The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-11
NUMBER 1896.
C0NFERRING At PI7HSBURG
Representatives of Labor and the
Steel Trust in Session.

Preside Presents the Demands OF |
the AmRIE,urs,teti Nssocinti"n-The /
Strike Question Being Considered {
PITTSBURG. July 1.-THE conference +
between the representatives of the organ /
lied steel workers and the representatives .
of the trust in regard to the threatened
strike is in progress here There IS still
hope that an agreement viii be reached
which will prevent q labor war but the
representatives OF the men are greatly
disappointed over the absence Of Charles
NJ. Schwab, president of the Steel Trust
All the members of the general eNecu-
tive board of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. with the exception OF W G Davis,
of Chicago. and John Pierce. vice presi-
dents, met al the labor headquarters this
morning at O'Clock, and were taken in
charge by Mr.. shaner, the president Mr..
Shaffer declined to talk for publication,
being in a hurry to acquaint his confreres
with the situation The conference at
headquarters was secret
AT 10 o'clock the labor leaders left for
Hotel Lincoln TO meet the trust repre-
precautions had been taken 10 preserve
the secrecy of the conference It was
learned that Warner Arms, third vice
president of the American Tin Plate Com
pany, W NJ. Leeds. of the same concern,
and V Preston. OF the American Steel
Hoop Company. were among those pres
ent
It is known that. although the Amalga-
mated Association Is familiar with the
attitude of Mr. Schwab, the trust presi-
dent, in regard TO organized labor. it
would rather settle the present trouble
with him direct than to deal with the
American Sheet Steel Company Conse-
quently his absence is a great disappoint-
ment to the union
Contradictory reports about the de
mands Of the men coming from the Anal
gamated Association were heard in the
lobby of the hotel. Mr. Shafer. who
issued an uItimatum last week that all
sheet steel mills of the trust would have
TO sign the scale TO avert d general strike
was quoted as saying that he VIII be sat
istied if the American Sheet Steel Com
pany viii agree TO sign for all the mills
that were operated last year by union
men which is only one-third of the plants
of the trust
A relative Of President Shafer said
that the organization would positively in
sist upon the signing Cf the scale for ali
the plants Of the American Steel Com
pdny. John II. Morgan, q member of the
Executive Board of the Amalgamated As
sociation confirmed this statement
II the union demands recognition in all
the mills there viii be a fight If 1t asks
for only the plants it had last year, there
will be peace, as It IS known that the
trust is willing 90 make tL.t concession
The combine VIII decline 20 unionize the
plants that have been operated for years
as non-union. 1t is contended that it
would be unfair 10 the men 10 force them
into the organization Il they do not de-
sire 10 join.
The trust officials are also willing to
concede the right to the AmaIgamated
officials to enter the mills and organize
the men. but they viii object TO cOmpuI
sion The combine ys nci interfering with
the association al McKeesport, where a
lodge was organized last spring, but the
mill Is still nsn-union The trust is will
ing to make similar concessions at all its
other non-union mills. The men may
please. but these labor orders viii not be
recognized as such
John Warner. of the American steel
Sheet Company, and I NJ jerks, Of the
American Steel Hoop Company. arrived
after the doors had been closed, but they
were expected, and were taken up 70 the
meeting room without delay. All the con-
Germs which make Up the United States
Steel Corporation are represented The
Arnalgamated Association was disappoint-
ed however, over its failure TO draw any
Of the officials Of the Steel Trust proper
into the meeting
At the suggestion of Warner Arms, Mr.
Shaffer was asked to preside over the con-
ference. No other member Of the ass0-
cation was ever honored before in this
way Mr.. Shaffer. after accepting the
honor presented the report of the assOCia-
ton, which asks that all mills Of the Sheet
Steel Company se uniOnized.
The report stated that the AmaIgamaIed
Association desires TO avoid strike if
possible, and that the members Of the eX-
ecutive committee are unanimously IN IA
vt.. of a settlement at the present confer
ence. The tone Of the report was mild. If
the Amalgamatcd Association withdraws
It's radical demand for recognition Ia al
mills peace shodId be effected without de
lay.
The report or the first session came
from Mr. Shsffer. who submitted to an in
terview when the conference adjourned at
I2-20 for lunch. None Of the other dele
gates would talk. but all seemed 10 be in
= good humor- The next session began al
2 o'clock
Mr.. Shaffer iutimated that decisive ac-
tion would be taken before night.
pEEucE tn pETTTPE