Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-16
$4,000 STRIKE
IN FACE OF WAVE
OF PROSPERITY
MINERS, TIN PLATE MEN AND
STEEL WORKERS QUIT
WORK
SERIOUS RIOTING THE RESULT.
State Police Called to Pittsburg Suburb
and Are Obliged to Club
Mob.
MORE PAY PRINCIPAL DEMAND.

PITTSBURG, Pa, July 15.-Between
$4,000 and 10000 workmen-coal miners,
tin and sheet plate workers, and various
steel crafts-are on strike today through
out western Pennsylvania, eastern ONO
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,
a borough where fierce rioting marked
last night and early today resulting in
the shooting and beating of thirty per
sons. the strikers are orderly.
The situation between capital and la
Dor in the Pittsburg district today is
unique, treading as it does on the heels
OF an apparent wave of prosperity. he
sumptions have been ordered in al
trades and men, who have been without
work for many months, are being af-
forded employment. On the other hand
is the present unrest of the workmen.
In several instances the men claim
that their employers, taking advantage
of their recent prolonged idleness, are
Offering them low wages for their work.
The officials assert conditions do not
warrant higher remuneration at this
time.
Other grievances are the alleged vio-
lation of the eight hour work day, recoS-
milton of organized labor, a controversy
over the use of so-called safety" pow
der for coal mine blasting, and better
working conditions generally.
List of Strikes in Progress.
Following is a list of the strikes now
in progress:
United Mine Workers against the
Pittsburg Coal company. Over 14,O0O
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 are affected. Men say wages
paid are too low. Rioting and blOodshed
has resulted during this strike and
further trouble is feared.
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers against the American
Sheet and Tin Plate company, sub
sidiary of the United States Steel cor
poration. Over 1000 men, it is esti-
mated, are on strike. The trouble is
over the ''open shop" policy recently de-
clared by the company.
Tinplate workers association against
the American Sheet and Tinplate com
pany. At New Castle, Pa, 5000 men
expires at midnight and the men will
join the strike of the Amalgamated as
ISOLATION. 1t is said that tinplate work
ers' strike will affect plants in different
portions of the country, adding from
5000 to 10000 to the ranks of the strik-
erS.
The trouble is spreading to the indie
pendent sheet and tinplare plants and
from present indications there is APP
parently no hope or effort toward an
adjustment.
Rioting Is Still On.
Twelve persons were injured when
members of the Pennsylvania state con
stabulary and steel strikers clashed a
number of times today at the plant of the
Pressed Steel Car company, McKees
Rocks. At least three of the wounded
are in a serious condition. Over score
of strik ers and their sympathizers have
been placed under arrest
Twenty additional state police have
been sent for. making a force of sixty
one Over two hundred deputies and spe,
cial officers are on duty.
Following the rioting and bloodshed
last night and early this mornin, the
strikers have congregated at the gates
of the mill and at intervals bombarded
the works with bricks. For the present
the police are shooting over the heads
of the strikers.
The men will be paid off at 8 O'Clock
and fears are expressed that the trouble
will again break forth at that time.