The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-31

ment ana apprehension perVade the air
of Pittsburg tonight because OF the fail
ure of the executive board of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers to ratify the peace pro-
posals arranged at the conference in New
York last Saturday between the national
of1cers of the Amalgamated association
and Messrs. Morgan, Schwab and Gary
representing the United States Steel cor
poratton. When the conference opened
today 1t was confidently expected that an
agreement would be reached In a short
time, but after a session lasting from
$3.50 a. m. until $50 D. m, the meeting
adjourned without arriving at any con-
clusion so far as known, to meet again
tomorrow morning.
The protracted session indicates that
the board is not satisfied with the pro-
visions Of the compromise measures and
unless some notifications are made, It's
ratification is doubtful. The opening of
union mills to non-union workmen is the
point on which it is believed the board
hesitates to accept and the long distance
telephone between New York and Pitts
burg was worked frequently today to
get modification Of this clause. The
Workmen hold that this would give the
mill owners full opportunity of crushing
the union without a strike by finding ex-
cuSeS to discharges union men and then
fill their ~places with -unionists.
Another rock of dissenson is said to be
the retention in their present jobs of the
men who worked as "strike breakers" at
the various mills during the strike. 1t
is said that these men have been prom
ised the protection OF the manufacturers
in case of a settlement and that they
will not concede their dismissal at the
request of the organization. The work.
ers, it Is said, are willing to declare the
mills now working non-union open mills,
but strenuously object to having all tho
mills of the combine classified as open
mills.
LIPS ARE SEALED.
All IS, however, conjecture as It is i'm
possible to get any definite statement
from any OF the parties Interested con-
cerning the days conference. When
the board dispersed at 6:30, every mem
Der was waylaid by persistent news
paper men seeking information, but every
question was answered by the stereo-
typed phrase:
I'VE can say nothing. There ie abso-
lutely nothing to give to the public at
this time
1t is doubtful if the members of the
general executive board of the Amalga-
mated association were ever more uncom-
municative and reserved than during and
The Importance of the matter in hand,
the fate of the strike and the welfare of
thousands of the members of the or
ganization now idle, rested on their de-
cision. The full board was present, with
the exception of National Trustee John
Pierce. who was away on official busi-
ness. The members gathered at the gen.
eral offices of the Amalgamated associa-
tion early in the morning, and at $3.50
~ Oa11 10 s11s,&
Shaffer. Those pINSsent In addition to the
officials of the board were Joseph Bishop,
former president of the association and
now a member of the Ohio board Of arbi-
tration, and M. NJ Garland, also an ex-
president of the organization. When the
meeting was opened all but conferees
were requested to leave. The discussion
started after President Schaffer had gone
over the details Of the conference he had
had with Mr.. Morgan and President
Schwab in New York.
Secretary williams read the report in
conference which he had prepared, and
also the propositions that had been made
by the officials Of the United States Steel
corporation. The discussion that follow
ed continued until after the noon hour,
and then the meeting was adjourned un-
til 1:3O o'clock.
TALKED WITH NEW YORK.
At the afternoon session the telephone
was used considerably, and 1t was stated
that a portion of this time was spent in
working the New York wire.
President Shaffer and Secretary Will
liams declined to talk at all. Assistant
Secretary Tighe was agreeably happy and
cheerful, but said he knew nothing Of in
terest to the public. M. NJ Garland, who
was present at the first session of the
board, did not return during the after
noon, but seemed to be satisfied with
the situation. While Mr.. Garland has all
along maintained that he had taken no
active part in the negotiations for a set
tlement of the strike, he is believed to
know much more about movements pre-
liminary to this conference than he
wishes understood
Mr. Garland would not discuss the sit
uation, and would give no opinion Of the
result Of the conference. Under these
conditions, the result Of the meeting be-
came a matter Of pure conjecture during
the afternoon. At 2:40 o'clock the meet
ing of the board for the afternoon began
All were present who had taken part dur
ing the earlier session, with the excep-
ton of Mr.. Garland. Soon after the ses-
sion began, a significant incident took
place. Q. w. Bray, chief engineer of the
American Tin Plate company, and one
of the former conferees for the manu-
facturers, called at the offices. President
shaffer was called from the room and
held a fve-minute conversation with him
in the hall and then returned to the meet
ing, while Mr. Bray left the building. The
conference between these two men was
apparently of a friendly character and
indicated that there was at least no
strained feeling there.
Close watch was kept for results OF the
meeting. Twice President Shafrer came
into the hall, but said he could not give
any statement.
At the close of the days session the
members of the board slipped away one
by one to their homes, until no one was
left at headquarters but President Shafter
and Secretary Williams They at first re-
fused to give any information. but finally
President Shaffer said an adjournment
had been taken until tomorrow. Secrc-
tary Williams said nothing could be made
public.
CAUSE OF DEADLOCK.
After many trials and much question
ing concerning the strike conference the