Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-04
THEODORE J. SHAFFER,
The New Pennsylvania Labor Leader, Bundle OF
Contradictions
tnb

the best educated and most thoughtful
man In the union councils, lie Is not
popular among the ordinary run OF
worltmen FOR he Is not chummy. Ills
health is miserable and for a long time
two years ago he was confined 20 hos
pItal. II was Jus. before that break
down that he had the long contest with
the unplate trust, He carefully como
cealed his failing condition from the
trust representatives. fearing that II
they knew II they would prolong the
light until he could not longer hold up
his head He brought them to TIME and
the next day gave way, and went into
the hands Of he surgeons
This Is an Illustration OF the mans
earnestnoss and determination. He Is
a stubborn man, but liable o. change
his attitude suddenly, not because Of
outer influences, but because he
changes his own mind during medita-
ton He thinks and broods, which are
two different things He has spells Of
deep gloom. Sometimes he loses himself
for a fortnight and his closest friends
cannot find him, He retlrcs within
himself, and at all times he Is re-
served. Few know him well Occa-
sionally he talks freely 20 an intimate.
and unfolds all his aims ana hopes All
the time he Is student delylng into
economic problems.
Some say Shaffer is In the labor
work for money and fame. The facts
show otherwise. His salary Is but sl.50O
and expenses Perhaps that Is better
than he ever would NJ e done In the
pulpit, but the chief advantage he finds
In his present office Is the opportunity
to move about a great deal and to
serve an interest to which he is fondll
attached
During the long tin plate tle-up he d..
vided his small salary with a brother
who was one Of the locke1-out work
luen. and while thus supporting two
farilles, and knowing It to be 10 his Il.
nancIal and physical interests to yield
the contest he stuck to It under pain
fll atlllctlon until be won what most
persons considered hopeless fight.
AS an orator Shaffer Is easy and con.
vlnclng. He Is glib talker. but his
style on the platform Is STACEY He
poses-perhaps II Ia the result OF earn
estness, perhaps to impress his audi
tors, who are not always OF the most
intelligent sort Still It IL true that
inc eeoVNihelpll
many OF the Highest class OF workmen
In the United States.
Shaffer has not been strikingly sue
cessful as an organizer. He does not
enthuse his hearers, He only con-
vinces those who think while he talks.
The association has grown rapidly dur
ing his presidency, and now lbs more
that $4,000 members but the organizer
Of the order Ia John Williams, the ma
tonal secretary. Williams Is tin
plate worker, and the strength Of the
association lies among the men In the
tin plate mills.
The president OF the Amalgamated Is
not a dictator. His word Is not law.
He Is the buffer the negotlator between
the order and the employers. The ma
tIonsl board is the authority wherein
lies the power TO decide. Shaffer Is Its
representative and must obey its be-
hests.
President CHATTER is now about fifty
years old He Is married, but has no
children. lie has comfortable little
home and large library.