The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-11
LAST CHANCE.
Representatives of the AmaIga-
mated Association.
And the Chief officers of the
Steel Colossus
IN FINAL CONFERENCE
To Determine Whether or Not
There Shall Be a Strike.
Both Sides Appear to Be Hope
full of a Settlement.

114LlSDuTS, july 14.-SurIace 1nQ1c4-
tions point to the settlement of the
strike in the mills of the American
Sheet Steel company and the American
Steel Hoop company at the conference
between the AmaIgamated association
and steel combine Representatives which
began today at the Hotel Lincoln in
this city The conference was called
for 10 O'Clock this morning, and an
hour before that time the national
officers advisory board, trustees and
district vice presidents of the Amalga-
mated association met at their head
quarters to outline their attitude be-
fore comforting with the representa-
tives of the steel combine. Fifteen OF
the sixteen members of the executive
board were present, the only absentee
being Vice President w. G. Davis. of
Chicago, who was unable to attend.
At this preliminary conference the
entire ground was gone over and the
cam paign of the day was mapped out.
The meeting was behind closed doors,
but when the members of the board
filed out to join in the general confer
ence there was an air of confidence
about EN- that presaged an early set
tleme-.- and at terms that they evil
IDENTIFY believed would be satisfactory
to the Workmen.
President Shaffer said that if an ad-
Was IlOI IedCIGQ lual n0 Id
vOred continuance of the conference
tomorrow and Saturday, but that the
present conference must be final I'm
der no circumstances would he agree
to a poStponement to week or more
intervening between the meetings Mr.
Shaffer said further that the executive
committee was clothed with discretion
ary powers with respect to the nature
of the settlement, but the intimation
was that no deviation whatever would
be made from the original stand.
OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE.
It was 1920 a. when the con-
ference opened. The combine con
ferees present at that time were War
ner Arms, president of the American
Tin Plate company; Neryl Preston, OF
the American Steel Hoop company, and
William Leeds, Of the American Sheet
Steel company. The workers organ1-
zation was represented by the general
executive committee, the highest body
in the association. It is composed Of
the national officers and the vice pres
idents of the various districts. The
members of the comm ittee are: Presi-
dent 7. J. Shaffer, Secretary-Treasure
John Williams, Assistant Secretary A.
NJ. Tige, Business Manager Benjamin
I. Davis.
Trustees John Pierce, Pittsburg;
Elias jenkins, Youngstown, O.; J. H.
Morgan. Cambridge, 0.
Vice Presidents-First district, David
Reese Pittsburg; second district. Wal
ter Larkins, Martins Ferry, o.; third
district. Charles H Davis, Newport,
Ky; fifth district, Clem Jarvis, Ander-
son, Ind; sixth district Joseph F.
Ward, Youngstown, O.. seventh dis
trict, F. J. Williams, Birmingham,
Ala eighth district, John Chappen
New Castle Pa; ninth district, John
w. Quinn, Granite City, Ill
w. G. Davis, of the fourth district,
Chicago was not present. The great
est secrecy is being observed. The
rooms in which the conference is being
Hotel Lincoln. and newspaper men
have been requested to remain down.
stairs.
It was authoritatively stated that the
combine offered to sign the amalga-
mated scale for all the plants and make
the wages uniform, but declined to
unionize the plants operated as non
union for years. Trustee Morgan, of
the Amalgamated, said the proposition
would not be accepted.
J. v. jenkins, of the American Steel
Hoop company was also present w nile
it is believed that the United States
Steel corporation is directing the move
ments of the representative of the un-
derlyfng companies, none present would
verify the statement. The combine rep
resentatiVeS declare that it would be
Unfair to the men to force them into the
organization If they did not desire to
join. They are also willing to concede
the right to the Amalgamated officials
to enter the mills and organize the men,
but will object to compulsion.
1t was nearly noon before the confer
ence got down to business. The situa-
ton was gone over carefully. Every one
present seemed in good humor and ev-
erything pointed to a harmonious meet
ing hut it seemed that there would be
some difficulty in getting close together
at the opening session as both sides ap-
peared determined not to yield any more
points.
At 12:15 D. m. the conference ad-
journed for lunch, to meet again at
O'Clock
The conferees refused to say any
thing as to the proceedings, except that
President Shaffer had been chosen
chairman of the joint conference.
The Ama1gamated conferees ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied with
the outlook.
It is intimated that a concession will
be allowed the manufacturers that have
agreements with their men made prev
ious to last years wage settlement
These mills it Is said, viii be allowed
to work out their individual agreements
which expire January I. After that
time the mills also will come under the
jurisdiction of the Amalgamated associ-
alton or sooner. If the men become
members of the association, previous to
the expiration of the annual agreement
The Vandergrift and Leechburg Sheet
mills are SO far as known. the only
ones that will come under the exception
clause The agreements with the work
men at these mills antedate the forma-
ton of the sheet steel company and re-