The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13
STEEL WORKERS STRIKE
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS MADE IN
THE SITUATION.
DECISIVE MOVES BY BOTH SIDES
the Strikers Secure Pledges OF Moral
and Financial Support from the Fed
Grafton OF Labor-A Statement by
President Gompers The Immense
Devices Woo Plant at McKeesport
Union Stronghold.

Union Stronghold.
Pittsburg, August 9.-There were
gravely important Developments in
the strike situation today. The United
Steel Corporation moved decisively in
it's strike campaign with A peremptory
order directing that the Devices Wood
plant at McKeesport be dismantled and
removed to the Kiskimenetas valley.
President Gompers, Of the American
Federation of Labor, after a two days
conference with President Shaffer and
his associates, issued a formal state
ment tonight specifically pledging the
federation to the moral and
support of the ~Amalgamated Associa-
ton His written review of the train
of events leading to the industrial
quarrel sustains the course of the
Amalagamated Association and de-
clares that nothing remains for labor
but to battle for the cause of uniOnism.
The official announcement of the or
der to dismantle the Devices Wood
plant came this afternoon toward the
close of an otherwise uneventful day
dlu u lLIlpOI ldnCe was SUCH IndC II
claimed the serious consideration of
the men on either side of the great in
dustrial conflict now being waged here.
PerSifer F. Smith, district manager for
the American Sheet Steel Company,
made the formal announcement in the
following brief statement:
Il have Orders from President Nc
Murtry, of the American Sheet Steel
Company, to at once tear down the
Devices Wood plant at McKeesport
and remove the same to Kiskimenetas
valley. This 1 shall proceed to do i'm
mediately."
The publication of the order was a
great surprise and McKeesport re-
ceived it at first with doubt. Actual
preparations were made later in the
day for the dismantling of the mill
and there is little room for doubt that
it will be torn down and taken apart
piece by piece. The strikers heard the
order in a spirit of definance. They
simply said that it showed that the
Steel Corporation was convinced that
it could not reopen the plant in the
face OF the opposition of the Amalga-
mated Association.
The steel officials declined to give
any reason for the order, but it is
openly stated here that the p%ronOunc-
ed sympathy of citizens and city Off
cial at McKeespOrt with the strikers
is responsible for it.
1t is also said that the plant of the
National Tube Company at McKees-
port will be abandoned and the old
Carnegie plan for a tube plant at Con-
neatt. Ohio, revived.
The Devices Wood plant was founded
about forty years ago and is one of
the best known works in Pennsylvania.
Its yards and buildings cover etwee
twelve and fourteen acres; it has en-
ployed 1900 men at it's busiest times
and it's cost is placed at s., 1000, 900 by
49,
President GOmperS, of the American
Federation of Labor. was at the strike
headquarters again this afternoon with
Secretary Morrison and was cloSeted
with the advisory board of the Anal
' gamated Association for more than
two hours. Before he left he
gave his promises to support the
strike. but it was not until s o'clock
that he gave out the following state
ment:
Since the arrival of Secretary Nor
rison, of the American Federation of
Labor, and myself, we have been in al
most continual conference with the
advisory board of the A~malgamated
Association of iron, steel and tin
workers. We made a thorough investi-
cation of the present strike, OF Its
members. formerly in the employ OF
the United States Steel Company and
it's constituent branches; the causes
which led to the strike; the present
situation of the controversy, and We
unhesitatingly declare our judgmen1
that the position Of the AmalgamateC
Association is absolutely justified anC
essential to its continuance and effect
iveness as a union of the workers II
the trade as we'll as the protector Of
the rights and interests of its mem
berS.
1T is true that the Amalgamatet
Association in the first conference ask
ed that the United States Steel Com
pany sign the union scale of wage!
for all the mills operated, owned an(
controlled by the company, but 1t i
also true that the request was with
drawn and one substituted so that tn
union scale should apply to those mill
only in which the Members of tn,
Amalgamated Association are employ
ed. in other words, which are vel
known to be union mills. This. tn
United States Steel Company refused
to concede. insisting that the seal
should apply only to those mills whicl
were union last year even refusing l
allow two mills to be included. which
by a species of hectoring, and system
attic opposition of the company ha
become non-union during the year.
Gwen the first demand for the seal
to be applied generally throughout tn
Jurisdiction of the company was com
for the obvious reason ina
an employer should be willing to pa
a uniform wage to men VINO perIorl
like work: but realizing that a de
mand for those whom it did not full
represent. the ~Amalgamated Associa
ton modified its demand to the eXter
already stated.
1T appears that the company TOO
the position it did with an avowa tns
it would not allow the extension OF tf
union to nOn-unioniStS. Such a pos
ton and avowal are to d
claring that Notwithstanding tf
growth of the craft, the organiZatlo
had reached a status beyond which
could not extend.
Now anyone at all familiar with il
dustrial development and economic o.
ganization are equally aware tn;
status is never possible. Organized /;