The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-08-09
Is THE WORD THAT HAS BEEN
SENT TO UNION MEN.
IN MILLS OF STEEL TRUST
Text of Call Issued By President
Shaffer Of Amalgamated
Association.

Pittsburg, Aug. 6-The die is cast.
The battle of the giants is on in earn
est, whether to ignominous defeat for
one side or the other, or compromise.
remains. to be seen. Up to this W
ing it has been merely a skirmish,
each side trying to find a vulnerable
spot in the others armor. Now it is
definite, brought about by the actual
issuance by President Shaffer of the
long talked of general strike order.
This order was promulgated this
evening to take effect after the last
turn of the mills on August 10. What
the result will be no man can foretell,
but Judging by the expressed determ-
ination of both parties to the contro-
versy the battle will be waged fast
and %furiously.
Much money will be lost, thousands
and thousands of men will be idle,
great suffering is looked for, even
bloodshed and death are possible and
feared.
The strike call includes practically
all the Amalgamated men in the Unit
ed States Steel corporation employ
not now on strike. 1t was issued
from the A~malgamated association
headquarters and mailed to all Anal
gamated lodge officials who are ex-
pected to call their men into the
strike. The text of the call follows:
Brethren: The officials of the
United States Steel trust have refus-
ed to recognize union men, those who
are now striving for the right to or
ganize. The executive board has au-
thorized me to issue a call upon all
Amalgamated and other union men in
name and at heart to join in the move
ment to fight for labor's rights.
I'VE must fight or give up forever
our personal liberties.
"You will be told that you have
signed contracts, but you I've agreed
to surrender those contracts to the
United States Steel corporation. Its
officers think you were sold to them
Just as the mills we're, contracts and
all.
Remember, before you agreed to
any contract you took an obligation
to the Amalgamated association. 1t
now calls you to help in this hour of
need.
''Unless the trouble is settled on or
before Saturday, August 10, 1901, all
mills will close when last urn is made
on that day.
Brethren, this is the call to pre-
serve our organization. We trust you
and need you. Come and help us and
may right come to a just cause.
"Fraternally yours.
ct. J. SHAFFER."
President Shaffer added this state
ment: "The call goes to vice presi
dents of the districts in which ther'
are mills owned and operated by Ma
tional Steel, National Tube and Fed
eral Steel companies, as we'll as t
officials of the lodges in the mills.
mo notice has been, or is bein
sent tt managers of the mills. w
think their notice has come from tn
other side and that they have ha
warning enough of this eve since tn
Inauguration Of the strike. Tha
ought to be sufficient"
The order of President Shaffer
expected to swell the number of id
men to over 100, 900 at the end of tt
week.
President Shaffer was asked if tt
call was not intended to go to tt
union men in the Carnegie Steel col
pany. He said that he answered
questions on that score.
The Amalgamated association hi
lodges in the upper and lower mil
of the Carnegie Steel company, al
fOOthold in the Homestead, Duquesel
and Braddock mills, the great b.
wark of non-unionism. In confor,
ity to statements that have been ma
by President Shaffer before, the
men will be expected to poin t
stike, as will all Amalgamated m
and sympatizers in all plants of t
United States Steel corporation. 9th
companies of the Steel corporate
not mentioned by the Amalgamat
president and whose operations t
association will seek to hamper a
the American Steel and Wire co
pany. and American Bridge compa1
n the Wire company the Annals
mated association has only lodges
the Cleveland rolling mill plant a
thn Toilet rod mill plant of the co