The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-01
ABSENTEES RE U r n
But Won't Say Where They
Went or What They Did.
Each Side Is Keeping Close
Watch on the other.
FEDERATION OF LABOR
May Take a Hand Unless Strike
Be Settled This Week.

of the meeting of the executive board
of the Amalgamated association began
this morning and decisive action
whether for continued war or for peace
is looked for today.
President Shaffer appears to be ex-
ceedingly anxious to bring about a set
Element of the controversy, but it does
not seem that he will be successful in
pursuading the ma ority of his associates
unless he is able to obtain for them
some modification of the terms that
were laid down to them by the big cor
poration- He spent all day yesterday
in his most earnest endeavors to obtain
SONG concession, and the secret con-
ferences by long distance telephone and
with Messrs. Veryl Preston and Joseph
z. Schwab of the United States Steel
corporation who are in this city, were
many and it is believed fruitless.
This unsettled condition of AFFAIRS
has produced a great restlessness
among those interested in the outcome
and while everybody fervently hopes
that today viii bring an end to strife
many still are apprehensiye. Whatever
the rock seems to be upon which the
dove Of peace refuses to rest, 1t must
be very sharp one to produce such
spirit of dissension as has manifested
itself among the members of the exec
utive committee
Pending the result of the conference
there exists a sort of armed neutrality
between the opposing factions in the
great struggle. The strike leaders have
relaxed none of their vigilance and the
operating officials of the steel combine
are going on with their plans to start
the mills There was some excitement
at Wellsville last night over the report
that enough men to start the two mills
were coming from Apollo. Trains were
closely watched and the river front pa
trolled all night but no new men arriv-
ed The advisabihty of dealing forci-
bly, with the new men was openly dis
cussed and the rabid expectations fore
shOwowed and growing bitterness that
sooner or later may begin to eliminate
seriously should failure of settlement
be followed by an attempt on the part
of the company to import additional
men.
From sources close to the mill man
agement the declaration was made to-
day that imn ediately following a rup-
ture in the peace negotiations new men
would be imported. In the meantime
the company would devote it's entire
attention to persuading some of the
weaker men to go back to work. The
strike situation at AcKeesport is with
out change. No efforts to resume oper-
atoms have been made at either the
Devices Wood or Demmler plants, but
everything is in readiness for an early
start with the older men If a settle
ment IS effected and with new ones II
the conference rejects the peace propo-
sition.
Last night J. w. Smith of WellsvsIle.
O., reached McKeesPort and inquired
for work as roller in the w Devices
Wood plant The stranger had been in
the town less than ten minutes when he
was surrounded by a crowd of the
strikers.
Prompt interference by the police
averted a riot, and Smith was locked
up on the charge of disorderly conduct
de viii be arraigned for a hearing to-
day The man declared that he did nor
know that a strike had been declared in
McKeesport. The incident causes in
tense excitement and the strikers re-
neWed their vigilance at the mill en-
frances after the arrest
The Ama1gamated conference resun,-
ed promptly at 10 a. m, all the an
sentees Of yesterday were on hand and
there was a full attendance. Previous
to the meeting Secretary williams was
asked II he had anything to give out
His answer was no.
viii you have anything bv -
o'clock?" was asked.
not
DIDN'T SEE RALPH EAsIEY.
The conference began in earnest at II
o'clock when President Shaffer arose
and addressed the meeting He spoke
lor ~ minutes and a general and ami
mated discussion followed During q
brief lntermission Secretary Williams
came out and denied the report of a
mysterious peace meeting at the Hotel
Duquesne last evening between .RaIph
W Easley, secretary of the National
civic federation, Secretary BishoD of
me Onlo board of arbitration. Secretary
-Wliharns and others. He said he was
not present. He was silent on the nro-
ceedings of the conference TO-DAY
At 10:45 Joseph Bishop. secretarv Of
the ONO board of arbitration and a
former president of the Ar0algamated
association, reached the headouarfers
shortly after meeting began, and was
at once admitted to the conference
room General Organizer Flynn Of the
.Al 9i RECREATION of Labor, also
called out did not remain long Ap-
parently the cOnfereeS are spending the
time IN desultory discussion as was
the case yesterday and the day before
Shortly before noon William Gibson
vice president-eIect of the Pittsb1lrg
district. left the headquarters He had
a roll Of typewriter COPY in his noclxet
and it was said he had gone to sub
mt a proposition to some representa-
tive OF the United States Steel corDo-
ration In this city. The conference ad-
lourned at u O'Clock to meet again at
O'Clock When the meeting closed the
following statement was issued:
we, the men bers of the executive
board of the Amalgamated associa-
ton, desire to deny emphatically the
reports published of expressions of dis
agreement among us We are dispos-
ing of the work before the committee
as fast as its Importance will permit
and no member has expressed any
opinion or given out anv statement of
he, a.