New-York tribune., 1901-07-24
MAY BE CONFLICT AT wFuLsv1rJr
MEN RESENT ACTION OF MAYoR-AT MO-
NESSEN MILL


NEssEN MILL.
Pittsburg. July 23.-According TO strike
leaders The officials of the wensviIle mill
are apparently seeking to bring an
open conflict in order to invoke the aid
of the Sheriffs deputies and If possible the
militia. Earnest and renewed warnings have
been sent to the strikers to remain cool and
keep within the law
Ihere was much Indignation among the strfk-
ers to-day over report that Mayor A p Dem
mis- had called two strikers. Patrick OConnor
and Daniel Rumbaugh. before him and forbid
den them to talk to on the way TO the
mills in the effort to keep them from going to
work. Vice-President Chappell of the Amalga-
mated association Immediately sought the
Mayor and asked him what he meant by trying
to abridge the rights of free speech
Mayor Dennis denied that he had forbidden
the strikers to talk. and said: What I did say
TO the men was that members OF the association
must not take hold Of any mans coat and hold
him while taking to him. I told them 1t was
better to go to mans house and talk to him
than to gather crowd on the street"
The Mayor said neither Manager Brooknan
nor any else had put him up to advising
the men not to talk. though Mr.. Brooknan has
telephoned him that Rumbaugh had interfered
with man who his way to work. The
authority to forbid free speech. and that if he
orders men not TO talk to non-unionists on the
street the order will not be obeyed.
The reports from McKeesrort OF a quiet
ing nature. and exciting incidents are looked
for at present at that point
Much interest Is centring in the situation at
Monessen 1t is reported that to-day twelve
men were discharged because of their too close
friendship with the Amalgamated people. A rt-
port that the miners were planning a march to
Moaessen to try to draw out the workers OF
that plant IL denied here. The miners, il is
said, are not taking active part in the strike
as yet, and the Amalgamated officials are op-
posed to march measures at this time.
Among the many peculiar conditions found
the Monessen mill is the fact that the
paid on a tonnage basis, and the company has
by contract with the men offered bonus on all
tonnage over a certain limit. this bonus TO be
paid at the end OF the year Some of the work
ers have as high as $500 thus far coming TO
them. and they realize that in of a strike
they will lose all OF this. The effect of this is
hold the to their places.
From Sharon a telegram was received to-
night. saying:
"A bill for a preliminary injunction has been
granted by Judge Miller. restraining the strikers
at the American Steel Casting Company works
from entering the grounds of the company. A
hearing will BE- held on July 25'
The leaders of the Atnalgamated Association
are evidently expecting some coup by the
biEation. and. while they express confidence in
the strength of their organization. there is an
uEOerCurlenJ or uneaSineSS. heretofore the
strike has been plain sailing. but there is
impression that the gage of battle thrown
down at McKeesport and Glassport Is about to
be taken up in no uncertain fashion. As
sistant Secretary NJ. F. Tighe said to-day:
Reasoning purely along the lines of former
strikes, il does not seem unlikely that the trust
nay try start Painters or even more mills
with non-unior men, a preliminary test of
strength. but 1 do not think it will be success
full II such a thing is tried. of course. the
police will figure guards. There the danger
lies
Manufacturers who are conversant with the
situation declare that the workers will
weaken and that the United States Steel Cor
poration is waiting until the men ae ready to
go to work. The following semi-Official state
ment on the situation issued:
The AmalgamaIed Association overshot the
mark in making It's demands. The United States
Steel Corporation made liberal concessions IN
offering to sign the scale for the Wood, Wells
Vile Old Meadow and Salisbury plants. but
the Amalgamated conferrees We're unwilling 10
accept this The strike has gone too far now.
There is hope for arbitration mediation.
There is nothing to arbtrate mediate IL is
not a question OF wages hours. Such ques-
tions could be settled by arbitration The strug-
gle now is a principle. The manufact-
urers think II unjust The labor officials
firm In their belief that the demand Is fair.
Both sides are unyielding. So. what is there
TO do but 10 fight IL out along these lines?'