The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-23
UNEXPECTED RelNf0RCeMENTS FOR
THE AMALGAhATED MEN.
THE LAST HOOP PLANT TO CLOSE
The Duncansville Mill Men Ask for
Admission to the Organization-The
Strikers Thus Made Masters OF the
Situation-The situation Otherwise
Unchanged-Independent Mills EN-
ployfng the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF Strike at wellsville.

tant news regarding the steel workers
strike today was the action of the men
employed in the Duncansville plant OF
the American Steel Hoop Company \
telegram was received by President
Shaffer from the men in the morning
asking If they should strike.
The message was a surprise for the
A~malgamated people. as they were not
looking for this news so Presi-
dent Shaffer answered telling the men
not to come out unless they were or
ganized. II organized. they should
strike, for they were needed.
In the afternoon another telegram
was received from Duncansville. ask
ing that an organizer oe sen to them
at once.
In compliance with this request, Vice
President John Pierce started for Dun
cansville this evening to complete the
organization. A meeting is expected 10
be held tonight. The DuncanSVille
plant is the last of the hoop plants to
remain at work, and the Amalgamated
Association officials say If they are
successful in closing this plant they
VIII Dc llldSlcES VI lie SlludllOIi a. IdI
as the steel hoop company is concern
ed at east. -,.
No report has been received as yet
rom the organizers who went to Van
dergrift to do missionary work at the
big plant at that point. 1t may be sew
eral days before definite results will
follow.
The action o. the Ohio board of ar
bitration IN Offering TO bring about
| settlement of the strike created some
talk today in steel circles.
| NJ. NJ. Garland. former president OF
| the Amalgamated Association, and at
| present collector of the port, said that
he did not consider the action of the
| Ohio board as unusual, but rather the
| carrying out of their duties as such a
body. 1t is the duty of that board to
offer its services whenever labor
troubles start that effect the indus-
tries of that state. In view of this
fact, Mr.. Garland could not see where
the troubles were more liable to settle
ment now than before. I cannot see
what there is in this question to arbi-
trate," he said. The question cannot
be settled except by the complete back
down of one side or the other on a mat
ter of principle"
The situation throughout this dis
trict remains practically as announced
early in the day. In the immediate
vicinity of Pittsburg, the evident inten-
ton of the company to attempt the re-
opening of the Devices wood plant at
McKeesport is the only incident so far
calculated to cause uneasiness. Motto
es were posted today calling on the en-
ployees to come to work and announc-
ing a purpose to start up. The men
claim to be confident that enough men
cannot be secured to operate the mill
and say no opposition will be made to
I " U u-hn n W rriSh 70 on in Tho nntInl
authorities though. going On the prin-
ciple that in time of peace is the best
time to prepare for war. have taken
every ~precaution, and feel prepared to
cope with any trouble that may arise,
The present strike centre seems to
be at Wellsville. Ohio. where a public
mass meeting was held this afternoon
for the purpose Of presenting both
sides Of the controversy to the mer
employed in the big plant. A number
of speeches were made. the principal
one being that of President Shaffer, OF
the ~Amalgamated Association. Another
meeting will be held tomorrow.
A dispatch tonight from Monnessen
says:
I'm spite of all efforts to the contrary
the tin mill here is still running full
i and as far as present appearances in
dictate, it promises not to De affected In
the slightest by the strike. The 500 EN-.
ployees are satisfied with the volun-
tary advance made by the combine
and will continue to work along non
union ines. OF the 500 striking stee
hoop men. many have left for theil
homes. as they are Of the opinion thu
contest is to be long and bitter. The
hoop mill is closed down. with the ex
ception of about twenty men who ar
making some needed repairs"
Trustee Gibson was circulatin:
among the strikers at the differen
plants at Pittsburg today. He saiC
there were six Independent mills in an
about h city that woul give EN-
ployment to all the strikers. The fol
lowing mills, he said, had notified tn,
Amalgamated Association that the
were in need of men and could tax
care OF all the strikers: The P~fttsbur;
Forge and Iron Company, Mckee
Rock Iron mil, Tug mills. Sligo mill