The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-08-09
STARK STRIKE
AmaIgamated Takes Up
Fight of Non-Union
Men at Stark Mill.

Rolling MIL WOrk was DeBuh NUS
day morning with force of men, but
a number of the men who had former
ly been employed there were notlhed
by letter on August that their ser
vices would no longer be needed.
What led to this is a matter of dis.
pute between the mill men and the
mill owners.
The company states that the mill
had been operating non-union. and
about n month ago shut down for re-
pairs. This non.union condition was
the result of strike which had been
settled but a short time ago, the Am
algamated ordering all its members
out at that time. II is claimed that
during this months layoff a number
of the workmen either became men,
bers of the Amalgamated association
or had made application for member
ship, and the company, discovering
this discharged the men before work
began.
J. A. Bowers, representing President
Theodore ]. Shaffer Of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and steel
Workers, and Richard Fitzgerald, vice
president of the Sixth district, came
to this city yesterday and had a con-
sultation with the men. The claim is
made by Mr.. Fitzgerald that at 10
O'Clock last night list Of G2 men who
were working in the mills had been
secured who we're willing to strike
against what they say is another ten
per cent. reduction in wages.
Fitzgerald denied that the men in
the mill had Joined the Amalgamated
when seen by representative OF the
Morning News.
"If the men have not joined the
Amalgamated, why does the Amalga'
mated come here and take up the
fight of lot OF non-union men," was
asked by the reporter.
"It is becaus they are contendins
for the same principles which the
Amalgamated is contending for" was
the answer
It was expected that there would be
a shortage of men when the shift OF
men changed at 12 o'clock last night,
but no information could be secured
as to the number who remained out.
An effort was made to see the mem
bers of the Stark company last night,
but Mr.. Ed. Langenbach was out of
the city. C. A. Irwin. secretary of
the company, was called up. He stat
ed that the mill was running and that
they had more men than they coulc
use. A number of men. he said, had
been notified of their discharge for
the reason that they were taking up
with the Amalgamated. He did not
think that more than 80 men would
drop out by reason of the strike order.
The strike Is not a new one. 1t
has been on fo1 some time, but the
fight had been dropped by the asso-
citation and the mill run entirely non
union.
A STATEMENT.
Mr. ]. A. Bowers, representing the
Amalgamated association, submitted
the following statement of the situa-
tlon as viewed by the strikers:
THE Stark Rolling Mill company
which violated its agreement with the
Amalgamated association about year
ago and induced a sufficient number
OF its old employees and others to oper.
ate non-union with glittering promises
of no change from the Amalgamated
scale except in the limit of output, has,
by it's unamerican and tyrannical
methods forced the men in its employ
to go on strike against the further re-
duction of 10 per cent. in wages of all
hot mill men. To show that this firm
has been unfair and failed to keep
any agreement made with their men
.G.L hal h
present the following agreement made
with the men when they returned to
work last October that said employees
could remain in their employ as long
as work was satisfactory and the mill
was in operation, and that the Anal
gamated scale of wakes should be
paid during the entire period of EN-
ployment. the only variation demanded
being on the limit Of output, and that
U. s. standard guage to govern weight
of sheets and daily weights Of turns
to be given rollers.
Notwithstanding this agreement, on
or about January /, 1904, they asked
the men to take a further reduction
and the men not being in a position
to resist-it being in dead of winter
accepted as shown by the following
letter:
Canton, o., July 29 1904
The Stark Rolling Mill Co,
Canton, Ohio.
Gentlemen Owing to the present
conditions of the iron market, we will
agree to accept reduction Of 10 per
cent. from our present rate of wages,
with the understanding when the mar.
ket conditions again Justify, the com
pany agrees to restore to us our pres
ent base or rate of wages.
Accepted The Stark Rolling Mill
Co.. BY w. w. Irwin.
Coming up to the present time,
they again asked their employees to
accept further reduction of 10 per