East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-07-20
Union Labor and Buck Stove
Company End Long and Bit
ter Contest.
OFFICIALS OF A. +. l.. WILL
PROBABLY ESCAPE PRISON
Death of J. W. Van Cleave Decides
Buck Stove Company to Drop Fight
Against Union Labor-Will Conduct
Open Shop Hereafter Cases
Against Gompcrs. Mitchell and Nor
rison viii Probably BE Dropped
Rests with Wickersham.

ST. Louis, July 20.-Officials of the
Buck Stove company, whose sensa-
tional fight against union labor five
years ago eliminated in jail senten-
ces against Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent OF the American Federation of
Labor; John Mitchell. vice president,
and Secretary Frank Morrison, admit
today they have given up the long
fight. Hereafter an open shop will be
adhered TO and union men will be en-
ployed.
The change of policy follows the
death OF j. w. Van Cleave, formerly
president, Of the company, and who
as head of the National Manufactur-
ers association. made country
wide fight against employing union
lists.
The unionists and the stove COM
pany. through It's representatives here
announced their withdrawal from the
prosecutions against President Comp
ers, Vice President Mitchell and Sec
retary Morrison OF the federation of
labor in the contempt case now pend
ing against them. While the prose-
cutions hanging over Messrs. Comp
ers. Mitchell and Morrison of the fed
Grafton of labor have passed out of
the hands Of the stove company, which
instituted them and are now pending
I'm the United States supreme court,
representatives. OF the stove company
and Of the National Defense associa-
tion by articles signed yesterday, agree
TO withdraw their attorneys from the
case. Whether the appeal of the three
men from jail sentences imposed up
on them for alleged violation of an
injunction shall be Fought TO a finish
In the supreme court, 1t is said to
rest now with Attorney General
Wlckersham. The five articles of
the agreement are as follows:
IA conference to be held by Off
GERS Of the labor organizations in
volved and Mr.. Van Cleave of the
stove company within 80 days at st.
Louis.
2-The agreement in regard to wa
date. based on wages and conditions
ment shall take effect 80 days from
date. based on wages and conditions
existing in shops Of competitors in the
city Of st. Louis operating union
shops.
3-The labor unions will make
known that the difficulties between
the two organizations have been sat-
isfactorily adjusted.
4-The Buck Stove and Range COM
pany will withdraw all suits now pend
Ing against the labor organizations.
5-A copy OF agreement will be
published in the journals of the labor
organizations and displayed in the
labor departments Of the stove COM
pany.
The controversy between the AM
erican Federation of Labor and the
Buck stove and Range company be-
gan about two years ago, when the
late James w. Van Cleave, president
of the stove company, sought an in
junction against Gompers and others
restraining them from placing his
company on the unfair" list.
Upon an alleged violation of this
Injunction jail sentences were pro-
nounced upon Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison.
Mr.. Van Cleave died some months
ago. His death, it II said, was due
to worry over the long fight in the
courts. The memorandum accom-
panying the agreement signed today
declares that the company recently
reorganized with Lee Van Cleave as