The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-08-09

was not because we doubted our presi-
dent, T. ]. Shaffer, and our secretary,
John Williams, who have our conf
dence and Endorsement, but in the
hope of obtaining a settlement of the
strike
President Schwab of the steel com
pany received the representatives OF
labor and conducted them to the con-
sulting room of the steel directors.
j. p. Morgan came to the conference,
accompanied by Robert Bacon, one of
his local partners. and G. F. Dawkins
head of the English house of Morgan
& Co.
"Mr. Schwab spoke first for the
employers and was followed by Mr..
Morgan. They declined to make any
modification of the terms offered when
Mr.. Shaffer and the other men of the
Amalgamated Association insisted
that more reasonable terms be offered
to them. There was general discus
sion as to the whole proposition in
volved and each mill, the unioniza-
ton of which has been disputed, was
considered in detail. When each side
had fully expressed itself the steel
officials withdrew 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
Mr.. Schwab returned to the room they
informed him. Mr.. Morgan and his
two partners withdrew almost at once
and little later the Amalgamated
men took their leave also. They went
at once to the Stevens house, and,
after a hasty lunch, went into execu-
tive session.
"Just as they withdrew, however,
Secretary Williams made this state
ment: 1T is highly improbable that
settlement will be reached. We are
not going to accede to the proposition
of Mr.. Morgan. We will stick to the
bitter end to the men who went out
with u.s."
President Shaffer declined to say a
word in addition to the formal state
ment which was given out by Mr.. Will
liams, and his companions were equal
ly reticent. President Shaffer asked
that the statement be printed in full,
saying that the strikers wished the
public to understand 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
the party. Shaffer seemed grave and
serious, despite the vindication which
his associates gave him in their Off
cial statement, while the other Anal
I gamated men seemed in very high
spirits. Shaffer paid the bill for the
party at the hotel and left, saying he
intended to take the first train to
Pittsburg.
When the Amalgamated men left
him, President Schwab went at once
to the office of ]. 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 cor
poration in the final debate of the
issues which divide them and their
men. 1t was evident that they ex-
pected nothing to come from the Sec
ond meeting of the Amalgamated rep
resentatives then in progress. No
statement in behalf of the steel cor
poration was made and none of it's
representatives would talk for publica-
ton. 1t is believed here that there
will be immediate action by the steel
corporation to start up 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 fur
Their efforts at Cancellation and if the
strike is extended, it may develop
into the largest conflict of the kind in
the history of the country.
Message to Pittsburg.
Pittsburg, Aug. Att will be a
, fight to a finish. No quarter will be
= given. We are prepared to spend all
the money and time necessary to wipe
, out the Amalgamated Association in
, all of our mills"
This was the message that came
, over the wires from New York to
local officials of the United States
2 Steel corporation.
That the officials of the United
q States Steel corporation have been
! preparing for this battle was made
apparent during this afternoon. II
q was learned on the best Of authority
that an attempt is to be made at once
q to break the strike by the importa
/. ton of nonunion men into all the idle