Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-02
THE PLAN MAY FAIL.
Amalgamated Association Leaders
Discuss Peace Proposal.
ALL DAY SESSION WITHOUT ACTION.
Fear That Proposed Compromise May
Fail of Ratification Unless Some
Notifications Arc Agreed to
by Steel MaEnates.

I
the air of Pittsburgh because of the
failure of the executive board of the
Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers to ratify the
peace proposals arranged at the con-
ference in New York last Saturday
between the national officers of the
associa tion and Messrs
Morgan, Schwab and Gary, represent
ing the United States Steel corpora
ton. When the conference opened
Tuesday it was confidently expected
that an agreement would be reached
in short time, but after session
lasting from $3.50 a. m. until 6:30 p.
IN. the meeting adjourned without ar
irving at any conclusion, so far as
known, to meet again this morning.
Mny Not De Ratified.
The protracted session indicates
that the board is not satisfied with
the provisions of the compromise
measures, and unless some modifica-
tions are made it's ratification is
doubtful. The opening of union mills
to nonunion workmen is the point on
which it is believed the board hest
tates to accept, and the long-distance
telephone between New York and
Pittsburgh was worked frequently to
get modification of this clause. The
worllmen hold that this would give
the mill owners full opportunity of
crushing the union without a strike
by finding excuses to discharge union
al, Hr,i{ y,
nonunionists. Another rock of dissen-
sion is said to be the retention In
their present jobs of the men who
worked as "strike breakers" at thA
various mills during the strike. 1t \
said that these men have been prom.
Used the protection of the manufactM
Iers in case of settlement, 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 OBJ
iect to having all the mills of the
combine classified as open mills.
Conferees Maintain Secrecy.
All is, however, conjecture, as it is
impossible to get any definite state
ment from any of the parties inter
ested concerning the days confer
ence. When the board dispersed at
$3.50 every member was waylaid by
persistent newspaper men seeking in
formation, but every question was an
swered by the same stereotyped
phrase: "We can say nothing. There
is absolutely nothing to give to the
public at this time" 1t is doubtful
If the members of the general exec
ntive board of the Amalgamated assoc
citation were ever more uncommuni-
cative and reserved than during and
after the meeting. 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.
Only One Absentee.
The full board was present, with
the exception of National Trustee
John Pierce, who was away on Off.
cial business. The members gath.
cred at the general offices of the
Amalgamated association early in the
morning and at $3.50 o'clock were
called to order by President Shaffer
Those present in addition to the Off,
Gals of the board We're Joseph Bish.
op, former president of the associa'
ton, and now a member of the Ohio
board of arbitration, and M. NJ. Gar.
land, also an ex-president of the as
ISOLATION. When the meeting was
opened all but the conferees We're re
auested to leave. The discussion
started after President Shaffer hat
gone over the details of the confer
ence he had had with Mr.. Morgan
and President Schwab in New York
Long Discussion.
! Secretary Williams read the repor
of the conference, which he had pre-
pared, and also the proposition
that had been made by the official
of the United States steel corpora
ton. The members of the board lis
tened with close attention to all tina
was said, and the discussion that fol
lowed was carried on in low tone!
This discussion continued until afte
the noon hour, and then the meetin
was adjourned until the afternoon.
After adjournment President Sha:
fer and Secretary Williams decline
TO talk at ALL Assistant Secretar
Tighe was agreeably happy an
cheerful, but said that he knew notl
ing of interest to the public. NJ. n
Garland, who was pressnt at the frs
session of the board, did not retur
during the afternoon, but as he lei
the offices of the organization SCENE
to be satisfied with the discussio
that he heard there. While Mp, Ca
land has all along maintained tia
he has taken no active part in TT
negotiations for settlement of tt
strike, he is believed to know MUG
more about the preliminary NOV
ence than he wished understood. NJ
Garland declined to discuss the NEE
ing, and would give no idea of tt
probable result of the conferenc
Under these conditions, the result
the meeting became matter of pun
conjecture during the afternoon.
I Afternoon Session.
At 2:40 o'clock the meeting of tt
board for the afternoon began. A
were present who had taken PAL
during the earlier session with tn
exception of Mr.. Garland. Clos
watch was kept for results of tn
meeting. Twice President Shaffe
came to the hall and attacked az ie
water tank, and then said that h