees wood plant of the American Sheet
Steel Company, at McKeesport, shows a
condition of affairs that forebodes a stub
born fight between the company and the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers. involving the possible shut
down of every union plant in the country
controlled by the company. The fight is be-
ing made by the Amalgamated Association
for the recognition OF unionism, and Pres
ident Shaffers announcement that all en-
ployes of the company's mills would be
called out may receive sanction at the
meeting OF the advisory board, which has
been called for tomorrow. Secretary Jar
ret, In charge OF the labor bureau of the
company. will be present at this meeting
to present the companys side of the mat
ter and use every endeavor TO avert gen.
eral strike. If the statement credited to
the company. that the McKeesport plant
will be closed indefinitely rather than rec
ognize the union is adhered to, President
Shaffer's attitude will demand that the
entire strength of the Amalgamated AS
sociation be pitted against the Sheet Com
pany a whole. The status of the strike
tonight Is that only two departments of
the mill are in operation-the steel mill, or
finishing department, and the hammer
shop. The knoblng department was work.
ing to-day, but its workmea 70 the num-
ber OF 125 Joined the strikers and to-mor-
row will be idle. The mayor of McKees-
port has taken the precautlon to have the
mill and town policed with a large extra
force, but up TO the present not the slight
est disturbance has taken place. The COM
pany, apparently, has no intention of try
ing to fill the strikers places, and the men
seem content TO allow their leaders to
manage their campaign and are not going
near company property.
Samuel j. Cooper, general manager
or the wood plant, is opposed TO the
recognition of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. In an interview hS said This mill
VIII never recognize the union. The wood
mill has been opposed TO the Amalgamated
Association for years and the men at the
head OF the mill now are just as opposed
to the organization as the former proprie-
tors were. l have received information
from headquarters that the company will
never recognize the union.''
AS stated, President T. ]. Shaffer. of the
Amalgamated Association, to-day issued a
call for special meeting of the national
advisory board. together with the vice pres
idents of every district where the sheet
combination has plant. 1t will be held
at national headquarters in this city to-
morrow morning. President Shaffer in
speaking of the meeting tomorrow said
with considerable emphasis: Il shall ad-
wise and urge all the members Of the board
to vote for immediate closing of all the
plants of the American Sheet Steel Com
pany in the country. This will be the be-
ginning of the fight, and 1 will say moth
ing further on the subject"
When asked If the association could not
win by simply shutting down the sheet
mills and whether an order would be sent
out TO close all the union tin and steel
plants of the United States Steel Corpora
ton Mr.. Shaffer replied: Il will say moth
ing more than this is the beginning, and
you can take whatever you DESIRE
Mr.. Shaffer stated later in the day that
the workers were driven to the stand they
have taken by not one but by many acts
OF bad faith on the part Of the company.
He said: THE affair in Mckeesport is not
pany and the Amalgamated Association.
At the last general conference, when the
scale was signed for this year. We tried
to secure the signing of the scale for all
the mills they control and pointed out to
them that III they refused to sign for all
great losses would be entailed and trouble
ensue upon our attempt to organize non
union mills"