The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-27
M0VEBYSTEELTRU
INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS FOR
WELDERs AT MKEESPORT Ma
TIoNAL TUBE PLANT
STRIKERS NOT so CONFIDENT
Open HoStiIities May Begin When
the Corporation Tries to Start
the Dewees-Wood Mil
on Monduy.

port, has made an unexpected move. in
terued TO eheekmate the Arnalgamated
association. Their skilled workmen have
been asked to sign individual contracts
10 practically repudiate any union labor
and they have been gwen but short time
to think the matter over. 1t is understood
that should they not sign the contracts
they will find their positions vacant and
the ak is expected to fall tomorrow
IL TRANSFERRED today that late on Thurs
day evening the eco welders of the mills
We're paid off and then taken into the
once of the general superintendent
where they were presented with ind!-
Vidual contracts to be signed for at least
year. Some demurred while others
signed the contracts.
The movement Of fighting fire with fire
carried CONSERVATION into the ranks of
the strikers. The welders are highly skill
ed workmen. and with their corporation
the big plant might be closed down. With
them in line, the plant will probably keep
on running as though nothing had hap
pened. 1t was tntimated tonight by
friends of the welders that they would all
sign the contract.
Definite announcement that the officers
of the American Sheet Steel company
uld start the w. Devices Wood mill in
Mcheesport as a non-union plant en- M N
Gay reached the headquarters of the
Amalgamated association early this
morning. The news was received in 81
lence. That the move would not be per
mitted to be made without decided at
tempt to check it, was shown by long
and earnest conferences which took place
during the afternoon.
SHAFFERs BUSY DAY.
President Shaffer was closely confined
to his private office and there was a con-
slant stream visitors ca11ipor. him
Who were shown in as soon as possible
These visitors were mostly mill workers.
and nUmter were recognized aa AIcKe s.
port residents. The door of the conference
room Was kept closed and no one was al
lowed to get within hearing distance of
the place. Important plans were being
discussed and preparations were being
made to act promptly the moment the
sheet steel company attempted to bring
non-union men into the McKeesport mill
While the rank and file of the strikers
are not acquainted with the plans of the
campaign they now believe that there are
some important developments to take
place which will change the aspect OF af
fairs considerably There is apparently
less of the confidence that was noted in
the first part of the week, but there was
a lot of determination expressed by the
men who consented to talk at ALL The
report that attempt would be made 10
start the Demler plant of the American
Tin Plate company shortly was secuted
by the Amalgamated officers. 1t is said
that there was little cause for worry over
the tin mill situation. In addition to this
denial was one from Manager Perry Den
ner, who was alleged to have been at
tending conference in the Demler plant
Thursday night with mill managers and
discussing the plan for getting the mill
started
Mr.. Denner said today that he had not
been at any such conference and was too
busy working the Monessen plant to the
limit of it's capacity to think of any other
mill
COMPANY OFFICERS SILENT
Among the other officers of the COM
pany the same studied silence is OBJ
served The only information obtain
able was that the situation was UNI
changed; that the manufacturers had
made no oVertures for a settlement and
. that they did not intend to so far as was
known locally. By manufacturers not
interested directly in the strike, the
situation was summed up today in this
manner:
The strike is not affecting the United
States Steel corporation as seriously as
was expected by the Amalgamated asso-
citation. The feeling of the leading Of
ltCSlS u lll6 lIuSl ~ THAT the SlTlhG Will
not last hong after the summer weather
is past. That this Is the belief is indicated
by the little effort that the company is
making to force their mills into opera
ton. If the officials OF the United States
Steel corporation seriously believed that
the strike was going to be a long one,
they would undoubtedly have made some
organized movement for breaking the
strike before this. The manufacturers
hat no hor to
try and arrange this strike settlement
at time in the year when men do not
want to work anyway. There would be
no incentive for the men to go to work
under any condition. They are waiting
for the fishing season to pass and the
season for outdoor sports and anuse-
ments. and when this is over and the men
are back to their homes they Will be
ready to talk to sthem with some rea-
sonable hope of success. This Is the
opinion of the majority Of the manufac-
turers, but there are a few who believe
the contest will be one of the lor st
and most bitter ever seen in this coun-
try
A telegram from Wheeling tonight says:
Interesting developments are nearing
their climax at the great Riverside Tube
works of the National Tube company in
Upper Benwocd. For several days or
ganizers of the Amalgamated association
have been quietly at work there and are
said to have met with success. Tomor-
row evening at their hall in South Wheel
ing a meeting OF the Amalgamated lodge
made Up Of some of the men N the Riv-
ersde plate MIL will he held when the
men whom the organizers have induced
to join viii be taken in. AS to how
many recruits the organizers have Sc
cured no information can be obtained in
advance of Saturday evening. The Anal
gamated lodge at Riverside has been in
existence for some time and is made up
by about half the men employed In the
been strong enough to force the accept
ance of the Amalgamated scale upon the
manufacturers, but the plan was to per-
severe and gradually work upon the
membership until the entire establish
ment was unioniZed, when the union
scale would be demanded.
If the National Tube company's men
are called out as it has been intimated
they will soon, the Riverside will become
the storm center of the strike, for there
is no doubt Of the intention of the COM
pany to combat the union here just as it
has been fought at the McKeesport plant.
1t is alleged that at least one ANA ga
mated organizer was elected from the
mill premises this week Manager Wiles,
it is said has talked with some of his
men and asked them TO refuse to jo n
the union President Frank ]. Hearne,
of the National Tube company. formerly
manager of III s plant, was here this
week fer the same purpose, it is claimed.
CIGARMAKERS WALK OUT.