The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-02-23
CRISIS IN THE LOCKOUT.
Where ID VIII End and How, Unless
Speedily Abandoned--An Appear.
e Pittsburgh DISPATCH.

interest. would have needed the plain
statement Of this journal which has ever
taken their part 10 the limit of reason,
and that they would have re-lighted the
fires before Saturday last. The whole
case was SO clear that it did not occur to
Us how there could be any room tor mis-
apprehension. And il 50 stands still,
only that every day, besides being da;
OF loss 10 the puddlers, makes it more
manifest that they are doing TN utterly
wanton and foolishthing in remaining idle
and that there IS not, during the present
state of the market. the rcmotcst posi-
bility of obtaining better pay ior their
labor than the mill owners have already
offered.
But whether from perver>cncsS. or
through the influence OF a few men i'll
the Union, who hayea caprice TO gratifyin
prolonging the lockout, the exposition of
facts and kindly persuasion of last week
seem to have failed of immediate result
Puddlers admit there Is force in what
Was put forward; other, agree with it en-
tirrly, but still they do not 90 to work.
Thi, i strange sort of tatuity indeed
almost incomprehcn,ible In the face Of
it. however, and to cticctually remove
the last vestigc OF doubt that may in
uuybody's mind attach 10 the situation,
We propose TO address Il few more words
upon the subject this morning.
There Is not mill in the city of Pitts
burgh that has not from 100000 to 81
100000 in the business. The owners
would be- clad to take three per cent. on
their investment. The profit does not
lie in the iron making with the market
ruling as it does now. 1t i even quc>-
tiunable whether the manufacturers, pay
lug what thev offered "a few months ago,
could realize to the extent noted, bat
they would have their machinery run
ming. be able to keep what trade there Is
ahuat. and hold themselves in readiness
to- revival whenever The period OF re-
urwed prosperity might set IN. l. Itnot
a sheer absurdity FOR puddIels to persist
in their demands under these clrcum-
stances? Are they not unreasonable; and
what glimmer OF hope Is there that un-
reasonable demands will or can be acccd
eG t.? Common prudence suggests that
they ought to 20 to work, at least until an
improved condition OF the market justi-
tics either return to the old figures or
Il proportionatc increase, when If that toe
refused, they would not only have pro-
prictv on their side in striking, but also
the trade. Men witha large capital in
vested in any business will not stand idle
50 long as there i Il dollar to be had 10y
work They vii pay the highest rates
for labor, compatible with profit, rather
than let their capital lie unproductiyc
and their custom flow oil into other cham
ucis. When through and at the end of
three months we still find our mills shut
down, the one prominent and indisputa-
bic conclusion dcduciblc from that cir.
cumstancc is that it does not pay to run.
This is hot all. The market is not
only bad but steadily growing worse.
Besides the reduction of price, of iron,
orders are becoming scarcer. This Is
true to such Il degree that If the furnaces
were started tomorrow, 1t is questionable
whether they could BE- kept in operation
for more than two-thlrd, of the full time.
The trade /. completely dcmoraiilrd. and
the business available for some months
would be- mainly of an accidental sort,
rather than regular and steady, and UNI
fnrmly profitable as i generally was in
the past Upon affairs 50 disposed, it Is
scarcely necessary to explain that the
lockout ha, not beneficial ten
dencv. and that if such terms
are not speedily made II will
enable our Pittsburgh manufacturers to
reach out for what demand does exist in
the market. the situation will grow i'll
.initylv less pleasant hereafter. W hat
are the puddlers virtually doing, then,
by their obstinate opposition to the die
tate, of reason? Simply killing the
goose that lay>-or at least did lay in the
past, and ought to lay IN the future-thc
golden eggs ot large reward for their
arduou, labor Their policy Is suicidal.
The leaders in the stay-"ut movement
are therefore doing great and manifest
wrong by themselves. by all vii" follow
them, and again, by aIl who arc i'll any
respect dependent upon this principal
branch of Pittsburgh industry.
y, We have said, the manufacturers are
largely and vitality interested. There is
no Use IN putting forward any prctcuSe
To the contrary, for their capital i in
vested and at stake But this only make, .
the case the worse for the workingmcn
should they persist in holding out for the I.
price that cannot be given them: for in +.
such event the manufacturers will un- ,
doubtedly save themselves if they cam .
Already II movement is on foot to bring
over foreign workingmrn, which, if car
ricd out, will compliCatr matters more
seriously than ever, md will put the
puddlers in more unfortunate plight
than they now Of their volition occupy.
Experiments in foreign labor have not
heretofore been success in Allegheny /.
county We do not desire to see another: .
but if our home hand, cannot be led by .
persuasion or cntreaty t. resume their .
places in the mills, then maniicstiy no .
one can blame the capitalists if they look .
for material elsewhere, rather thau per- .
nit their property to 90 to ruin.
The puddlerS now know what may be .
looked for. 1t l. probable that unless All ,
arrangement is effected before the tir>; of .
March, the manufacturers will have been
Obliged by that date 10 make still fur
thcr abatement on their tender. or 10 en-
ter INTO negotiations for labor from
abroad. Now, it our home hands desire .
either of these proceedings they will re-
main out a while longer; if not. they
will take our advice and resume. trusting
to an improvement III trade hereafter for
better terms than trade now permits.
We make tins earnest appeal to the
puddlcrS, first for their own interest. and
second for the welfare OF the community