The Meeker herald., 1899-06-24
THE SHELTER STRIKE.
Ceaaittss Of Cancellation Is ut Work and
Hope for Success.

De0vef, June lo.-lne nepuUica0
this morning says: For three houn
and q half yesterday afternoon the
citizens committee. OF which Presi-
dent Je1ery of the Denver & Rio
Grande Railroad is chairman, dis
cussed in secret session the conditions
Of the smelter strike with committees
Of the smelter men. Eight members
constituted the smelter mems commit
tees. four representing the employees OF
the Grant and four the employees of the
Globe. The official result, as given out
by Chairman JefYery, is contained In
the following statement:
"The committee have, according to
their best judgment. furthered the
opening of negotiations between the
smelter managers and their men with
. view to an early resumption of
work, and the committee believe that
progress has been made which, in q
few days, may culminate in the re-
opening of the smelters In Denver and
Pueblo. 1t is learned that the presi-
dent Of the American Smelling Com
pany will probably arrive In Denver
on Wednesday, when Il mutually salts
factory scale of wages may be agreed
upon between the managers and the
men. In the meantime the committee
about SO desirable a result"
All the phases of the situation were
gone over in detail by the commit
tees. On the question Of hours and
compensation for an hour day the men
apparently agreed with the position as
sumed by the slnelter managers. At
$3.50 Manager Grant Went into the
conference and remained until 5
O'Clock. When he came out he said
that there was nothing new in the
situation, but beyond this simple an
nouncement declined to say anything.
The members of the citizens commit
tees were as silent as Mr.. Grant.
1t Is not certain that the men will
await the arrival of President Nash
Of the American Smelling Company
before making another move. What
this move may be will probably be
settled to-day. Much of the discussion
at yesterdays conference indirectly re-
volved around the recognition of the
union as a union in the determination
of the wage scale and the hour system.
The men argued for such recognition.
but the citizens committee did not feel
empowered to consider this matter
An effort WIN be made to treat with
the men. not as II union. but as COM
Whether this will he successful is con-
sidered doubtful by some of the lead
ers, both of the union and Of the State
Federation Of Labor. The optimistic
tone perceptible in the official state
ment issued by the citizens committee
shows that the negotiations so far as
they have gone have been carried on in
spirit of friendship. and that both
men and managers are anxious for the
resumption of work mt the smelters.
The citizens committee will hold it
self ready to perform further service
pending the arrival of President Nash
Of the company next Wednesday.
The sentiment at the meeting of
striking smelter men ut Gyllesten's
hall yesterday was strongly In favor
of insisting that the union be recog-
nized by the trust rs condition pre-
cedent to going back to work.
A committee Of six, appointed to con-
fer with Governor J. b. Grant this
morning. was given power to act. Be-
read the intention Of the men to allow
the committee to arrange suitable
compromise on the wage scale.
The smelter owners on Saturday
proved the sincerity of their statements
that they desired the smelter trouble
settled by bringing test suits to ascer-
tain the constitutionality of the eight
hour law. a decision as to whether or
not the law will stand may be expected
this week.
An agent and an employe were
charged before Justice Mullins with
violating the eight-hour law by labor
ing and causing to labor" two hours in
excess of that time at the Omaha and
Grant smelter on June 10th. Each was
held under 500 bail, In default of
which both We're ordered committed to
the county Jail, but never were actually
incarcerated. AT noon Wolcott &
Vale applied to the Supreme Court for
a writ Of habeas corpus for the re-
lease Of the prisoners. This was at
once granted and thus the case will
come directly before the Supreme
Court. Tomorrow day will be set for
the argument, which may take place
about Wednesday. After that a decis-
Ion is possible at any time and will be
rendered at the earliest convenient
moment.
Attorney General ID. NJ. Campbell
and Deputy Attorney General Calvin
F. Reed. both of whom sincerely be-
lieve the law constitutional, will pre-
sent the case for the state.
Cubans Want Money.