The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-02

placed In practically freezes the Independent
plants from completely in the battle.
The fight is not for wages. but TOR or
ganization. Either the Amalgamated As
sOciation must bow TO the will OF the
greater combine. or else the greater
combine viii have TO give up its n%onunion
mills. Members of the advisory board OF
the AmaIgamated Association declare that
the association has a surprise in store for
the combine. W have not been idle dur
Ing the first half OF the present year" said
one. w have strong lodge organizations
In several n0nuniOn plants, In which the
combine imagines IL has absolute control.
We are In better shape for "A strike than
we ever were before. Our membership
among the sheet workers Is stronger than
At has been IN years and our treasury has a
larger defense fund than we ever had in
our history. The question OF signing for
all mills must be settled this year. Next
year or the year following would be too
late rtAf
Added interest was given the strike sit
uatiOn to-day, when IL became known that
the two mills In dispute. which were the
cause OF disagreement between the Anal
gamated Association and the American
Sheet Steel Company. were claimed BIZ
both parties. These mills are the Old
Meadows at Scottdale and the Salisbury
mill. The officials, who refused to sign the
union scale, seem as much surprised at
the claims OF President Shaffer that the
mills were union as the president seemed
10 be that they should take "a view opp
site from him. The sheet steel officials
appeared TO have a trife the better Of the
argument to-day when word came from
Scottdale that the men now working there
refused TO quit. scale or no scale. asso-
citation or no association
Speaking OF conditions OF Scottdale, John
Jarrett. secretary Of the labor bureau of
the sheet steel company, said to-day:
The Amalgamated people have no claim
to the Meadows and Salisbury mills. The
men. particularly In Scottdale, are work
Ing under personal agreements with us.
These agreements have been extended TO
Jan. /, 1893"
Mr.. Jarrett does not think there will be
a strike. "A w~ell-known independent sheet
steel manufacturer stated to-day that indi-
cations pointed TO a peaceful settlement OF
the trouble. He stated: President Shat
Ter. of the Amalgamated Association,
knows the men at Scottdale and at Salts
burg voluntarily asked the sheet steel man
agement 10 give them a share OF the work
being done at the other mills of the COM
pany, anc at the terms of the company or
al any terms The workers also proposed
an individual contract. which, in the case
OF one OF the mills at Scottdale, runs for
two years and at a rate no lower than Is
paid in the organized mills. The difference
IN the wage agreements is that the mill
committed Is done away with, and that the
wage rate does not advance until the wage
rate under the Amalgamated agreement
had advanced 10 per cent. above the base.
In other words, should the price Of sheets
entitle the organized mills to a 5 per cent.
advance in wages the mills working under
the individual contract system will receive
no advance. 1t is not likely that under
this agreement the Scottdale mill workers
Will respond to President Skaters strike
Arder."
At the Offices Of the American Steel Hoop
Company IL was stated that certain plants
OF the company were closed this week for
needed repairs and the national holiday.
Others were at work. as usual.
President Shaffer said this evening that
MS determination TO carry the interests of
the Amalgamated Association to a success
rl finish Is undated