Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-18
WHAT IS THE TROUBLE.

WHAT Is THE TROUBLED
To the layman the point OF difference
between the U. S. Steel Corporation and
the .Amalgamated Association is not APP
parent. The whole thing is mystery.
The Trust says it is willing to con-
cede certain thing to its employees and
no more. The officials of the Amalga-
mated Asse fiation declare that these
certain things are all they ask.
20 be more explicit, the representa-
|tives of the United States Steel Cor
poration contend that they have the
right to operate the mills which are
not unionized, and the Corporation says
that the Amalgamated Association Off
ciais claim they have the right to con-
troll the plants OF the three companies
in question, and that these plants should
be worked under an agreement dictated
by the union. The company refused
TO concede these alleged demands be-
cause many of the non-union men have
no desire to belong to the union.
On the other hand. President Shaffer,
of the Amalgamated Association. de-
clares:
We do not ask the assistance Of the
manufacturers in unionlzing the mills now
being operated non-unIon.
We simply ask that the three companies
the Sheet steel Tin Plate and Steel Hoop
sign the scale FOR ALL MILLS, wheth-
err ron-union or union. thus preventing
discrimination in favor of the non-union
plants during duh times.
We ask that all agreements now in
force between the companies ara the men
n1anding to- latter not to join any labor
ghnizatiM be cancelled by the COM
anies
ask to be let alone In the matter OF
organization,
We have never been arrogant in insist
ing that men join our organization or
leave the union mills
The statement that We wish the COM
panies to bind themselves to employ only
union men is deliberate fa!sehood.
We do not even ask recognition of the
union in the organization of ron-union
mills, further than the signing of the
scale
The representative of our organization
in each mil is the NH Committee. We
do not dem1n1 that the companies agree
TO recognize this committee, even in the
Eon-union plants. That is a matter We
allow employees of every plant to settle
for themselves.
The thing that WV insist on is THAT
THE MEN BE RELEASED FROM THE
CONTRACTS NOW BINDING THEM TO
BELONG TO no LABOR oRGANIzA-
TICN, AND BE ALLOWED TO JOIN
OUR ORGANIZA TION WITHOUT Be
INC DISCHARGED as has been the rule
heretofore n the non-unton plares of the
Assoris-u Sheet Steel Company.
President Shaffer explains these
points more in detail in an interview
published in another column.
In view of these statements will some
one who knows tell suffering public
just what is the trouble? Apparently
no difference exists between the trust
and the men, the latter declare they
demand no more than the trust officials
declare they are willing to concede. and
the animated would like to know what
this gigantic war between labor and
capital which threatens to convulse tire
business of the entire County, is about
for apparently there is absolutely nc
reason for it.
1t would seem to be the easiest pos
sibie thing to settle the strike if the
two parties would get together agar
and state their positions. Apparently
there is not even point Of difference
calling for arbitration. In fact, the
president of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton has publicly stated that If The
trust will stand by the public state
ments OF its spokesman he will a
once declare the strike off
The onus OF the situation, therefore
would seem to rest on the corporation
1t is all up TO Mr.. Morgal's billion
dollar combine.
"A Carnegie Industrial School woul