New-York tribune., 1901-07-29
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TO SETTLE STEEL STRIKE
AMALGAMATED ASSOCIATION
TO CONSIDER PROPOSITION.
RESULT OF CONFERENCE OF ]. P NOR
GAN AND t. F. SHAFFER
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l


pleased tonight their prospects OF peace
through the offer from the United States Steel
Corporation President Shaffer and Secretary
Williams at New-York yesterday. The rank
and file do not know what is contained in the
proposition but from the course taken by Presi-
dent Shaffer the belief is unanimous that the
end of the trouble seems to be at hand
Even if there is peace a result OF the
attempt of ], Fierpont Morgan in his offer to
make terms to adjust the prevailing trouble.
the men fee; exuberant over the single fact that
Mr.. Morgan. as the virtual head of the United
States Steel Corporal on. made the Overtures
looking for cessation of warfare. 1t is unde-
nable that much of the normal enthusiasm OF
the men has teeh toned down by the repeated
declarations from officials of the Steel Corpora
ton that the fight must go to a finish and that
compromise was impossible now. Then. close
upon the last statement from Warner Arms that
the Steel Corporation had no care over the
strike and that the men would gradually be
worn out. the proposition of Mr. Morgan. who
had taken the ground in public. for set
tlemeat. brought back all the former enthu-
siasm.
RETURN FROM CONFERENCE
President Shaffer and Secretary Williams re-
turned to Pittsburg this morning from New
York. where they had been in conference with j.
Pierront Morgan almost all of Saturday on the
strike and it's possible adjustment. Immediate
ly after reaching home the two officials sent out
notices to all members of the executive board
of the Amalgamated Association. directing them
to meet at the office of President Shaffer at 10
o'clock Wednesday morning
At that time the entire proposition made by
]. Pierpont Morgan to President Shaffer and
Secretary Williams at New-YOrk yesterday win
be given into the hands of the executive board
for acceptance or rejection. President Shafer
and Secretary Williams tonight made short
statement covering a portion Of their trip to
New York. which without the knowledge
of all save a few. even of the officers of the
Amagamated Association. They stated that in
response to a request from Mr. Morgan last Fri
7 day they left Pittsburg Friday night and
spent several hours in conference with Mr.. Nor
gan. They left his offices at o'clock yesterday
afternoon in possession Of the proposition of
the United States Steel Corporation. which is
to be placed with the executive board on
Wednesday morning.
REFUSED TO TAKE ACTION.
The offer was made directly to President
/ Shaner and Secretary Williams. with a request
for action Immediately. They refused to go
/ further than listen to the terms of the OFFER
which We're reduced TO writing, and promise 70
place the matter before the executive board OF
the strikers association for prompt action.
They informed Mr.. Morgan that the discretion
J in the trouble did not extend to making terms
| and that the best they could do would be 10
| Law the terms of adjustment before the execu-
tive board with possible advice Mr.. Morgan
contended for immediate settlement. or at least
| some expression from Messrs- Shaffer and Will
Jams on the proposition. Both declined to COM
nit themselves by any expression as to the
terms of the proposition. but went into full
discussion of the strike and its features. This
/ ii is believed had a good effect
/ In course of the conference between Mr. Nor
| gan and the Amalgamated Association of1cers
/ President Charles NJ. Schwab and Judge e H
Gary came into Mr. MOrgan's offices and took
part in the conference Mr.. Schwab took an
/ extreme position against the Amalgamated AS
sociation chiefly because of the experience of
the Carnegie Steel Company and on the ground
that settlement if made would at best be
/ merely temporary n character. and that the
/ same trouble would TO the front again
next year He opposed settlement in general
but Judge Gary took a more conservative
/ course.
MR. MORGAN'S PROPOSITION.
Between the two advices Mr.. Morgans propo-
| sition came as a sort of mediator. Messrs.
! Schwab and Gary gave their approval to the
| terms submitted by Mr. Morgan and the Anal
/ gamated Association officers promised TO return
a prompt answer Both President Shaffer and
Secretary Williams stated positively that the
Z terms OF Nr MOrSana'S proposition would not De
| made known to any one until Wednesday morn
ing and then only to the members Of the execu-
tive board. If the proposition is accepted its
| contents may be given the public with Mr..
| Morgan's consent. If ii is rejected any state
ment must come from Mr.. Morgan or an officer
of the United States Steel Corporation first.
Without referring TO the terms of the PROPOSE
tion neither President Shaffer nor Secretary
Williams would give an expression on the mat
ter al present They assumed the position that
/ It would be a serious discourtesy the mem
hers of The executive board IL they discussed a
proposition that is unknown to the board and
upon which the board must take final and de-
csive action. Neither would they venture an
opinion as to the probabilities Of its acceptance
| on the grounds that they would be assuming to
know the opinions of the members of the board
on an unknown proposition
! However. both left much TO be inferred Presi-
/ dent Shader's attitude N the whole trouble has
! been decided and unmistakable. and the execu-
| tive board has supported his views. He has re-
| fused TO take seriously certain offers for
mediation, and has declared that the fight might
well go long enough TO determine
pletely the position of both sides to the contest
/ Hence the inference tonight that Mr.. Morgan's
proposition coatain something of the
| views of President Shaffer, he would have
refused to carry home the offer and lay il be-
fore the executive board in special session.
| IT is left TO inference too, that he must have
/ considerable respect for the proposition. and
that he must have believed that the proposition
is likely to be accepted to have taken the course
he did. And. finally il is left plainly To infer
ence that if he had thought we'll OF tho
proposition he would not have promised inn
mediate meeting of the board to take action.
/ Ii is believed that the action Of Mr.. Morgan
takes up the union question at the point at
which IL dropped by the final wage confer
ence.