Gilpin observer., 1899-07-06
REFUSE ARBITRATION
THE CORRESPONDENTS in FULL
The smelter Trust Declares 1t Cannot
Recognize Labor Unions.

Denver, Colo, July 3.-After n delay
of four days, Former Governor J. B.
Grant of the Smelter Trust returned an
answer yesterday 10 the recent letter
of the State Board of Arbitration,
which asked the company to treat with
the employees of the Denver plants.
The reply Is in substance what Cover
nor Grant intimated to the News at the
time the letter was received from Sec
retary Hynes. Following is the letter:
Denver, July Nv. F. Hynes, Esq,
Secretary State Board of Arbitration.
Denver: Dear Sir-In reply to your
favor of June %, beg to draw your at
tention to the fact that the committee
which has petitioned your honorable
board for arbitration of the differences
between this company and its employees
signs itself as committee of Mill and
Smeltermen's Union No. 93. which is, 1
believe, affiliated with the State FEEDER
alton of Labor and the Western FEEDER
alton of Miners.
"This company has no business rela-
tions with the above-named union No.
93, and does not intend to treat with
Its employees as representatives of that
organization. On the other hand, we
feel that the chances are favorable for
short time. and we are disposed to ex-
haust all legitimate resources in COM
Ing to an agreement with our own men
before resOrting to arbitration. The
same policy has been followed, rs you
perhaps know, by several of the man
ayers of other plants belonging to this
company, which plants are now In OPP
GRAFTON. l remain, yours very truly,
81. B. GRANT,
Chairman Operating Committee"
| Secretary Hynes of the Board Of Ar
bitration during the entire afternoon
attempted to get the board together for
n meeting, but failed. President By
ers was out of the city, and it may be
possible that n meeting can be arrang-
| ed for to-day. Some surprise is eX-
pressed at the letter of Chairman Grant
concerning his remarks on organized
labor. Secretary Hynes, in the letter
| which the board directed him to write,
made no mention of any labor union
or organized labor and never intimated
that the Board of Arbitration had re-
ceived communication from anybody
excepting employees OF the American
Smelling and Refining Company at
Denver and Pueblo.
The letter of Secretary Hynes which
called forth the reply above is as fol-
bows:
Denver June 19-Mr. James B.
Grant. Chairman of the Operating
Committee American Smelling and Re
'fining Company: Dear Sir-The em-
ployes of the American Smelling and
Refining Company in writing requested
-as you have already been orally in
formed-the Board of Arbitration to
endeavor to bring about settlement
of the difficulties with reference to
terms and conditions of employment
which unfortunately now exist he
tween your company and those 'peti-
| tioning employees. The statute GREAT
ing this board states that on receiving
| notice of such n condition such as that
which now prevails between your COM
pany and Its employees. it shall endea-
vor to effect bgy mediation an amicable
settlement of the existing difficulties.
We therefore assure you of our most
earnest desire to assist in uringlng
these differences or misunderstandings
to speedy termination to the end thnt
industrial Sotivity may be resumed,
which we feel sure is your personal de-
sire and also that of your employees.
In The event of your expressing Will
ingness' to submit the question now in
| DISPUTE between your company ana It's
employees ~ this board for settlement,
we assure you that it will be our pur-
pose to tafse the natter mp at once and
after learniaIg the facts from each side
submit an adjustment accnding TO
fairness ami Justice. HopinE'that you
will be alsha ito favor us with 'an early
reply and assuring you of czrr'- highest
personal esteem. Very respectfully.
"STATE. BOARD OF ARBlTRA-
l TION.
wv. +. Hy1nes. Secretary"