The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-06
FIGHT TO THE FINISH
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE1

eral Steel Corporation, also joined the
conference and it was sometime after
the time first appointed that the con-
ference was formally opened.
MIR. Sehwab spoke first for the en-
ployers n was followed by Mr.. Nor
gan They declined to make any modi-
hcation of the terms offered by them
just one week ago, when Messrs. Scat
fer and Williams journeyed here for the
first conference.
Mr.. Shaffer and other men of +ba
Amalgamated Association insisted hat
more liberal terms be offered To them
There was a general discussion as TO
the whole proposition involved and
each mill, the unionization of which
has been disputed, was considered In
detail. When either side had fully ex-
pressed itself, the steel officials with
drew from the room in order to let the
labor representatives confer privately.
The latter decided to reject the offer
OF the Steel Corporation. and when MI.
Schwab returned to the room so in
formed him.. Mr.. Morgan and his two
partners withdrew almost at once and
a little later the Amalgamated men
took their leave also. The latter went
at once to the Stevens house, and after
a hasty lunch went into executive ses-
sion. 1t vas . o'clock when their meet
ing began and AIS o'clock when Pres
ident Shaffer came down into the lobby
m announced that they had conclud-
ed their work here and would leave at
once for their homes. President Shat
fer declined to say a word in addition
to the formal statement which was
given out by Secretary Williams, and
his companions were equally reticent.
Mr.. Shaffer asked that the statement
be printed in full. saying that the
strikers wished the public to under
stand their position
Not an intimation of the future pol
icy of the ~Amalgamated Association in
waging the great industrial battle
which it faces could be obtained from
any member of the party. Mr.. Shaffer
seemed grave and serious, despite the
vindication which his companions gave
him in their official statement, while
the other Amalgamated men seemed in
very high spirits.
Mr.. Shaffer paid the bill fer the party
at the hotel ana left. saying he intend
ed to take the first train to Pittsburg.
When the Amalgamated men left
him President Schwab went at once to
the office of j. p. Morgan and had a
talk with Mr.. Bacon. He went home
early in the afternoon, as did all the
other men who represented the corpor-
alton in the final debat of the issues
which divide them and their men. It
was evident that they expected to come
from the second meeting of the ANAL
gamated representatives when in pro-
gress.
No statement in behalf Of the Steel
Corporation was made and zone Of it's
representatives would talk for publica-
ton. 1t is believed here that there
will be no immediate action from either
side, the expectation being that the
Steel Corporation will attempt the ope-
ration of some of its mills independent
of the union and that the Amalgamated
Association will call upon those in
sympathy with them to strike. If
there are no further efforts at ~concilia-
ton, and the strike is extended it may
develop into the largest conflict of the
kind in the history of the country.
Figures at this time as to the num-
Der of men and properties that would
be involved are pronounced unreliable
by conservative men who know the
trade. because many of the claims OF
strength put forward on either side are
disputed and can be tested only in ac-
III conflict.