Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-31
DISAPPOINTMENT
Fills the Air at Failure to
Settle Steel Strike.
Long Conference at Pittsburg Fails to
Ratify Peace Proposals.
Much Anxiety Over the Delay. Sessions will Be-
Resumed, Today.

flttsDurg, Pa, July 30-DjsaDpoint
ment and apprehension pervade the
air in Pittsburg. tonight, because of
the failure of the executive hoard Of
| the Amalgamated Association of Iron
| Steel and Tin Workers to ratify the
peace proposals arranged at the con-
ference in New York. Saturday, be-
| tween national officers of the Amalga-
mated Association and Messrs Nor
gan. Schwab and Gary. representing
the United States Steel Corporation.
| When the conference opened. this
morning. it was confidently expected
| that an agreement would be reached
in short time. but after a session
lasting from $50 A. NJ. until $50 p.
NJ, the meeting adjourned without ar
| irving at any conclusion so far as
known, to meet. tomorrow morning
| The protracted session indicates that
| the board is not satisfied with the pro-
visions of the compromise measures
| and unless some notifications are
made, its ratification is doubtful The
opening of union mills to non-union
workmen is the point on which it is be-
lieved the board hesitates to accept,
and the long distance telephone be-
tween New York and Pittsburg was
worked frequently, today, to get a
| modification of this clause. The work
men hold that this would give the mill
owners full opportunity of crushing
the union without strike by finding
excuses to discharge union men and
| then fill their places with nonunion-
| lists.
Another rock of dissension is said to
| be the retention in their present jobs
of the men who worked as strike
| breakers" at the various mills during
the strike. 1t is said that these men
have been promised the protection of
the manufacturers in case of a settle
ment and that they will not concede
| their dismissal at the request of the
| organization. The workers, it is said.
| are willing to declare the mills now
working non-union open mills. but
strenuously object to having all the
mills of the combine classified as
open mills.
All is conjecture. however, as ii is
| impossible to get any definite state
ment from any of the parties inter-
| ested concerning the days conference.
When the board dispersed at $50. ev-
cry member was waylaid by persistent
| newspaper men seeking information.
| but every question was answered by
| the stereotyped phrase: I'VE can say
| nothing. There is absolutely nothing
to give to the public at this time
1t is doubtful if the members OF the
| general executive board of the Anal
| camated Association ever were more
uncommunicative and reserved than
during and after the meeting which
occurred. today The Importance of
the matter in hand. the fate OF the
strike and the welfare of thousands OF
members of the organization now IDLE,
rested upon their decision.
The full board was present with the
]evcantion of National Trustee JOhn
Pierce. who was away on official bust
ness.
| The members at $50 O'Clock, were
called to order by President Shaffer.
Those present. In addition to the OIL
Gals of the board. were Joseph Bish-
on former president of the association
and now a member of the Ohio board
of arbitration. and NJ. NJ. Garland. al
60 an ex-president of the organization
Tie discussion started after President
/
the conference he had in New York.
| Secretary Williams read the report OF
the conference which he had prepared
and also the propositions which had
| been made by the officials of the Unit
ed States Steel Corporation. The dis
cussion continued until 1.30 o'clock.
President Shaffer and Secretary Will
liams declined to talk at all. Assistant
Secretary Tighe was agreeably happy
and cheerful but said that he knew
nothing Of interest to the public. M.
NJ. Garland did not return during the
afternoon, but as he left the offices or
tho organization seemed to be satisfied
with the discussion. While Mr.. Gar
land has all along maintained that he
had taken no active part in the nego-
tiations for the settlement of the strike
he is believed to know much more
about the preliminary movements that
resulted in this conference than he
wished understood.
At 2.4O o'clock the meeting of the
board for the afternoon began. All
were present who had taken part in the
earlier session but Mr. Garland. Soon
after the session began significant
incident took place. Z. w. l.. Bray,
chief engineer of the American Tin
plate Co, and one Of the former cons
ferees for the manufacturers, called at
the Offices President Shaffer was call
ed from the room and held 5-minute
conversation with him in the hall and
q