New-York tribune., 1901-08-03
STRIKE CONFERENCE.
AUALGAHATED OFFICIALS TO
MEET STEEL OFFICERS,
START FROM PITTsBURG FOR THIS CITY
ACCOMPANIED BY STEEL MEN .
HOPE To REACH SETTLEMENT.

ACCOMPANIED BY STEEL MEN
HOPE TO REACH SETTLEMENT
Altoona. Aug. 3-Instead of fatty refusing
the request of the AmaIgamated officials for an
other conference in order to bring about a set
tlement of the steel strike the officers OF the
United States Steel Corporation have appointed
an hour for meeting the Executive Board Of the
Amalgamated Association in New-York this
morning. The decision to meet them was an
nounced in message sent direct to President
Shaffer yesterday afternoon and was promnt1,,
accepted At once the members Of the board
made arrangements to start for New-York.
They hurried through their session. and al 1O
o'clock last night all were on board the Pitts
burg Limited bound for the East
The representatives of the labor organizations
numbered fifteen all tcld Secretary Williams
said that the only member absent was Vice.
President c. H. Davis, of Chicago. He said the
members had no idea whom they would meet
in New-York and could place no estimate On
the time that would be occupied in the me-
tropons
All OF the members were reticent and de-
clned to discuss their proposed visit. Thev wera
hopeful however. of the result and expressed
confidence that the strike could be settled before
their return to Pittsburg. The fact that the Of
fcials of the United States Steel CORPORATION
had consented to discuss the matter with the
official body of the Amalgamated Association
they said was regarded as sufficient proof OF
the sincerity of the trust officials
The representatives Of the workers organiza-
ton were not the only interesting passengers on
the train.
Feryl Preston. who has acted for the trust in
Pittsburg throughout the week. was among the
passengers who boarded the train at the East
End He was in another car than the one occu-
pied by the Amalgamated men. Mr.. Prestos
was accompanied by another man. whose iden.
tity he declined to reveal
As TO the exact status of the dispute neither
Mr.. Preston members of the AmaIga-
mated board would consent to offer an opinio,
or discuss it in any form. The only intima-
tion given was that there were numerous points.
considered vital by the Amalgamated Associa-
tion. that would have to be considered and nads
perfectly clear before the strike could be settled
/ One phase in particular was more liberal In
depreciation OF the non-interruDtive clause in.
the wage scale The only agreement offered by
/ the Amalgamated Association at this time in
/ creases the period for arranging new scales by
one month. The manufacturers want to pre-
vent the closing Of mills at any time and to have
such disputes settled by conference and arbitra-
ton The practical aboIishment OF the mill
committee in all mills is also demanded by thu
manufacturers. but they offer no other means
for settling local differences in the place OF this
The workers insist that some official repre-
sentative of the men should have voice for
them in such disputes. The question of union
izing all non-union mills is said to be disposed
/ Of in the Morgan proposition in a manner that
seemed to the workers to threaten the existence
Of their organization more than under former
arrangements 1t is said that it opened the door
/ to favoritism by manufacturers for non-uniou
men in all the mills Nothing would undermine
! the organization so rapidly as to permit nom
union workmen in union mills and have them
favored and benefited because of their freedom
from the association influence. Their workers
want assurances OF elIdI treatment Tor an
alike
The signing Of the wage scale is not appar-
emily considered as of Importance There has
been disposition the part CT the workers
or the manufacturers to baIk over this point.
and it is believed that once the more weighty
matter is disposed of the whole dispute be
! quickly wiped away. If the conference in New
J York advances as rapidly this week the ore
| between President Shaffer and Mr.. Morgan last
! week the strike may be declared of before
Monday. The meeting of the conferrees is ex-
pected to take place shortly after the arrival OF
the Pittsburg this morning The location
: of the conference room was not known to the
Amalgamated men, They say that this matter
has been left in charge of the officials OF the
trust In any case. however. the result OF the
conference will not be made known until thu
entire matter has been fully disposed Of
HOPING FOR SETTLEMENT
RENEWAL OF DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS Be-