The San Francisco call., 1908-04-29
COAST METALM[N
FORM BIG COMBINE
Gigantic Federation Of Iron and
Steel Manufacturers Organ
lied at Portland

A huge federation of iron and steer
manufacturers from California, oregon,
Washington and British Columbia, to
be known as the Pacific metal trades
league, was organized in Portland,
Ore, last Saturday at convention OF
representatives from four big Pacif1c
coast metal associations. Yesterday
afternoon the executive COMMITTEES of
the California metal trades association
of this city voted to become an active
member of the new organization.
In point of numbers and resources
the league is easily the strongest en-
ployers association on the Pacific
coast. 1t Will rank as one of the
wealthiest organizations in the coun-
try. Millions of dollars, involving in
vestments perhaps greater than in any
other line of industry, are represented
in the big manufacturing plants of the
members, which include the various
metal trades and founders associations
from Los Angeles to Vancouver and
Victoria. In its united strength the
league is purposed to be to the metal
trades employers of the coast what
the American federation of labor is to
the different labor unions of the coun-
try.
is IMPORTANT STEP
Members of the California metal
trades association of this city declare
the combination is the most important
step that has yet been taken by metal
trades operatives of the coast.
The organization of the league has
been planned for some time. The eff
forts to bring all the manufacturers
together in one united association
came to a head at the convention.
Prominent among those active at the
meeting were Harry f. Davis. secre-
tary, and James w. Kerr, vice presi-
dent, of the California metal trades as
sociation, and w. H. Corbett and
Charles M. Gum of the United metal
cities. Harry F. Davis of this city was
chosen as secretary of the Pacific metal
trades league The headquarters of
the organization Will probably be in
this city. The president and other
officers will be chosen at later meet
ing.
The purpose of the combination of
metal manufacturers. as outlined by
members of the association here, is to
strengthen and more completely COM
bine the iron and steel interests of the
coast. as well as to bring about salts
factory adjustment and settlement of
such labor disputes as may arise. The
attitude of the league toward labor in
terests, however, will be most cordial.
TO SETTLE DISPUTES
Often, it is said. cases will arise
where one method of settling labor de-
mands in one section would not apply
in the next big manufacturing center.
In this event league members will
meet and discuss the points at issue
with representatives of the labor
unions in an endeavor to bring about
an amicabie agreement.
The four associations represented at
the convention in Portland were the
California metal trades association of
San Francisco and Oakland, the United
metal trades association of Oregon,
Washington and British Columbia, the
employers and founders association of
Los Angeles and the Pacific foundry
mems association of Seattle.
Among the big firms joining the fed
Grafton are the Union iron works. Ris-
don iron works, Fulton iron works,
Vulcan iron works, United engineering
works and 80 other iron and steel
firms in San Francisco; the Willamette
iron and steel works, Phoenix iron
works, Smith & Watson, 4,acific iron
works, Oregon brass works and Column
bia steel company of Portland; Moran
Bros. iron works, Vulcan iron works.
Eagle iron works, Heffernan engine
works, Puget Sound iron and steel
works of Seattle and Tacoma: Sumner
iron works of Everett. Wash, and Let
son & Burpe of Bellingham, Wash.