The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-31
Outlook For Strike Settlement
Not So Good.
Efforts to Preserve Secrecy
Have Been RedOubled.
AWAY TO SEE HANNA.
Report That Strike Leaders
Went to Cleveland.
Left Last Night on Late Train
on Mysterious Mission.

Pittsburg. Pa, July 31.-The outcome
of the deliberations of the executive
board of the Amalgamated Association
OF Iron, Steel and Tin workers upon
the propositions of the United States
corporation officials for the settlement
of the steel strike are still hanging in
the balance While nothing definite
was accomplished yesterday the more
sanguine element seem to be still in
the majority and better news is hoped
for today From what could be learned
in spite of the secrecy maintained, the
older and more conservative N embers
were willing to accede to the PROPOSE
tions made to them by the other side,
but the younger displayed a spirit of
greater independence and a reliance
upon the power of the organization to
force better terms than those submit
ted to them. The meeting was said to
be continued this morning, but when
the newspaper men arrived at head
quarters they were refused admittance
to the building by order of the owner
of the BiSSel block, in which the Anal
gamated assOcia ton meets This made
it difficult to obtain any definite infor-
nation and all sorts of rumOrS became
at once circulated.
It was stated that a meeting would
be held elsewhere; that President
Shaffer and Secretary Williams had
left for New York last night; that sew
era1 n embers of the board had gone
to see Senator Hanna at Cleveland
and that no meeting would be held
today or until the national officers ana
absent members of the board had re-
turned. The report that Shaffer had
slipped off to New York was proven
untrue, as he was seen on the streets
of this city during the morning. One
fact, however, is certain. that at 10
o'clock only two men could be seen IN
the rooms of the Amalgamated aSsO-
citation, one of them Vice President
David Reese, who was vigorously
working the telephone Shortly before
IL o'clock q number of vice presidents
arrived, but as far as could be learned
there was. no meeting. They sat
around talking and evidently were
awaiting the coming of the national
officers.
President Shaffer arrived shortly af-
ter II o'clock. He was seen, but gave
evidence of being under a severe strain.
When approached he would give no IN
timatiOn whatever as to the prospect
of either peace or an extension of the
strike, and said he did not know
whether there would be a session Of
this board this morning or not. With
this he hurriedly entered the Office room
and locked the door.
Vice President Chappen was seen a
few minutes later and he said there
would be a meeting of the board but
would not say anything more.
It is believed that If President Sha af-
fer can not impress the officers with
his views they viii hold another con-
y,
that today will be the final test, and if
a settlement can not be effected at this
sitting an extension Of the strike to all
of the union plants of the United
States steel corporation viii be ordered.
Manufa cturerS interested both in the
United States steel corporation and its
independant rivals are watching the
progress of the conference of the work
ers with keenest interest. They declar-
ed that if the workers do not agree at
=
all negotiations will be declared off md
no further conference will be possible.
They also declare that in the event of
a failure to settle the trouble AMIGA
bly,, the combine will use every endeav-
or to start a large number of its plants
within two weeks
NOTHING TO SAY"
Pittsburg, Pa July 31.-At PAS note
sent into President Shaffer stating a
report was current that the board had