The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-02
Amaiga mated and Man.
ufacturers to Confer.
MUST SETTLE SCALES
Decisions Said To Be Finai--
Much Speculation as to
Who Would Represent
the Steel People.

Pittsburg. July 30.-Three new
wage scales may have to be formii-
lated by the manufacturers and the
| Amalgan ated association before the
present steel workers. strike is possi-
BILE Of a settlement. The declaration
Of strike on the part Of President
Shaffer, which called out from the
mills all the union men in the employ
Of the American Tin Plate company,
he American Steel Hoop company
and the American Sheet Steel COM
pany, abrogated the wage agreement
that existed before the strike was de-
clared. With the last two companies
the scale for the present year had
never been signed. 1t was practically
agreed to, but the dispute over the
unionizing OF the mills Of these CON-
panies brought about the abandon.
ment OF the agreement With the
tin plate company the wage scale had
been signed for the year ending July
1. 1902, and this also ended with the
strike.
Another Wage Conference Probable.
For the reason stated the confer
ence to end the present strike will re-
suit in wage conferences being held
over again in each case where the
companies Interested are affected. 1t
is thought that this matter will be
taken up between the manufacturers
and the Amalgamated association inn
mediately after the decision is arrived
at to end the strike. providing. of
course, that this decision is reached.
No difficulty Is expected in reaching
wage agreement between the COM
panies anu the Amalgamated associa-
ton when the time comes, though
| President Shaffer declined to discuss
this matter last night
With the tin plate wage scale the
formal adoption OF the scale that was
sbrogated will be all that Is neces-
sary. 1t was intimated, however, that
when the settlement was reached the
company might not be so willing to
grant all that was secured at the first
conference. With the American Sheet
Steel company the demand made by
the Amalgamated association at the
time the negotiations were broken on
was for re-establishment of the scale
for the year just passed. and II this
agreement islstill in view, it Is
thought that there will be little dispo-
sition to combat it on the part Of the
company will be obliged to reach an
agreement entirely new and some
time may be required before it is set
tied satisfactorily to the two sides in
terested in the controversy.
Committees Decision Final.
The meeting of the general execu-
tive committee OF the Amalgamated
association this morning will have to
deal with tho terms Of the wage mat
ter. as we'll as with the vital point re-
garding the scope of the Amalgamated
association in the mills OF these COM
panies. This general executive COM
mittee OF the workers organization is
composed OF the three national offi.
GERS. President Shaffer, Secretary
ant M. f. Tighe. also Ben |. Williams,
editor Of The Amalgamated Journal; /;
the three national trustees and nine
vice presidents or leaders Of the nine
subdistricts Of the organization. This
makes committee OF 16 In ALL As
an organization the committee Is
known as the court of last resort by
the Amalgamated men. The decision
reached by the members is final, and
under the articles OF the constitution
OF the organization the members
agree to abide by 1t.
Much curiosity was manifested yes
terday as to the personality of the
men who would confer as the commit.
tee for the manufacturers. It was i'm.
possible to gain any information from
the manufacturers regarding this
: point, and the Amalgamated officials
! declared that they were in ignorance
OF the plans of the United States
| Steel corporation. Every one Of the
Amalgamated men put the proyiso In
their remarks that they might meet
| with the manufacturers providing the
, settlement of the strike was agreed
to at their meeting today. BY this IL
is inferred that the members of the
executive committee were still in an
uncertain frame of mind regarding
| The outcome of the meeting this morn
, ing. The utmost silence was being
preserved by the AmalHamated men
/ on this subject. and President Shaffer
said last night that his lips were
sealed by positive agreement until
, the matter was settled. He declared
, mat under the conditions existing he
could not talk to any one on any mat
/ ter Affecting the United States Steel
, corporation or tho strike as 1t at pres.
ent exists. He even refused to talk
upon the latest reports of the strike
IN the outlying districts. and said that
/ VII this was covered by the agreement
made by him.
Speculation az to Representation.
None Of the manufacturers' repre.
Sentatives who met with the Amalga-
, mated association at the last confer.
, ence had arrived from New York, as
far as made public last nieht VaryI
Preston. former president OF the
American Steel Hoop company. and
l. w. jerks. general manager of that
company, were In Pittsburg, but could
l not be found last night. No word had
: been rAcAiXAd from Xlno D.oaia~.I