Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-11
THE GREAT CONFERENCE
WILL COMMENCE TO-DAY
NEITHER SIDE WILLING TO ANTICI-
PATE RESULTS. nUT 10Th ARE
HlOYANT.
THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
WILL PROBABLY he CONCEDED.
AND MAY END ALL TRouBLE
At ONCE.

HG, "a, July ~ ne
steel strike situation was quiet to-day.
pending the conference called for to-
morrow, in this city. Everything is
ready for the meeting. All details have
been arranged and the indications point
to a short session and an amieable ad-
justment OF the differences.
When the conference opens 1t will be
ready for work at once. 1t is tacitly
understood by both sides that all minor
matters are to be laid aside. Even the
matter of pay will not be discussed, as
both companies have consented to pay
the rates of the new scale. There will
he but one point presented-whethor
all the mills of the tive companies shall
be ~unionized or not. For this reasen
the Amalgamated people will not ell
ter the conference for the purpose Of
adjusting wages. but as executive OFF,
cials TO outline the policy of their or
ganization.
Who will represent the steel compa-
MES at the conference has not yet been
learned. 0feials who spoke for the
companies at the previous conferences
say they do not know whether they
will be sent to the new conference Or
not. II is likely that the companies
but 1t is not thought hat President
Sehwab or any OF the other general Off
Gals will take part. Although the
American lin Plate Company is not a
direct party to the conference, one OF
its mills, located at Monessen, Pa, Is
involved, an agreement having been
made that II the American Sheet Steel
Company signed the scale for all its
mills, the Tin Plate Company would
do likewise. BY this means a strike
was averted, and the scale signed for
all the tinplate mills but the n at
Monessen.
A dispatch from Wellsville, Ohio,
says that at a meeting of the new
Amalgamated lodge there last night a
dozen new members we're taken in, In
creasing the membership to SO. Three
O fthe men discharged from the mill
were reinstated, and 1t is believed that
the other nine who we're let out will
be taken back.
The members of the executive board
Of the Amalgamated Association who
are to take part in the conference to-
morrow, will arrive to-day. F. J. Will
liams, of Birmingham, Ala, was the
first of the vice presidents to put in an
appearance. When all have arrived a
conference will be held between them
and President Shaffer. Then the whole
situation will be considered and the
men will be placed in possession of
such information as will enable them
to go into the conference tomorrow
morning and act in an intelligent man
ner.
Two more signatures to the Amalga-
mated scale were received to-day. They
were the Standard Chain Company,
Columbus, O., and M~onongahelia Iron &c
Steel Company, Homestead, Pa.
President Shaffer said tonight that
the conference need not be
final, and may adjourn from day to day
for some time, but his committee will
not consent to an adjourned conference
for a week or more. II the conference
should fail TO reach an agreement the
situation will be practically the same
as 1t has been since the failure to reach
an agreement prior to the expiration OF
the scale year.
Neither manufacturers nor workmen
will tonight anticipate the result of the
conference, but the general buoyant
feeling of both contestants is indicative
taat a common ground has been reach
ed that will allow a settlement without
giving either Of the warning elements a
decided victory.
Vice President Warner Arms, of the
American Tin Plate Company, it is said,
has already drawn up an agreement
that will meet the views Of the manu-
facturers, and as 1t is said to concede
the right. of organization in the mills
to the workers, 1t is extremely prob
able that it will, without important
change, be adopted at the conference.