The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-29
The Trouble at the North Chicago Roll.
ing Mills

Up to the time Of our gong to press we are
not advised Of any change in the status Of at
fairs having taken place at the North Side
Rolling Mills. The South Mill. which was
running up to last Saturday, was shut down
on Sunday. The facts in the case aro given
in the following letter, Which was sent to the
ADVOCATE by a committee We give them
without further comment and await the de-
velopments of next week:
SIR: In your issue Of the 22d inst. there
appears an article under the above caption, in
which, to say the least, there are several Gro
neous statements which, if allowed to pass
uncontradicted. would place the men of the
North Chicago Rolling Mills in a wrong posi-
ton before the community. The employees of
the North Side Rolling Mills feel the situa-
ton as keenly as any men in the country 1t
is true there are few, and Only very few
who could tide the panic over; but the great
mass are compelled to live from hand to
mouth, and the families of these are very Of
ten depending on the monthly pay day" for
what little comforts they require in their
houses Thus YOU will see that they have
as great an interest in an amicable adjust
ment OF whatever difficulty may arise be-
tween themselves and their employers as the
company or its representatives. And from
the commencement of the panic they were
willing, as far as it was in their power, to as
sist the company to get over the panic times.
The writer, in the article referred to, speak
ing Of the North Chicago Rolling Mills, says:
This company, short time since, agreed to
pay their employees one-quarter cash and the
balance in rolling mill scrip, payable in six
months at per cent interest. This is not
So. The manner in which such proposition
was made was as follows: On the 3lst Of
October Mr.. J e. Parks held a consultation
with committee Of the employees, at which
time lie stated that, owing to the panic the
company would not lie able &c make full pay
ments for the future; but that they 'coUld pm
as much cash as possible and the balance il
due bills payable six months after date, rah-
0m interest. The committee asked Mr.. Parks
what they the company would do in case
the business men Of the neighborhood re-
fused to take the due bills at their face val
ne He replied that ''the company would
supply them with groceries and all other nee
essary articles, and in payment therefor would
accept the due bills at the face values
The committee accepted the proposition Of
the company, with the understanding that
there was to lie document to that effect
drawn up and signed by the company and the
employees of the company. At this interview
it was fully understood that all the men were
to he employed lat this time there were near
ly GOO men out Of work not more than 900
men were employed out of the l 500 who are
generally at the mills through the winter,
excepting the times repairs were going on.
1t was also understood that they were to re-
ceive their October pay in full on or about
the 25th or 9th Of November With this
arrangement the men were satisfied, and ev
erything worked tremendously until the Itch
of November, when the Superintendent again
sent for the committee, to whom he made the
following statement: Mr.. Parks said the
company were negotiating with the North
western Railway Company for large order;
the terms were to be One-fourth cash, and the
balance in scrip, payable six months after
date, with per cent interest MIR. Parks
stated further that the company could not
stand by their former agreement, but they
would pay one-fuurth in cash and the bal
ance in rolling mills scrip. payable six months
after date at : per cent interest, and also
that the company could not furnish anything
but Goals.
The committee stated they could not give
an answer until they would consult with the
men at large Mr. Parks said they should
give a decided answer within an hour, or
the works would be closed.
The committee asked him what would be
done in regard to the October pay. He re-
piled that that month would be paid for the
same a. the other months.
The men continued work until the 18th,