Evening star., 1901-08-15
Being Seriously Felt by Pittsburg
Business Men.
THEY PROTEST TO THE TRUST
Also Use Their Influence With the
Association Officers.
THE STU ALTON
TODAY
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

concern IS DelnR manifested by the stu
pendous business interests centered in
Pittsburg over the continuance of the
strike and the growing menace it pre-
sents The tide of prosperity that has
been flowing with increasing volume for
three or four years in this section is visibly
checked. so visibly indeed that it is attract
ing the earnest attention of the captains OF
capital. Bankers are becoming anxious,
credits are being frightened, wholesale and
retail merchants are feeling the restriction
of trade caused by the strike. While ire
parable harm has not yet been wrought
the fear is for the future.
The success of the strikers within the
past forty-eight hours in getting out
eral thousand additional workers and the
certainty that the number of idle men will
be alarmingly increased each day until the
strike is settled adds to the uneasiness
Some of the most prominent capitalists OF
the city are now contemplating united ac-
tion to bring pressure to bear the steel
trust, demanding ending of the strike.
Effect on Allied Industries.
The first effect of the strike upon in
dustres allied to steel, iron and tinplate
making are appearing. The great
coke industry at Connelsvile employing
thousands of men, is beginning to feel it.
For the first time in four years there will
be LAY Off of one day each week in the
coke region until further notice. Further
more. number of coke works are closing.
Five coke works closed yesterday. Nine
were ordered shut down today. The Bal
timore and Ohio, the Pennsylvania and the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie railroads have
been notified of these shut downs, and the
next thing will be the laying off of train
crews. The ramiications of the steel in
dustry are so extensive that it is difficult
to estimate the disastrous effect of a great
fight like this upon allied labor nor to ac-
curately compute the great army of idle
men whose ranks are recruited by regi-
nents and not by companies.
Losses of the Steel Trust.
1t is estimated by competent judges that
the steel trust is losing the profit on about
$500 tons of material a day by this
strike. The reduction of the output Of :he
National tube works amounts to about 900
tons a day; the National Steel Company,
1900 tons a day; Steel Hoop Company, 1000
tons day; Sheet Steel, 500, and Tin Plate,
1900 tons day. But the loss of the trust
In profits is inconsiderable compared to the
loss in wages to the working men and the
consequent reduction in the volume Of
business transacted in the community. In
McKeesport and Newcastle big stores are
laying off their clerks. The produce men
.and small dealers are feeling the pinch al
ready. The saving banks of Pittsburg, Of
which there are great many, and which
DO a big total of business with the thrifty
workngmen, feel the change In conditions
bearing heavily upon them In this state
of affairs the community is growing rest
less over the dispute between the trust end
its men, and is demanding compromise
from both sides.
Strong Interests at Work.
AS stated. powerful interests are at work
to force a settlement If possible, before
worse befalls. l in position to know
that representations have been sent to New
York from capitalistic sources here that
1t is inadvisable for the trust to attempt
at this time to annihilate unionism. Schwab
and Morgan have been advised that the
price of their victory would be too dear
for the steel trust well as the people at
large. and that If a policy of annihation
IS undertaken adverse sentiment will be
aroused In quarters now supposed to be
friendly to the trust.
strike Managers Jubilant.
The strike managers were very jubilant
this morning over the gains they had made
in the last few days. They look with
equanimty upon the growing number of
works throughout the region. They say
this all has a tendency to bring the trust
to settlement and increases the chances
of favorable terms being given the strikers.
Shaffer still insists there shall be no COM
promise and that the strike will continue
until the trust accepts the original terms
of the Amalgamated Association.
The strike managers not Indifferent
to their losses in the west. but contend that
they can win without the Chicago and Mil
waukee men. There were several confer
ences at strike headquarters today upon
the subject of the western disaffection, but
no further movement in this connection
was decided upon.
The crippled mills in Pittsburg for which
the strikers and the trust have been con-
tending for several days, were limpinR
along today, barely keeping the machinery
going. The air was full of rumors of at
tempts to start up other mills now idle
and the strikers were kept on the jump all
day watching the approaches to the mills
and maintaining an effective picket system
to keep out non-union workment.
Situation at MckeespOrt.
McKeesport is dark and silent The in
dustries are tied up completely. The work
men kept off the streets during the fore
noon in response to orders from their lead
ers 1t is the purpose of the strike mana
gers, If possible, to make the McKeesport
situation an object lesson to the trust of
the ability of the union to completely
cripple one important branch of the trusts
line of industries.
1t is probable that II the strike continues
the first efforts of the trust will be to
start up the tin plate mills A larger pro-
portion of this product has been cut off
than any other output of the trust. The
strikers contend that the trust will be un-
able to get skilled men to start up the idle
plants.
Developments Of the afternoon continue
TO Indicate that strong efforts are making
for a settlement Of the strike notwith-
standing Shaffers expressed determination
not to compromise
1t is freely prophesied in we'll informed
circles that as soon as desired arrange
ments are made with Schwab and Morgan,