Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-16
THE IRON CONFERENCES.
The Little Cleaned shows Nothing Sat
isfactOry.

The SUNDAY REGISTER published brief
statement of the result of the iron confer
ence at Pittsburg on Saturday. A later re-
port SAYS it was considerably after two
o'clock in the afternoon when the con-
ferees representing both sides of the iron
question, met at the rooms Of the Iron AS
ISOLATION on Fourth avenue, TO make their
first attempt at settling the rate OF wages
which shall be paid in the mills OF Pitts.
burg during the year dating from June
next. Soon after the press representatives
who mounted the stairs leading 20 the
Inner courts" where the topic 50 closely
connected with the interests of the Iron
City was being discussed, they were met by
the attaches Of the office who blandIy re-
marked that Mr.. Weeks could not be
seen" In the meantime number OF iron
workers who held no official position, hung
on the ratings outside waiting, as one OF
them explained, TO hear what would be
done up stairs" At 2:30 the inquisi'
tive visitor who tp-toed around
the hall could easily see that
business had begun inside, as the measured
tones us they reached the outside plainly
told that they were uttered in set speech.
For the next three hours a veil OF impene-
naught could be heard save the voice OF an
occasional orator, whose earnestness led
him to use something more than the regu-
lation pitch and force. 1t was near the
stroke of six when the meeting adjourned
and the participants filed out of the back
room. The writing scribblers at once fell
upon Mr.. J. ID. Weeks, who looked through
his glasses and asked, What melting
When that gentleman was finally brought
to bay he stated that he could not accom-.
modate the questioners with any point
ers" as TO what had been done. Said he:
I'VE met according to programme, bat have
failed to come to any agreement"
What was done during the three hours
session." was the question propounded.
At this question Mr.. Weeks looked at
the press hireling, whose impudence led
him to put this leading query, and he SIM
ply answered, Il can tell you nothing
more. We will have another meeting
When" asked the scribe.
Don't ask me-" returned Mr.. Weeks
and the queStioner turned to Secretary
Martin of the Amalgamated Association
who stood near by. However, Mr. Martin
was not any more prolific of information
than Mr.. Weeks had been, and all he would
say was merely corroborative OF what the
latter gentleman had given.
President Jarrett was the next man ap-
preached, but he had nothing to say,
and the interrogation was equally success
full with the other gentlemen spoken to.
From another source it was learned that
when the meeting was called to order Mr..
ID. Il. oliver was chosen President and Mr..
Martin Secretary. The conference which
ensued ended without any definite conclu-
sion as neither side would agree to the
terms submitted by the other. Those who
profess to be able to make a good guess,
say that the manufacturers moved re-
vision of the entire scale but ths1abor rep.
resentatiyes did not feel ready to grant that
point. The cOnjectures are the afternoon
was spent in rather informal talk over
the prospects of the iron trade for the
coming year, and the failure to
do anything decisive was owing to the fact
that neither side wished to make marked
move at this early stage of the game. Ac-
cording to the opinions OF those best able
TO Judge yesterdays meeting was merely a
skirmsh ushering in the battle to be
fought over the question OF next years
scale.
The fact is plainly apparent that pow.
erful element in the Amalgamated associa-
ton is bitterly opposed to anything like
reduction. A representative of this class
said: The puddler who finds his house
rent advancing and sees that the cost of
living is is ust as high to-day as 1t was a
year ago does not feel very ready to come
down from $ 30 TO 500 per ton. Per.
haps we will be compelled to do so, but
don't fail to remember that if the present
proportion of the scale is disturbed there
will be a large sized kick
Many who were closely observing the
situation hold to the theory that strike
will be the outcome of the present negotia-
tons. However this may be, the develop
ments of the next few days will be closely
watched by the many interested in the
iron trade Of Wheeling and vicinity.