River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-08-01
SETTLEMENT IS IN SIGHT.
Indications That Trust Officials and
Strike Leaders Will Reach
Agreement.
PRES. SHAFFfR TO SUBMIT PROPOSITION

| Conference of AmaIGnmated OmcIaIs
TO Occur Tuesday when Accept
nnce of Terms Made by shaffer
VIII he Considered Probable
Agreement IL Victory for Strikers
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 3O.--Pitts-
burghers generally express the great
est delight in anticipation of the set
tlement Of the steel strike and no
one seems to have the slightest doubt
that the negotiations for peace will
have any other result but a cessation
Of hostilities, laying down of arms
to take up the tools of trade.
So far neither of the contending
forces has suffered greatly. The
weather has been exceedingly hot
and the men look upon the last
month as a vacation during the heat
ed term. Working under the severe
strain of the oppressive heat lately
would have been an unusual hardship
at best, and the men think that on
| this account, perhaps, many lives
have been saved by the strike.
So far as the companies are con-
cerned they are also in better posi-
| ton for work now than they were
before the strike. Many of their
mills have been repaired and the con
ditions for an increased output are
greatly improved.
1t is true that a computation of
cold figures foots up total loss of
S6,5lG,00O on account OF the strike, of
which immense sum S3,96O,00O is
charged to the combine and S2,556,000
to the strikers, but this loss viii soon
be made up, owing to the better
prices which now prevail and the inn
proved operating conditions as well
as the better feeling between the en-
ployer and employe.
shaGer in Good Humor.
President Shaffer and Secretary
Williams were both early at the
Amalgamated headquarters Monday
morning and in rare good humor.
They still maintained their position
Of secrecy, however, and beyond adj
hitting that a call had been sent out
at night to all the members of the
executive board for a meeting to be
held in this city Tuesday morning,
refused to give any information as to
the probable settlement of the strike.
70 all questions President Shatfer re
piled that he had nothing to say, but
in q friendly talk of some length he
conveyed the idea that newspaper
men would little longer be following
him and watching his movements
From this il is believed that Mr.
Shaffer is satisfied that the executive
board viii agree to the proposition
he win present. With the approval
OF his recommendations joint
meeting could he held and a settle
ment effected The moment COM
mon ground for negotiating such
question as this one is found, it is
believed. there win be little difficulty
in getting down to a general agree
ment which will bring peace with it.
Conference Held.
Secretary Joseph Bishop. of the
Ohio board of arbitration. reached
the Amalgamated headquarters about
ten o'clock and the newspaper men
we're requested to leave the room.
The conference lasted more than an
hour. and when it was over Col.
French. Secretary Bishop and William
Collier were seen, but they refused to
say anything concerning the matter
under discussion Shortly before noon
President Sh1ffer quietly slipped out
of the office through a rear door. and
all efforts to locate him have so far
been frutlesS.
Later Col French, vice president of
the Republic Iron and Steel company,
called az the Amalgamated headquar-
ters and was admitted to the inner
office where President ShafTer and
Secretary Bishop were in conference.
Col. French was largely instrumental
in settling the McKeesport strike last
April. and his presence Monday was
regarded as. significant. William Col
lier. a prominent labor leader of this
city. was also taken into the meet
ing,
Probable Terms of settlement.
Terms of the prospective settle
ment are being carefully guarded by
all parties concerned, but from
source believed 10 be reliable it is
stated that MFR. Morgan proposes to
permj, the Amalgamated association
TO continue its union lodges in the
mills that were nonunion prior to the
strike, but which went out on Presi-
dent Shaffer'S strike order. In addi-
ton. it is said, the Leechburg, Dun
Evansville and MoneSsen plants are per-
mttcd 20 he uniouized.
The United States Steel corporation
is To be permitted TO operate all Of
the mills Of the Carnegie Steel com
pany as they are now operated, as
well as the big sheet mills at Apollo.
| Naudergrift and Salisbury, provided
the wages paid shall be ON the same
basis as in the mills where the union
scale is signed.
Secretary Williams, Of the Amalga-
mated association. said the reported
/ terms Of a compromise had been
| guessed al by some one who is IA
! mjliar with the situation and is mot