Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-08-22
The STEEL STRIKE.
1Ietories on Both Sides but Moth.
ing Of Any Direct Result.
/ DEMONSTRATION 1t WHEELING.


se-'~
Afraid and We're Going to Settle.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 15.-There wer'
victories on both sides of the grea
steel strike yesterday, but they fur
nish no direct line on the ultimate re
suit Of the conflict. The strikers sue
ceeded in finally forcing the Nationa
tube works at McKeesport, probably
the largest individual plant in tht
United States Steel corporation, tt
y finally close down. On the othel
hand the steel corporation reopened
the big Painter mill in this city and
also resumed operations with non
union men at the Crescent plant Of
The American Tin Plate company al
Cleveland. Two mills were on at the
Painter plant, although one Of them
broke down during the day and, ac-
cording to the statement Of the Off.
cials, half the mills in the Crescent
plant were moving The forces at
both the plants named are to be in
creased and the managers claim they
will soon have them working in full
They make the fifth and sixth plants
which the steel corporation has sue
ceeded in starting with non-union
men, the others being Wellsville, Hyde
Park, Clark and Lindsay 4 Nc
Cutcheon. There was great labor
demonstration at Wheeling yesterday
and President Shaffer made stirring
appeal to his followers to fight on.
In an interview before he spoke he
said that II the western lodges did not
heed the final appeal Of Assistant Sec
retary M. +. Tighe and come out they
would be expelled from the Amalga-
mated association and their offers and
financial assistance spurned. There
were few other developments of i'm
portance during the day. Locally the
strike seems to drag and interest to
flag. Large numbers Of the strikers
have gone away either for recreation
or TO work and there has been scarce
" any excitement, much less disorder.
McKeesport and Wheeling are stirred
up periodically, but there has been
no violence at either place. Rumor
again settled the strike and lent a
hand to restart the stilled mills OF
commerce. II was related that Presi-
dent Shaffer had acknowledged that
he could not win, that the steel cor
poration feared that Its rivals would
profit by an extended strike and that
they were going to settle. No shadow
Of confirmation Of the story was pos
slble.
! The general situation is thus briefly
summarized; The spread of the strike
at McKeesport and Wheeling has
brought the number Of men who an
swered the final strike order to some
thing over 10000 and increased the
total number OF men rendered idle
by the three orders to about 65,OOO.
MANY OF the men drawn into the
movement. willingly or unwlllingly,
continue to accept other employment
md the exact number now idle Is n
guess. The strikers are fully in con-
troll at McKecsport, Wheeling, New
castle, Bellaire, Mingo Junction and
show some strength here. The man
ufacIurers hold South Chicago, Bay
View, Joliet, Youngstown columbus,
the Kiskiminetas valley, the tin plant
at Monessen and the Carnegie group.
OF the last named property some
doubt Is expressed as to the Lower
yUnion mill in Pittsburg. Some men
have left their places there and the
strikers boast that they will close
At down. It is running, however, and
the managers say 1t cannot be
stopped. Desertions from the ranks
Of the strikers are reported from
Painters mill here and the Crescent
plant in Cleveland and the managers
say that 1t Is only question Of time
before there Is a general break. The
manufacturers have made no effort to
break the strike at McKeesport or
Wheeling with non-union men and
have given no indication of their
plans In those districts. Both sides
express their satisfaction with the
progression OF the strike
Encouraged by success in keeping
Monessen going and in opening their
plant nt Cleveland. the officers Of the
American Tin Plate company arc
planning resumption with non-union
men at other points. They will not
say where their next move will he
made, but say that it will be made
quickly.
President Shaifer, Of the Amalga-
mated association, started on his trip
10 Wheeling at 0,2O yesterday morn
ing and reached that city shortly be-
fore noon. He was received by n
large crowd, which cheered Justify
when he appeared on the car steps.
The local unions paraded and escorted
him through the town. He said;
"Taking the strike as a whole we are
making gains everywhere every day.
Our membership is increasing at a
rapid rate and many non-union mills
where we have never before been
able to secure q foothold are now or
ganized or partially organized. Be-
sides those already so organized !
know Of others that will soon take
the same action, though Of course
I cannot go into details on that
~~orov