Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1901 — SIRIKE IS A TUG OF WAR [ARTICLE]

SIRIKE IS A TUG OF WAR

The Steel Workers Are Full of Determination. THE STRIKE TO BE EXTENDED. There Will Bo No More Meetings of the General Executive Boar I of the Unions Unless the Steel Corporation Asks for One. The greatest labor war in the history of the nation is about to begin. The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers'has decided to measure its strength against tihe greatest combination of capital that the world ever saw—the $1,100,000,000 steel trust. “Tie up every mill of the United States Steel Corporation’’ is the order that has gone forth from the advisory committee, the workingmen’s organization. Every member has been called upon to aid in the coming struggle for the life of the union. The last chance for peace has vanished. When J. Pierpont Morgan delivered his ultimatum to the representatives of his men he delivered a challenge srhich was Immediately courted a contest, and the Amalgamated Association promises to give it. President Shaffer said Sunday at Pittsburg: “I have not yet issued the ’order extending the strike, but will do so as soon as I can. There are certain contingencies or conditions depending on the extension of the suspension movement, and as soon as they can be shaped up the order will go out. What they are I don’t care to say, but the public can rest assured that the strike will spread. When the general executive board adjourned at the meeting in New York it was to no stited time. There will be no more meetings of the board unless the United States Steel corporation should ask for a conference. They left the whole matter of the extension of the strike entirely in my hands, and I will act as promptly as possible under the circumstances. When the order goes out officials of the combine and others will be surprised at the way It is obeyed. Certain mills now considered non-union will stop running. I am ndt telling what they are or where they are located. Every man who is union in name and heart will walk out. I have no fear of the result of the attempt to tie up other mills In our fight for independence.” It is reported that the United States Steel company officials will publish the agreement alleged to have been signed at the first conference with Morgan to settle the strike on the basis existing before July 1. According to one of the persons present at the last conference Morgan presented this agreement, and demanded if a document signed for the association by its president and secretary stood for anything. When the members of the executive board in reply presented their counter proposition the conference came to an end.