The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14
STEEL MEN DIFFER
ON STRIKE OUTLOOK
Heads of Large Companies Are
United in Determination to
Make No Concessions.
SDoco, Despatch to Tar SUN.

bpocIdt Desp0fch TO The Sun.
PrTTsBuRo, Sept. iS.-There 10 this
week IN iron and steel trade circles a
great diversity Of opinion regarding a
probable strike Of workers. In some
places It Is thought that may be there
VIII be fairly extensive closing of plants
In other quarters II is thought that the
matter will blow over probably with a
minimum disturbance. At all times the
manufacturers have been aware of the
/ progress that the Ama1gamated Asso-
citation Of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers
has been making notwithstanding the
belief of the union officials that there
have been no leaks. s-,s. 49,. -t..
Inquiry among the heads of depart
, ments In the main iron and steel COM
panies shows that they are allied closely
in determination to make no concessions
to the men In regard to organization.
The labor unrest, 30 prevalent through
| out the country, has resulted in q
! marked decrease In efficiency of iron and
steel workmen. forcing major
ity Of the plants to produce less ton
mage than they should. The officials
claim that that condition Is but an ex-
ample Of what would occur IL all Of the
workers in the iron and steel mills were
organized into the union.
The position of the United States Steel
Corporation has been made plain Its
management will confer only with their
own employees. While the independent
J producers almost invariably have been
willing to follow the lead of the Steel
| Corporation In trade matters, there never
was an issue In which they were more
ready TO follow the Steel Corporation
policy than in unionization.
| August steel inROt producfion waa n.
the rate OF trifie less than so pei
cent OF capacity, the output being al
most 10 per cent greater than In July
| AZ there had been drop to about y.
per cent. by the middle of May tn.
recovery In production has been VEL
sharp. While the July output wa.
merely at the average rate shown II
the first half of the year. when the-,
was rapid decline from January t.
| May, August showed a better rate thai
the average of the preceding sever
months. At the same time the Angus
output was unsatisfactory In comparison
with plant facilities that were nominal,
in operation. While tonnage output wa
20 per cent. less than capacity coli
servatively estimated, there was not =
per cent. of the productive capacity Idle
The untitled tonnage statement OF tn
Steel Corporation for. August showed
tnlro month or very good business
From December to May inclusive the-
ere heavy losses In untitled obligations
running uniformly at an average o
$4,000 tons month. Shipments ii,
creased, constituting o an increasin,
drain on order books, and thus Will
the unified tonnage Increased less II
August than 1t did in June the actua
bookings were greater beca use there wer
much heavier shipments last month
representing at least so per cent of CO
pacity.
There has been drop in iron an
steel exports. July making a very poo
report February had recorded Low
point, 2S4,793 gross tons OF iron an,
steel products exported, Successive in
creases took place until June shove
544.5s0 tons. The July report shows, onl,
2S7.S23 TONS or barely more than half o
June's tonnage. The slump is attri
buted chiefly to the unfavorable ex
change situation, but that does no
affect all export markets. as fairl
heavy trade with countries where ex
change is practically normal has bee
going on. Iron and steel prices ar
stationary, and that such labor demon
STATIONS as may possibly occur VIII no
be allowed to stampede the market, |
regarded as established. Leading pro
: ducers regard as absolutely essentia
; that prices be held and not allowed I
advance. g..
The ESQ cents price on plates ha