The Topeka state journal., 1901-08-02
CRISIS REACHED.
Meeting of Strikers Executive
Board Today.
Is Expected to Determine the
Future of the Contest.
NO MORE PARLEYING.
Steel Trust Reported to Have
Said Its Last Word.
Employees Must Accept or Con-
tinue the Fight.

Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 2.-The situation
in the Amalgamated steel strike this
morning is anything but favorable TO
an amicable adjustment of the dispute
between the association and the United
States Steel corporation. AS far as can
be learned President Shaffer of the
Ana1gamated has not received any re-
ply from the New York officials of the
company regarding a further confer
ence except the telegram which it is
said arrived last night and which de-
clined a further discussion of the ques-
tions at issue between the labor leaders.
This telegram gave the substance of a
letter which had been mailed and which
was expected to arrive in the first mail
this morning.
The refusal of the steel company Off
Gals to enter into another conference
if adhered to leaves only two ways open
to the Amalgamated association. One
is to order the striking Workmen back
to work under the best terms obtain
able and the other is to proceed with
the strike in the hope of involving all
the union men employed in the constit-
uent concerns of the United States
Steel corporation. The first course cer-
tainly holds little promise for the work.
men since the strike has abrOgated all
the union scales in effect before the
trouble started leaving them entirely at
the mercy of the manufacturers. The
second course means a struggle to the
death for the association, as the an
nouncement has been made on good au-
thority that the mills will be started
next week with non-union men If the
strikers do not resume work.
Today's meeting of the executive
board is expected to tell the story and
it is acknowledged that this Is the most
critical period of the strike. The board
went into session at 10 o'clock and
James Mutt, secretary of the labor
bureau of the Republic Iron and Steel
company and Joseph Bishop, secretary
OF the Ohio board of arbitration. were
present. No information was given
out 1t is reported that the final effort
of the Amalgamated association before
bring every inuence to bear towards
bring every influence to bear towards
the company officials.
Rumor was current that the Amalga-
mated association at its executive
board meeting would withdraw from a
position which was thought to be un-
tenable and would sign an agreement
with the combination. Prominent men
denied this and declared that unless
peace would be secured with honor and
credit to the association the strike
would be continued. Nothing can be
learned from President Shaffer or the
leaders of the organization on this mat
ter, however, as they say whatever they
have for the public will be given out in
the form of a statement.
It is said that before a general strike
is ordered the officers of the United
States Steel corporation will be fully
informed of the intention of the Anal
terms are not promptly presented for
the consideration of the board. A rea-
sonable time viii then be given before
the extreme measures are resorted to
by the association. 1t seems almost
certain that if the request of the Anal
gamated association for another con-
ference is refused, the strike will be ex-
tended to all the plants controlled by
the big steel corporation where the
Amalgamated association has a foot
hold and that it will be the bitterest
struggle between capital and labor ever
seen in this country. In the big plants
of the Federal Steel company, the Ma
tiona1 Steel company and the National
Tube company, all the organized men
will be called out and every effort made
to close the mills
It was reported that J. E. Schwab left
last night for New York, but he was
in the city this morning. President
Schwab of the United States Steel cor
poration was reported from New York
to have left that city last night for
Pittsburg. He had not visited his office
at Il o'clock and none of the officers
around the building seemed to have any
knowledge of his intended visit