The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-16
tine IRON AND STEEL SITUATION.

about the great steel Strike Is tHal 1eS
origin has not yet been fully explained
by the leaders on either side, and that
public sentiment has not yet crystallfzed
in favor of the worwers or the owners.
Whenever in the past on the occasion
of strikes there has been any differ
ence on the subject of wages or
hours of work, the sympathies of the
people for the workers have not been
withheld when the facts were explained
and the justice of their demands Wa es-
tablished. Last fall, when the anthracite
coal strike was ordered, there was no
division of public sentiment or delay IN
its expression. The Inter Mountain, in
defending the reasonable claims of the
toilers. could find not a fact nor figure
to justify the attitude Of the coal barons
or coal trusts. Fortunately at that time
there were men like Hanna, Elkins and
others who, having coal interests and
possibly political interests. at stake,
threw themselves on the side of the men
and won the fight. But neither Hanna
nor Elkins can handle ]. Pierpunt Nor
gan. 1t is not alleged that they have
any interest or association with Morgan
in the steel trust. If they have they
would waste no time in rendering their
offices for peace at once, satisfied that
the Importance of the case justified such
proffered intercession. Unfortunately,
however neither Shaffer nor Morgan
has taken the public into his confidence.
The one asserts the existence of organ
lied labor is at stake, while the other
says nothing, though Schwab says
neither wages nor hours are involved.
So mysterious is the ituation, in fact.
that of the total number of iron and
steel workers and kindred toilers ex-
pected to strike or at least willing to
strike, only $4,000 have actually quit.
Most Of the others, by open votes, de-
clined to go out, stating that they had
no grievance. They would still be will
ing to strike if convinced that their
eastern brethren had grievances, but on
this subject they are awaiting informa-
ton, as are the other workmen and the
general public. That is the situation
plainly stated. There is nothing to do,
therefore, but to suspend judgm emit
pending an authoritative statement OF
the leaders on either side.
-
In the meantime it is consolation to
realize that, outside of the steel and iron
strike district, the millions of American
workingmen are merrily and content
eddy at work for better wages than ever
known before. obtaining more of the
comforts and luxuries of life than ever
previously recorded, and confident Of
increasing and continued prosperity as
long as, by their votes, they shall sue
coed in keeping the democratic party
with it's crazy theories and crazier lead
ers, in it's present we'll anchored position
in the oblivion of public distrust.
BY the refusal of a majority of iror
workers to join the strike, regardless:
Of their reason for declining, great ma
tional danger may be averted, for which
in the years to come every iron worker
In the land may hail them as friends ir
need. 1t has taken the American peopl;
nearly fifty years to establish, over tn,
fanatic and ignorant opposition of tn
free trade democracy, the American prin
ciple of protection. Under protection
the iron and steel industries of tn,
United States have SO developed as t.
startle and dismay every competing ma
ton. Under protection we have capture,
or are capturing the markets of the worl
despite the alarm of Europe. We ar
sending bridges to Egypt, rails and loco
motives to Siberia and Japan, minin
machinery to South Africa, mills an
smelters to Mexico, iron and steel good
to every capital in Europe, to the isles @
the sea, to the sacred recesses of China
Under protection We have actual
created the tin-plate industry in tn
United States, which was unknown an
impossible before, owing to democriti
threat and disaster. That industr
alone saves the people of this count
$25,o0O,e00 year and gives employment
to 10000 men. In 1860 steel rails sold
this country for $3.50 per ton, becaus
they had to be imported from England
All other iron and steel goods were i
proportion. Having secured first plac
in steel and iron production and MANI
facture: having captured the markets {
the world to such an extent that Euror
In alright now talks Of combinin
against the United States as a proret
ton against the American PERIL" ha,
ing built up a vast industry employin
hundreds OF thousands Of men at tt
best wages paid on earth. it would be
Hneasureless national misfortune If tn
wonderful work of half a century shoul
Aow be sacrificed and abandoned becaus