Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-16
B. N. CALDWELL ACTING
As A SELF APPOINTED
MEDIATOR IN STRIKE.
BELIEVED THAT HE HELD A con-
FERENCE WITH PRESIDENT
SHAFFER YESTERDAY.
NEITHER SIDE WILL ADMIT
THAT THERE is BASIS OF SET
ELEMENT IN SIGHT OR IN
DER CONFEDERATION.

the strike, but their success is profile
NAUTICAL Neither side will admit that
there has been a single step toward
bringing about reapproachment or
that there Is any prospect of an eA-
change of peace proposals.
d. NJ. Caldwell. formerly manager OF
the Aetna-Standard. is known 20 have
conferred with the strike leaders
with view to sketching basis of set
Element which he plans to place before
the officials of the corporation. He Is
believed to be the mysterious man who
conferred with President Shaffer for
more than two hours at the strike head
quarters to-day, although the latter
said later that he had not seen Mr..
Caldwell for months. Both sides vigor-
ously denied that they had either made
overtures or received proposals but II is
known positively that ene plan is under
consideration
Mr.. Caldwell is acting independently
and does not represent either the man
ufacturers or the men. No expression
from him was obtainable and no line
on the terms that have been considered
can be had. 1t is believed here that UNI
der certain circumstances the contend
ing sides could be brought together and
settlement effected but whether such
will come to pass remains to be seen.
President Shaffer In a significant state
ment made at noon to-day, said that
personally he was for peace and that
the fighting was only because he was
on the defensive and forced to fight.
Meantime the Context
between the two great interests Is be-
ing waged with yigor and slightly var.
wing fortune The steel corporation
seemed to be somewhat stronger at the
lower Union mill of the Carnegie COM
pany In this city. although the strikers
are still working hard to cripple or
close 1t. The corporation also a6Gei
to the force at Wellsville and announc-
ell that at least it had the plant run
ming to its full capacity. 1t mad BEEN
anticipated that the day would show
some move on the part of the Ameri-
can Tin Plate Company toward opening
one or more of its plants with non-un-
ion men, but nothing was done and
there were no attempts at extensions
| In other directions. Three hundred
men employed at the seamless tube
plant at McKeesport, an auxiliary OF
the National Tube Company, threw
down their tools and joined the strik-
ers. It Is said that they quit because
they would not handle non-union made
material. During the day the strikers
kent a close watch on the plants that
are being operated with non-union
men and also kept alert pickets around
the Carnegie plants and the works that
are completely closed down. There
were few developments and except In
the instances enumerated there have
been no changes IN the general situa-
ton. Good order was general through
out all strike districts.
President Shaffer and his associates
had a busy day at strike headquarters.
They were on hand early and with
dead line that kept the third h9or
of the Bissell block
CIesr all all Intruders,
went into conference with the man who
ia believed to be Mr.. Caldwell. who has
come into the breach with peace
plan.
Later in the day. Michael Kelley, re-
presenting the Amalgamated lodge, OF
Milwaukee and Samuel Adams, OF the
Joliet lodge. were closed with the ad-
visory board They made an extended
statement as to the circumstances I'M
der which their organizations faned 10
go out. and it is said that they promis-
ed that their men would 60 on strike
IL permitted to give the three months
notice provided for in their contracts.
None of the participants in the discus
sion would talk when the meeting end
ed for the day. The local strike lead
ers are very anxious to secure rever-
sal of the vote by which the western
men remained at work and some Of
them seem confident that something
will be accomplished.
1t is rumored that the United States
Steel Corporation is negotiating for the
absorption of the Republic Iron and
Steel Company. There have, 1t is said,
been q number of conferences between
prominent stockholders in the two COM
panies and that terms Of purchase. have
been practically agreed upon. The Re-
public plant is large one and its pur-
chase would add greatly to the COM
mercial strength of the steel corpora
ton. No statement as to the terms is
obtainable.
Y0uagptoWn Aav1ces
ray that the ofncials Of the American