Evening star., 1901-08-29
Speculation as to Methods by Which
1t Will Be Settled.
MEN MUST TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Trust Officials Would Arbitrate
Under Old Conditions.
TROUBLE ABOUT CONTRACTS

PITTSBURG, Pa, August 2D.-The prob
able means used to put an end to the great
industrial crisis now aff1icting this region
will be to start the men to work and af-
terward fix the status of the Amalgamated
Association with reference TO sthe steel
trust.
In other words. kind of modus vivendi
may be arranged by which work may be
resumed pending negotiations for the
future. | am told that this is likely to be
the outcome. 1t Will remain with Presi-
dent Shaffer to put the plan, at present
the only apparently feasible one, into eff
feet.
The steel trust is not urging Shaffer to
do anything. The position Of the trust has
been officially stated. and there their case
rests. The trust is not anxious for Shaffer
to act. Every weeks delay adds to the
list of mills that have been non-unionized,
and represents in the opinion of the
manufacturers so much gained.
1t is said that it will not be an easy task
to arrange the status of the Ama1gamated
Association for the future. There must be
complete realignment before the trust will
have aught to do with the Amalgamated
or recognize it.
The AmaIgamated will have to be in
corporated. and, as stated in these dis
patches last week, a bond will be required
for the future fulfllment of contracts I
have good authority for the statement that
Shaffer is willing to accept both conditions.
Probable Future Relations.
Within the past two days / have made
careful inquiry in certain directions to as
certain if the steel trust is Likely to again
recognize the Amagamated under any CON-
ditions at all The result is the statement
r+l,
the Amalgamated in the future if the as
sociation is put such basis to pre-
veE5 repetition of the broken contracts
al Joliet and Milwaukee, and in the tin
plate mills.
But the trust will absolutely and posi-
lively refuse to permit the association to
extend its power beyond its present status.
and will not restore the power that has
been curtaiIed during this strike.
1t is said the trust thinks the Amalga-
mated Association can be useful in its way
if il desires to be. That was the reason
the trust was willing to sign an agreement
for the mills that were operated under the
agreement last year. 1t was thought that
the agreement would insure the steady op-
Grafton of the mills during the terms of
the contract, and that would be advan-
tageous to the operators as we'll as the op-
eratives.
But when Shaffer called out the men
VINO were at work under a contract. in
force, claimed by the trust the opera
tors held that the usefulness of the asso-
citation was ended. and before any further
dealings are held it will have to be put
on basis where ii can be compelled by
legal proceedings to live up to It's con-
tract
Outside WOrkmen Suffer Most
While this contention between the trust
and about 1900 of its organized operatives
goes on, between 60GO0 and 10000 workmen
idle. The Star published last week
some figures showing the membership of
the Amaigamated Association. A review
of that statement shows that at the last
meeting of the Amalgamated Association
the membership was IL S.2. OF this num-
Der. 1t is estimated that $50 men are en-
ploy cd in mills outside the trust, and there
fcre, are not on strike. This leaves 1892
men employed by the steel trust who are
mt mbers of the Amalgamated Association
and who causing the idlencss of six
times their number OF men and crippling
many lines of industry. 1t is only fair to
add that Shaffer denies these figures, say
ing that while they may have been correct
few months ago, they have been changed
Since, and that the Amalgamated is much
stronger
The pressure for the resumption of work
by this large contingent of idle men who
are not vitally interested in the Amalga-
mated fight is becoming stronger every
day. The pressure is reaching Shaffer in
another way. 1t comes with a home thrust
every time mill is started with nOn-uniou
men thus weakening the hold of his asso-
citation on the trust. The question every
one asks is. how long before something
gives way under the pressure and the
wheels are started again.
ShaFer Willing to Arbitrate
President Shaffer is willing to leave the
dispute 10 arbitration. provided he can Sc
lect one arbitrator, have the steel trust
name the other and the two TO choose a
third.
Shaffer is unwilling, however TO submit the
dispute to the arbitration provided for by
the laws OF Pennsylvania. He could easily
throw the into court under the law
of the state providing for the arbitration
of disputes between employers and en-
piOyes. and the laws very specific If
differences arise which cannot be settled
to the mutual satisfaction of a majority of
all parties concerned. either party, or both
Jointly, make application to the court
of common pleas in the county where the
dispute has arisen.
1t then becomes the duty of the court
carefully to inquire into the merits of the
case set forth I'm the papers filed, and
IT, in its judgment. the application alleges
matters Of sufficient Importance TO warrant
the intervention of a board of arbitrators
to grant rule on each of the parties to
select three citizens of the county, of good
character and familiar with all matters in
dispute, to serve as members of a board
of arbitration. When each side has ap-
pointed three men, IL is the duty of the
court to appoint three more. as the board
of arbitration shall consist of nine men,
al! citizens of the county. The court will
then select president and a secretary of
the board.
when Only One Party Complains.
If but one party to the dispute has made
application for the appointment of a board
OF arbitrators order OF court shall be
issued to both parties In interest requiring
them to select their three members of the
board within ten days, and II they refuse