Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-20
A CONFERENCE CALLED,

President Gompers Will Meet Allegheny
County Light Company Officials To- Day
An Enthusiastic Meeting-The Strikers
May Win n Victory-Their Chances
Good.
A conference between President Gompers,
of the Federation of Labor, and the officials
Of the Allegheny County Light Company
has been arranged for to-day. 1t is probable
that the matter will be settled before the de-
parture of Mr.. Gompers for New York, and
it may result in victory for the strikers.
There is considerable of misunderstanding,
and the officers are willing to take broad
view of the matter.
A special meeting of Local Union No.
1896, of the Federation, was held Yesterday
afternoon in Labor Hall. Owing to a mis-
understanding the hall had been rented to
L. A. 1883, Knights of Labor musicians,
and, after holding a partial meeting, the
Federation people were compelled to adjourn
to the headquarters of the Amalgamated
Association. Mr.. Gompers presided at the
meeting. The other Federated executives
present were Vice-President William
Martin and Secretary Chris Evans
President Gompers was invited to speak
first. but refrained from so doing. He asked
for a general discussion on the trouble in
order to get at the facts more closely. Quite
q number of the members of the union who
had refused to strike were also present and
gave their views. The discussion lasted
three hours, when President Gompers took
the floor.
In the course of his remarks he said the
Executive Council of the Federation had
carefully considered the advisability of in
viting representatives of the Allegheny
5ohf 10 hY7E
it was deferred. General Manager Blaxter,
he said, had expressed to reporter OF THE
DISPATCH Saturday willingness to meet
the Council, if they should ask for a confer
ence. In accordance with this, the Presi-
dent had sent him note, asking if he would
meet representatives from the Federation.
Mr.. Blaxter replied that if President Com
pers desired to see him, he could do so at
the Hotel Duquesne this Sunday or Mon
day morning. President Gompers replied
that he would be at the hotel to meet Mr..
Blaxter at IL o'clock Monday morning.
Mr.. Blaxter answered the last note by
saving that himself and one or two
other officers of the company would be on
hand at the appointed hour to talk over the
situation. Mr.. Blaxter explained his
hesitancy at not coming to the rooms of the
Amalgamated Association; saying that his
object might be misconstrued, and chose the
Duquesne as a central ground. There was
no feeling of discourtesy intended.
After explaining the circumstances and
the consequence, a suggestion was made to
appoint committee to act in conjunction
with the Executive Council to meet the
representative of the light company. The
committee was given full power to take any
steps they deemed advisable. The appoint
ment of the committee was ratified. 1t
consists of members of the union, who sus-
tanned the strikers, and those who stood by
the company. There are no strikers on the
committee.
Messrs. Marlin and Evans, also made
addresses in regard to the trouble, and ad-
vised the men what to do. The strikers are
hopeful of success.