Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1901 — GREAT STRIKE IS ORSERED [ARTICLE]

GREAT STRIKE IS ORSERED

Steel Workers Go Out in Large Force. THOUSANDS ARE INVOLVED. President Shaffer Declare. It Mean* Fight to Bitter End by Workmen — Be Say* Amalgamated Auoclallon I. Not Un prepared for Battle. President T. J. Shaffer issued orders from Pittsburg Sunday to all the union men employed in the various mills of the American Steel Hoop company to refuse to work Monday morning. In addition President Shaffer and other officials of Amalgamated Association of Iron, £>teel and Tin Workers spent Sunday sending out circular letters to sublodgee all over the country notifying the 60,000 members of the strike declared Saturday against the American Sheet Steel company. The members of the board will decide whether all the union men employed by the United States Steel Corporation, which owns. the sheet combine, shall be called* out at this time. If they come out 200,000 men will be involved. It is estimated that 15,000 men will be subject to the call in the American Steel Hoop mills in connection with the sheet steel strike. President Shaffer says: "The impression that only the mills of the American Sheet Steel company are affected by the decision of Saturday is a mistake. The workmen of all mills in the American Steel Hoop company are interested; and will be officially notified that the Seale has not been signed and that they will quit work. To the well organized mills this notice will not be necessary, as the men will have watched the situation carefully, but what are known as open mills, where union men have been allowed to work side by side with the non-union, is where w* have to move. Union men must walk out of these open mills in the hoop trust. The open mills to be notified are one at Hollidaysburg, Pa., three at Pittsburg, and one '.t Monessen. The organized mills which will close on our call are the upper and lower mills at Youngstown, O.; Pomeroy, O.; Sharon, Pa.; Girard, Pa.; Warren, Pa.; Greenville, Pa. This, I believe, will bring the number of men affected up to 50,000. It is a matter of regret that the issue has been forced, but it now looks as though it will be a fight to the death. The Amalgamated association is not unprepared for it We have not had a general strike for many years, and in that time we have not been idle. We have funds and will use them. Right here I want to correct an impression which has been given out that no benefits will be paid strikers until two months have elapsed. The Amalga-

mated association will begin at ones' to take care of its people.”