Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-07-24
Entire Plant Tied Up;
One Thousand Men Out
Remarkable Solidarity-Ac-
ton Complete Surprise
To Management
(Ry Walter B. HiIton.)

Clarksburg, w. Va, July 24.-(Spe-
cial)-The Clarksburg plant Of the
Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Com
pany is idle today, the thousand en-
ployes having struck in body. Sym
pathy with the Steubenville strikers
"a splendid spirit of solidarity-is
the chief cause. but the men have
grievances of their own, which are
inseparable from non7unlon mill.
A meeting of the men was held this,
morning in the Moose hall, Fourth
street, Glen Elk, at 10 o'clock, which
was addressed by the writer, and the
men representing two turns, then
went out to the mill and picketed the
plant as the third turn came out. Mos
of them already know of the strike
and the few stragglers who did no;
know and showed up, promptly join
ed in the strike, so that now the plant
is shut down utterly.
In the latter part of June Dick Sci
way. of Steubenville, and Bob Ed
Awards of Martins Ferry, were here TO;
the purpose of organizing the plant
but were unsuccessful at that time
They sowed good seed, however
and John Raikes, a doubler became
so interested that he proceeded to
agitate with the result that he was
discharged Monday. The foreman, C..
B. Maple, stated that Raikes was dis
charged because he agitated unionism
and this was verified by Superinten-
dent Cronemeyer, and this was the
straw that broke the camels back. 1t
proved to be the spark that caused
hn TINE MI ~ no MI RI nch
into full flame, and by II o'clock last
reached thep ONT where not one man
went into the mill. At this morning
when the other turn came out, they,
too, joined the strike, and the tie up
was completed at o'clock this after
noon.
Talked to Williams.
John Williams, vice president and
general manager, who has been at.
SteubenviHe directing the warfare
against the working men there, was
communicated with over the long dis
lance telephone, and asked them what
their grievance was. They told him
that they did not want to work longer
in a non-union mill, and were strik-
ing to unionize the plant and in sym
pathy with the strikers at Steuben
vile. He told them that he would
come at once to Clarksburg, and
would meet their committee this morn
ing
The committee elected by the men
to conduct the strike, with Jacob
as chairman went to meet Williams
this morning. but he had changed his
mind over night, and instead of meet
ing them in. a conciliatory spirit,
came surrounded with about 80 thugs
and gunner, and ignored the commit
tee utterly.
Thugs Hired Already.
Thugs have been the dependence OF
the Phillips company here as at Steu-
benville and Weirton. They harrassed
the organizers when they were here,
sSeiway and edwards, and several
times laid plans to beat them up.
They chased several men out of town
for the crime of talking unionism.
1t Is not surprising, then, to~the
men, that Williams first act was to
bring 80 more here. but they have ap
pealed to the prosecuting attorney
and have hopes that this official will
do his duty and suppress the whole
sale carrying of firearms by the hired
assassins of the Phillips company.
Remarkable Solidarity
The spirit of solidarity on the part
of the men is remarkable. That this
strike should occur without the aid OF
the organizations existing in the mills
is notable. but that it should include
every man in the plant, and in sucn
few hours is wonderful
Great enthusiasm was manifested at
the meeting this morning. It was call
ed to order by Edward H. Kintzer
state secretary of the Socialist party
whose home is here, and the writer
addressed the men. advising them to
refrain from violence, and pledging
them the support of the Amalgamated
Association, the State Federation Of
Labor, and the A. F. of L.. He told
them that the workers in the mills
row that the Amalgamated Associa
ton and the Tin Plate Workers were
beng merged, represented one big un
Ion with every worker. man and Wo
man black and white, native and for
elsn born. skilled and unskilled In It's
folds. and that, thus united, they
could not fail.
Another meeting Will be held at II
o'clock tomorrow morning, and it L
expected that in the meantime severa
orsanizers will reach here, as thu
Amalgamated headquarters at Pitts
burg and Steubenville have been com
nunicated with, and they have prom
lsed immediatea ction.