Evening star., 1909-07-15
ICENTER OF DISORDED AT
McKEES ROCKS BOROUGH
Tin Plate Walkout May Affect
Whole Country.
COAL MINERS JOIN THE IDLE
Repeated Battles Today Between
Police and Rioters-Half q
Hundred Injured, Some
Seriously.

PITTSBURG. July l6-Between 5000
and 10000 workmen-coal miners. tin and
sheet plate workers and various steel
crafts-are on strike today throughout
western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and
West Virginia.
A majority of the idle men are in the
Pittsburg district.
Excepting the strike at the Pressed
Steel Car Company at McKees Rocks.
borough, where there was fierce rioting
last night and today, resulting in the
shooting and beating Of thirty persons,
the strikers are orderly
Prosperous, But Disseminated.
The situation between capital and labor
in the Pittsburg district today is unique.
treading as it does on the heels of the
apparent wave OF prosperity. Resump-
tions have been ordered in all trades. and
men who have been without work for
many months are being afforded employ
ment. On the other hand is the present
unrest Of the workmen. Solutions of the
causes leading up to the strikes are va
ried.
At the expiration of their wage scale
at midnight tonight 5000 workmen. men,
bers OF the Tinplate Workers Protective
Association, will walk out of the tin
plants at Newcastle. Pa, and join the
strikers of the Amalgamated Association
of Iron, Steel and Tinworkers.
The trouble results from the open
shop" policy declared by the Americas
Sheet and Tinplate Company July 1.
One Difference of Opinion.
In several instances the men claim their
employers, taking Vantage of their
recent prolonged idleness, are offering
them lower wages for their work. The
officials assert conditions do not warrant
higher remuneration at this time.
Other grievances are the alleged viola
tion of the eight hour day, recognition OF
organized labor, a controversy over the
use of so-called safety powder for
coal mine blasting, and better working
conditions generally.
List Of the Strikes.
Following is list of strikes now In
progress:
United Mine Workers against the Pitts
burg Coal Company. Over 1900 miners
employed in the mines in the Pittsburg
district are out. The men claim various
violations Of their working agreement.
The strike does not have the support OF
the national officials of the United Mine
Workers of America.
Steel workers, unorganized, against the
Pressed Steel Car Company. About $500
men affected. Men say wages paid are
too low. Rioting and bloodshed has re-
suited during this strike and further
trouble is feared.
Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers against the Amer
lean Sheet and Tin Plate Company.
subsidiary of the United States Steel Cor
poration. Over 1900 men, II is estimated
are on strike. The trouble is over the
..open shop policy recently declared by
the company.
Tin Plate workers Association against
the American Sheet and Tin Plate Com
pany. At New Castle, Pa, 1000 men will
quit work today. The wage scale ex-
pires at midnight and the men will join
the strike of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton.
May Affect Whole Country.
1t is said that the tin plate workers.
strike will affect plants in different por-
tions of the country, adding from 5000 to
10. 600 to the ranks Of the strikers.
The trouble is spreading to the inde-
pendent sheet and tin plate plants, and
from present indications there is appar-
entity no hope or effort toward an adjust
ment.
At the Pressed Steel Car Company a de-
tachment of Pennsylvania state police and
sheriffs' deputies, heavily armed. are on
guard. All the tin plate plants are pro-
tected by special police. The coal strike
is but few hours old. but precautions
are already being taken in connection
with this trouble.