The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-18
UP IN The AIR.
Peace Prospects in Chicago Are
Thrown to the Winds.
President Shea Says He Didn't
Agree to Arbitration.
is NOT WHIPPED YET.
When He Is Says He Will Let 1t
Be Known.
Samuel GOmpers Makes State
ment on His Position.
is NOT WHIPPED YET

Chicago, May 1S.-President Shea Of
the Teamsters' International union
threw cold water today on all peace
movements. He declared that he had
not offered arbitration in any form be-
tween the Team Owners association
and the Teamsters' union and that he
had never agreed to arbitrate the ques-
ton of whether the teamsters should
deliver to boycotted houses.
The declaration of Shea came as a
surprise to all concerned as it was eX-
plicitIy stated last night and today that
Shea had made such an agreement. At
the time of Shea's statenaent, the team
owners We're in conference selecting
their member of the arbitration board
which they declared both they and
Shea had agreed to.
Il am not going to arbitrate the
question of how they shall conduct
their business said President Shea.
There win be no back door settlement.
When I am beaten I shall come out
and say sO.'
This declaration on the part of Shea
threw the whole peace move up in the
air. Members of the Team Owners as
sociation started out at once to find
Shea and get some idea of how and
where they stood. How the report got
started that he had agreed to arbitra-
ton was not explained by Shea but he
denied he Ghad made such an agree
ment. Declaring no such proposition as
the alleged arbitration of the boycott
had been considered by the teamSters,
| President Shea called the story sub
! terfuge by the team owners to pacify
! the Employers Association.
Don't Want to Go to Jail.
| The teamsters are still running this
! strike" he said. DO you think we are
/ going to arbitrate the question whether
4 or not merchants may deliver goods?
4 That is what this proposition to arbi-
/ trate means. Do you think we all want
to go to jail? We have not received
/ any notice of an arbitration proposal.
I have no right to make such an agree
/ ment as was printed in the morning
| papers. The teamsters' joint council is
/ here to decide such matters. 1t has not
taken any such agreement up. The
team owners are talking great deal.
II They are meeting to appoint their rep
1 resentative to act on an arbitration
/ committee. They have to do something
7 to keep the Employers Association
crowd off their necks.
i A j. Reed a prominent member of
4 the teamsters' joint council confirmed
I President Shea's declaration that no
agreement to arbitrate with the team
owners had been made.
4 Like Mr.. Shea President GOmpers
( of the American Federation of Labor
4 professed today to be surprised to read
Z in the papers that the teamsters had
agreed TO arDlITaLe the team owners
proposition. He said:
/ "I have made no proposition to ar
4 bitrate this strike. I would not if
i could and I could not if 1 would. All
I can do is to pave the way If 1t is
4 possible, for peaceful settlement But
I the matter of settlement must be
I taken up by the officers of the two re-
/ Spective organizatiOnS-the Employ
/ ers' association and the teamsters. Any
+ statement that has been published
7 ff--a4 ton or
attempted to effect a settlement is un-
true. I have no authority to take
/ such a course. The best 1 can do is
4 to work for peace and try to bring
/ the two opposing parties together If
4 ] can find a plan by which they can
1 meet, then they must pass their own
4 judgment on whether that plan is
I right or not. That is the limit of my
/ power here. I wish to make that very
! plain. have not attempted to in
terfere with the legal or official right
1 Of either the employers or theeunions
Gompers Seeking a Way.
4 ct think I have been misrepresent-
ed as to that This statement from
me is final. am merely here en-
| deavoring to find way to bring about
I peace and then to submit that plan to
] the two organizations. I expect to
meet Attorney Levy Mayer of the EN-
+ ployers' association some time today,
! The hour and place do not know
but I am to hear from him as to
that"
Mr.. Gompers said he would leave
I tonight for Dayton, O., where some
labor matters demand his attention,
and that he will return to Chicago
either Saturday night or Sunday. He
+ expects to meet representatives of all
the Chicago labor organizations Sun
day and review the labor situation.
! Later President Shea said:
I'VE would be crazy to accept any
such scheme as proposed. We are not
/ through fighting yet
Can Mr.. Gompers and Mr.. Levy
Mayer settle the strike ?" Mr.. Shea
/ was asked.
"Mr. Gompers may bring US a pro-
position from the employers" was the
! reply. IF he does we will consider it
just as we are always ready to do. OF
course, any settlement would hinge on
how many men could be reinstated-'
Does that mean that all strikers
4 must be reinstated ?"
Il have never said so" replied Shea.
/ s'The joint council will have to act on
i anything that is done"