The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04
LeadsallN Daies i'm Newsamd Circulation

mutual desire for peace. President Shat
fer and his brother officers of the ANAL
gamated Association left Pittsburg last
night and reached New York at eight
o'clock this morning. They parted at the
ferry to meet again at 10:30 o'clock at
the office of the United States Steel Cor
pcration, the hour and place appointed for
the conference President Schwab, of the
Steel Company, received the representa-
tives of labor and conducted them to the
consulting rooms of the steel directorate.
j. P. Morgan came to the conference ac
companied by Robert Bacon, one of his
local partners, and c. e. Dawkins head
OF the English house of Morgan and Com
pany, D. G. Reid. If The American Tin
Plate Company and other officials of the
other companies federated in the general
steel corporation, also joined the confer
ence and it was some time after the time
first appointed that the conference was
formally opened. Mr.. Schwab spoke first
for the employers and was followed by
Mr. Morgan. They declined to make any
modification of the terms offered by them
just one week ago, when Messrs. Shaffer
and Williams journeyed here, first confer
ence. Mr.. Shaffer and the other men of
the Amalgamated Association insisted
that more liberal terms be offered to
them. There was general discussion as
to the whole proposition involved and
each mill, the unionization of which has
been disputed, has zeen considered in de-
tail. When either side had fully ex-
pressed itself, the steel officials withdrew
from the roo min order to let the labor
representative confer privately. The lat
ter declined to reject the offer of the
steel corporation and when Mr.. Schwah
returned to the room so informed him.
Mr.. Morgan and his two partners with
drew almost at once and a little later
the Amalgamated men took their leave
also. The latter went at once to the
Stevens House and after a hasty lunch
went into executive session 1t was two
O'Clock when their meeting began and at
AIS O'Clock President Shaffer came down
into the lobby and announced that they
had concluded their work here and would
leave at once for their homes.
President Shaffer declined to say a word
in addition to the formal statement which
was given out by Secretary Williams and
his companions were equally retiment.
Shaffer asked that the statement be
printed in full, saying that the strikers
wished the public to understand their po-
sition. Not an intimation of the future
policy of the Amalgamated Association.
in waging the great industrial battle
which it faces could be obtained from
any member of the party. Shaffer seemed
grave and serious despite the vindica-
tion which his companions gave him in
their official statement, while the other
Amalgamated men seemed in very high
spirits. Shaffer paid the bill for the par
ty at the hotel, and left, saying he in
tended to take the first train to Pitts
burg.
When he Amalgamated men left him
President Schwab went at once to the
office of J. P. Morgan and had talk
with Mr. Bacon. He went home early in
the ~".-~~con as did all the other men
who represented the corporation in the
fral debate of the issues which divide
them and their men. 1t was evident that
they expected nothing to come from the
second meeting of the Amalgamated rep
resentatives then in progress.
No statement in behalf of the steel cor
pCration was made and none of it's repre-
sentatives would talk for publication. 1t
is believed here that there will be no
immediate action from both sides, the
expectation being that the Steel corpora
ton will attempt the operation of 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 further efforts at
conciliation and the strike is extended it
may developed into the largest conflict
of the kind in the history of the country.
Figures at this time as to the number of
men and properties that would be involved
are pronounced unreliable by conservative
men who know the trade because many
of the claims of strength put forward on
either side are disputed and can be tested
only in actual conflict