Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-27
SEEKING TO SETTLE.
Prospects That the Westinghouse
Difficulty May be Adjusted.
A COMMITTEE TO SEE THE FIRM.
On This May Hinge the Arranging Of the
Exposition Deadlock.
FINANCIAL AID FOR THE STRIKERS

ing OF the Westinghouse employees, nelo
yesterday, in Lafayette Hall, q step was
unanimously decided upon which is likely
to result in speedy settlement of the mat
ters at issue. This was an instruction--de-
termined upon without dissent-by the
meeting to the Executive Committee. to call
on Mr.. Westinghouse with a view to dis
cussing the questions under dispute, and ex-
planning the position of the employees with
regard thereto. No time was fixed for the
visit of the committee. 1t was said they
might go to-day; if not, at farthest on to-
morrow.
This is the first time the committee has
been authorized to take such a step, and il
is expected that the very best results will
ensue in consequence. The article printed
in yesterdays DISPATCH, drawing atten-
tion to a possible misunderstanding between
the firm and its employees, was commented
upon at the meeting, and when motion was
put instructing the committee as above
stated, it was passed unanimously. No
communication had passed between the in
terested parties, and it was deemed advis-
able to lay clear and unimpassioned pre-
sentation of the strikers position before the
company without further delay.
RECEIVED WITH CHEERS.
A statement made at the meeting that the
strikers, irrespective of organization, would
continue to have the moral and financial
support of the machinists' organizations,
was received with much applause, and
served in additionally strengthening the de-
termination of the men to maintain their
attitude, 1t was decided that the strikers
should turn out in force on Labor Day, and
take part in the parade. An intimation
from Harry Williams, of the Academy, that
he would give performance for the benefit
OF the strikers relief fund was received
with applause.
There is much ground for hope that the
representations to be made by the Execu-
tive Committee to the company will bear
good fruit. There was o general feeling
after the meeting that il was step in the
right direction. 1t was said that the COM
pany would not refuse to put the proper
construction on this advance on the part OF
its men, and would be ready to accept the
opportunity of talking over matters with a
view to a settlement
1t is not concealed that every day that
passes renders the chances of the company
getting back its old men more remote. OF
the so men formerly at work in the Machine
Company's shops, "a are reported as having
gone to work Tor other firms. and % others
are missing from the city. The assumption
is they have found employment at outside
points such as Altoona. Half dozen men
are leaving tonight for Alliance, o., to work
in the Morgau's Engineering Works, one of
the largest shops of the kind in the country.
Machinists from the other branches are also
reported as having found work elsewhere.
AS TO MONEY MATTERS.
The Executive Board of the machinists'
organizations was in session until late
hour last night. Business relating to shop
grievances, etc., was attended to. The most
important matter under consideration
was that of arranging for financial
aid for the strikers, including the whole OF
the Westinghouse employees. As an officer
remarked: "Men can live on excitement
for day or two, but when it comes down to
a cold. steady fight they have to be fed.
And you bet we're going to do it, too, if
they remain out for year."
The fact must not be lost sight of that the
machinists' organizations are bearing the
affairs are cool and collected and recognize
that they have embarked, possibly, on a
heightened fight As an instance of what
good may result from a conference between
employers and men on such difficulties as
the present mention may be made of the
Lewis foundry case. The officials on each
side had two meetings, with the result that
an amicable settlement was effected where a
heightened strike was thought probable.
Prominent officials among the machinists
are in hopes that a friendly conference be-
tween the Westinghouse firm and its men
would bring about a settlement So far
they, the officials of the machinists' organ
izations, have not had anything to do with
bringing about negotiations between the
company and its men, but, if called upon,
they will be ready to render good offices in
the matter.
STILL UNSETTLED.
The unfortunate condition of affairs at
the Exposition continued yesterday. With
the exception of some of the exhibitors and
their clerks who were trying to arrange
their displays, work on the exhibits was at
q stand-still.
While the strike of the carpenters,
painters, &C., is a side wind of the Westing-
house strike, it is not directly attributable to
it. The employees OF the Electric Light
Company engaged on the Westinghouse ex-
hibIt are non-union men anyhow, strike
or no strike, and under their constitu-
ton the men who struck at the Exposition
cannot work with non-union men. The
directors OF the Exposition are placed in
this position, that while they have no con-
troll over the men whom the exhibitors think
fit to employ. the success of their enterprise
is ieopardised through the men knocking
off work. Even were the former employees
of the electric company to turn in to work
to-day, the building trades could not work
with them unless they chose to shut their
eyes to the fact that they were unorganized
men. 1t is said that these men will not
much longer be in this position, and that
measures are about to be taken to bring
them within the fold.
MAKES A STATEMENT.
Special Agent Swartz, Of the Carpenters
Union, yesterday made statement, taking
exceptions to assertions made by Manager
Johnston, of the Exposition, in regard to the
strike. As to his calling on the men to lay
down their tools aud the course of the Trades
Council officials being unfair, he said it was
not so. He did not call on the men to lay
down their tools or tell them to strike. On
Friday they came to him for advice about
the condition of affairs. He advised
them to be patient and wait until
they shad been investigated. On Satur-
day night the matter came up be-
fore the Trades Council and he again
advised the men to wait. On Monday a
committee of the men came to him, and he
went to the Exposition to investigate. He
found that there were six non-union carpen-
ters at work, four employed by Dauler,
Close & Johns and two by the Westing-
house Company, also nine non-union cleo
tricians He told the men that all was not
right; that non-union men were working
there. Shortly afterward they quit