The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-19
Railroad Machine Shops Of the United
States and Canada Are Included
i'm the Labor Programme.
A FUTILE CONFERENCE HELD
MACHINIsTs REJECTED ARBITRA-
TION PLAN OF OPERATORS.
Meeting Broke Up, Both sides Vow
ing War to the Knffe-Local
Union Men Refuse to Talk.

CHICAGO. March 1s-After conferences
between representatives Of the Interna-
tfonal Association OF Machinists and the
administrative council of the National
Metal Trades Association ended at l:So
o'clock this morning. President James
O'Connell Of the union, declared that
strikes would be called Immediately in oil
parts OF the United States and Canada.
Such strikes would involve 100000 men and
cause to be shut down for an indefinite
period plants having an aggregate capital
of millions OF dollars.
Chicago labor troubles are responsible for
the disagreement which is expected to pre-
cipitate the general machinists strike.
Were it not for the fact that leaders of the
machinists, union refused to call OF the
strikes that now exist in Chicago. Column
bus. o., and Paterson. N. j.. the manu-
facturers and the leaders. It is believed.
would have come to an amicable agreement
and arbitration would have been perma-
nently established between the National
Metal Trades Association and the Interna-
tional Association Of Machinists- The
members of the executive board OF the
machinists union, however. refused TO call
off the Chicago strike. as they declared
that IL they did the Chicago local would
secede from the international association.
When the refusal Of the machinists to end
the strike was presented to the ruanufac-.
turers they issued an ultimatum TO the la
Dor leaders, and on their refusal to agree
to it's provisions all negotiations were
broken off.
Before leaving the rooms IN which the
joint conference was held President James
O'Connell. of the international union. de-
clared that the union would begin imme-
diately to call strikes In all parts Of the
country The first of these strikes will be
called in Cleveland. o. After all the large
cities have been tied UP strikes will be
called in the machine shops Of all the rail-
roads in the country.
THE FUTILE CONFERENCE.
The joint conference which commenced
at 2 O. clock Saturday afternoon and did not
end until 1870 o'clock Sunday morning, was
held at the Grand Pacific Hotel. There
were present representing the machinists'
union President James O'Connell, WASH
ington; Organizer Stuart Reed, Toledo:
Hugh Doran, Chicago; A w. Holmes, Buf-
falo; p. ]. Conlin, Sioux City: ]. ]. Con-
molly. Boston.
The manufacturers present at the con-
ference were George d. Sheldon, Erie iron
works. Erie, Pa; +. NJ. stillman. Watson
Stillman Company. New York; w. NJ. Tay-
lor, Chandler & Taylor Company. Indianap-
oils; Walter Laidlow. Dunne-Gordon COM
pany, Cincinnati; H. w. Hoyt, Gates iron
works, Chicago: NJ. H. Barker, American
tool and Machine Company. Boston; II. n.
Leland, Leland & Falkner. Detroit. Mich-s
~ .l.Cf NM
pany Boston: ]. w. Gardiner. Gardiner
Grosvenor Company. Quincy. Ill: +. W.
Pillsbury, Fred Wolf Company, Chicago;
Charles Allis. Edward p Aliis Company.
Milwaukee, Wis; Fred Schweltmann, Wag-
ner Electric Manufacturing Company. St.
Louis; w. j. Chalmers, Frazer & Chalmers.
Chicago and England; H. +. Devans. New
York; p. w. Gates. Gates iron works. Chi
cago; Charles r. Newcombe. Erie iron
works Erie. Pa; IL. n. Covell Lddgerwood
Manufacturing Company. Brooklyn; A ].
Caldwell, pump trust, New Jersey.
After meeting in separate conferences all
the afternoon the manufacturers and labor
leaders began a joint meeting at p. m.
At this meeting the manufacturers submit
ted 10 the machinists proposal for arbi-
tration substantially as follows:
All strikes to be called of: an arbitration
committee, consisting OF the presidents OF
the two organizations and two members
from each Association, who shall arbitrate
all present and future difficulties and whose
decision shall be accepted as final by both
parties TO the agreement
On the second proposition the two asso-
Citations were united. The labor leaders.
after holding a meeting, refused TO agree
to the first proposition and submitted a de-
mand for immediate and separate arbitra-
ton of the Chicago difhculties. This the
manufacturers refused 10 ratify and the
conference broke up. both sides making q
formal declaration OF war.
DECLARATION OF WAR
The declaration OF the machirists took
the form of threats OF an International
strike, made by President o'Conneli and
Organizer Reed. The manufacturers pre-
sented their side OF the question In resoiu-
tions. the substance Of which follows:
whereas, The administrative council of
the National Metal Trades Association has
met in Chicago for the express purpose OF
considering the question OF adopting a joist
agreement with the executive officers OF
the International Association of Machin-
lists relating TO the arbitration OF any diff
ference that may arise between the men,
bers of the two associations. and,
Whereas. The call for this meeting was
issued upon the express understanding that
the president OF the International Associa-
ton of Machinists. in consultation with
Mr. Herrit. a member or this association.
had not only approved OF the general form
OF the agreement indorsed by the National
Metal Trades Association this day. but
had signified his intention 70 call his exec
utive council together TO ratify the said
form OF agreement and.
whereas. The executive committee OF
the International Association OF Machinists
new refuses 10 sign said agreement. eivinR
tkox 80