New-York tribune., 1901-08-10
THE FEDERATION'S PLEDGE.
STRIKE SITUATION AND GIVES
REASONS FOR PRONfIS-
ING SUPPORT.
ING SUPPORT
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. J

TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Pittsburg. Aug 9.-Conferences of labor Lead
ers are ended. and have resulted in nothing but
promises President Shaffer urged Samuel
Gompers. president of the American Federation
of Labor, to make the AmaIgamated strike the
one fight for uniOnism that would eclipse all
former efforts. Mr.. Gompers willingly prom
ised, but showed Mr.. Shafer that his hands were
tied by an executive council which rules the
Federation. This council is composed of men
from various trades He also showed him that
the Federation had past; that the Amalga-
mated was only small item, and that when Il
came TO sympathy strikes and financial aid the
Federation had always been slow in lending its
aid.
Mr. GOmPars was at strike headquarters this
afteTnoon with Secretary Morrison. and was in
conference with the advisory board of the Anal
garated Association for more than three hours
Before he left the meeting he gave his prom
Use te support the strike but it was not until
O'Clock that he issued the following statement:
Since the arrival of Secretary Morrison OF
the American Federation of Labor and myself
We have been in almost continual conference
with the advisory board of the Amalgamated
Association Of Iron. Steel and Tin Workers.
We made thorough investigation of the pres
ent strike, of its members formerly in the en-
ploy Of the United States Steel Company and
its constituent branches: the causes which led
TO the strike; the present situation of the con-
trOversy, and we unheSitatingIy declare our
I judgment that the position OF the Amalgauated
J Association is absolutely justified and essential
to its continuance and effectiveness as a union
of the workers In the trade. well as the
protector Of the rights and interests of its
bers.
1t is true that the AmaIgamated Association
in the drst conferences asked that the United
states steel Company sign the union scale of
wages for all the mills operated. owned and
controlled by that company. but it is also true
that the request withdrawn and sub
Stituted thar the union scale should aUUlV
TO those mills only in which the members of the
Amalgamated Association are employed; in
/ other words which well known 10 be union
mills. This the United States Steel Company
fused 10 COncede, insisting that the scale should
apply only 10 those mills which union last
year, even refusing 10 allow two mills 20 be in
I Cluded which by a species of heCtOring and sys
tematlc opposition of the company had become
noh-union during the year
Even the first demand for the scale to be ap-
piled generally throughout the jurisdiction Of
the company was commendabIe. for the obvious
reason that employer should be willing 70
pay a uniform wage 10 men who perform like
work; but realizing that il a demand for
those whom it did not fully represent the Anal
gamated Association modified its demand TO the
extent already stated.
: II appears that the company took the position
IL did with avOwal that il would not allow
the extension of the union 10 nOn-uniOnists.
Such a position and avOwal are tantamOunt 10
declaring that Notwithstanding the growth OF
the craft. the organization had reached a status
beyond which il could not extend
Now any at all familiar with industrial
equally aware that status is never possible. Or
ganiZed labor advances or reCedes, never stands
still II therefore follows that II the trust bv
its great wealth. can prevent the extension and
growth of the Amalgamated Association, It
, encompasses its disintegratiOu and destruction.
D The only power then standing between the trust
and workers as a protector are the tender
merCies Of its directors Against such a Galanl,
against which We sole-nnly protest
We shall stand by the AmaIGamated Az
sociatiOn in the present conflict to the fun
extent of our power, both morally and fnan-
cfaIIy; shall aid in every lawful way the
men strike. who may come ont
strike maintain the workers in their
right organize and the extension of their
organization. =" that the only power which
/ stands for their protection md advance
ment against the avarfce of concentrated
wealth may he perfected and perPetuated-
when the Overweening rich combine for
avarice. power md tyranny. - tt not the
duty the workers to unite for home JUS
tfce. right and humanity
IL the trust should succeed in its purpose
to crush the AmaIEamated Association the
victory would he dearly bought
The fight of the brave Beers NAV end in
their undoinG. hut the spirit of Justice, the
love of freedom and right suddenly looms
mp N another part of our world; these prin-
cIpIes find Judgement In the hearts of other
men. who will carry the battle until
they are cnthrOned In the conscience and
everyday life of all peoples; with the
AmnIGnmnted Association. organization
may he defeated I'm n contest. but "a will not
be conquered.
The AmaIgamated Association will not be
crushed. will not be conquered. she
must even he defeated.
President Gompers would not sa% just what
the Federation of Labor proposed to do. or in
fact anything more than was contained in his
statement. II is thought possible by some OF
the strike leaders. however. that all Federation
men engaged in the iron and steel trades win
be called out with the Amalgamated men Mr.
CSompers and Secretary Morrison started for
Washington at 9:45 O'Clock over the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad The statement cheered the
strikers who welcomed II as a victory that
meant much to them.
rs it possible that the Federation Of Labor
will turn over to the Amalgamated AssOcia-
Catarrh OF the Stomach-DoctOrs using Mana
cea Water In their families report il cures
wien all medicines fail Then why experiment.?
fset Man-a-cea- the Monderful Manganese Snrinz