The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-26
UNEASINESS EXPLAINED.
American Mechanics Unwilling to Submit
to the European Standard Of Wages.
CAPITALISTS ADVISED TO REDUCE PROFITS
Cooperative Iron Mills-Their Extraordinary
Success in Western Pennsylvania.
PrrrsnuRo. Pa, May %, 1878.

lorco OF NO less than 900 sQua What THESE men
think and tho acngrossinR subject OF labor In
ts relation capital has been my steady purpose TO
ascer.ain while visiting the furnaces, mills and fac.
tories OF this great manufacturing district have
CONVEX sod with OF their leaders, away from the
influence OF capital and whore the discipline OF the
shop did not restrain their expressions OF opinion
All Of them agreed that such thing as Communism,
though perfectly well understood, has NO rccog nized
existence whatever neither In their trade organiza-
lions nor benevolent societies. Whatever tho
future may bring forth is OF course very difficult 10
Say but the actual present Is concerned, the
reports that this valuable army oil labor is taLcd
With anything that sounds like Communism false
from beginning 10 end These opinions are gathered
not only from the managers in charge OF the works.
but from The best instructed among the men them
selves, from hammermcn, puddlers aud machinista
the sensational reports about tho existence oil Com
munist bands true. which doubt tho mon COM
posing them no longer workingmen, but agita-
tators, who moro politicians than iaboring men;
men, IN TACT who bad puddlcrs, bad heaters, bad
matters or bad machinists, and whose indifferent
work 10 required ut the iron furnaces or rolling
mills IN tho presence oil sucn q large army OF good
gmeu There is, indeed, surplus OF labor IN
this section Of the country just now and this sur
plus outlet tho greater portion continually
moving TO the far West 10 Kansas, Nebraska or
Dakota; the smaller portion, too lazy TO move fast
enough, settling down neighboring Ohio and
Illinois tor the mere purposes OF labor agta tons
or engaging tho still easier business OF tramping.
IL IL and smaller percentage OF tho labor
surplus which all the noise that Is heard about
conncts between labor and capital. Here. In Pitts
burg ut least, IL has been invariably shown that the
men who cry oudest for workingmeD's rights are
themselves the poorest hands the mills and iacto-
ries They have had several clever working
men, who elected to the Assembly and Senate OF
Inc State. and whenever close inquiries are made as
TO ability OF these men in their respective call
ings the answer invariably comes, "Ho Is q fraud
sHc knows how to mako Speech but Is bad pud.
dlcr bad machinis," &c. II is but paturai that
such should DO found in all great anuacturing
cenrcs but their leadership goes no iuther than the
meeting room, and has 10 influence whatever 10 the
presence OF the forge ana the furnace
AN UNEASY STATE FEELING.
A skilled mechanic in Of tho principal mills in
Allegheny, who Is respected by hts comrades
that his influence alone caused 1y OF them 10 break
ranks just they were last year forming TO join tho
then going in Ptisburg assured me last even
ing that not n spark OF Communism existed
among tho 500 men working in tho mhl. and he had
been with them fully twenty-five years He acknowi-
edged that there uneasincss, and no feared that
should there another reduction IN the price OF
wages strikes would occur, and bad men as well ms
hanas riot disturbance; but he hoped that the
owners OF mills before touching tho wages OF their
men would touch their pronts first He con-
ssndod that American manufacturers made far moro
money than those In Europe and Il q reduction must
DO had, 10 bring down The cost oil
the manufactured product they should have tho
wisdom TO begin reducing at the top, content them
selves with smaller incomes and declare smaller divi
denda The seli-respect OF tho American workngman
provisions were as high almost during prosperous
sinea With Hour still 81 barrel aud potatoes at
1orly-nve TO may cents Dushe and rents not mate
rally lower the iron steel workers OF Pittsburg
could not consent further reduction. II would DO
tho last feather the cuiners back rue OF har
mony among Tho capitalists, whose dstrust OF one
another kept them from arriving ut u uniform policy
In this regard, to-day tho real source Of uneas
ness amoug the worKingncn l asked him whether
this state OF uncasiness had boon noticed by the
owners OF tho mills. .weii," he replied, ..thcy
may have noticed II, but they do not appear
willing to remove it. wo do not ask higher
wages just now. but do ask that they
sha remain where they now It Is the uncertainty
Of labor that the very OF agitation" Hc
shcu informed that tots question would probably
have TO DO laced by the manufacturers uex month,
sbeir new articles VI agreement Tor ono year IN the
month OF June. These puadiers receive ABOUT ~ 70
ton .ron, out or which they pay, however, q
certain percentage to their assistants
AMERICAN VERSUS EUROPEAN WAGES.
The wages OF most men working 10 IRON and steel
average IRON 81 90 10 - day. Most Of them have
iam lies, and succeed IN keeping them tidy pnd neat
and IN gvina them plenty to cat with The AID OF these
wages. which paid them semi onthiy.
During my wanderings around Pittburg, | noticed
bhe comfortable looking dwellings, and tene-
ments OF tho working classes, est ecially and
near Mount washinsi ION ana across tho river, aud
surprised how even at these low wages they
could afford 10 dress their children so decentIy.
hal hsr n gar OF
the long Ptsburg bridges or IN thvir school clothes
on week days when rnerriy with books caspod under
their they 20 TO The scboolroolns, tue appear
snce OF these children presents such pleasing con-
trast 10 the squald aud poverty stricken amilios OF
could well understand the herccncss with which me
American and steel worker would stayt1ic sacri-
lcglous hand thai would dare to.dsturb the enchant
ing picture. wnen contemplating " myself appro-
Stated tho force OF glass manufacturers remarks
made 70 me lew days previously ;-.Nescr,
wages OF my men 80 low as TO com.
pei them 70 live iss INC starving operatives q
Europe's manufacturing districts. II. then, this IL
thc reason that the OF cannot be brought
down 10 The lcvc vi tue European cost woulo rather
walt several years in competing with ihcm III the neu
irai markets TIL they como up TO our standard OF
wagesn stli ali this comlor, and happiness must not
be attributed 10 the condition OF labor IA the past
twclvomonth durug which tino IL has virtually been
In = transitory state. Ii was durug tue years OF
plenty, whom all tnade money here, that the Plus
burg worxingmen werc not only thrifty, but saving;
they iaid up something Tor u rainy DAY, and ths
saving, banxs-ars ovsiaowns with xon .y.
Cvnnderco not being sufficiently restored tho
directors md u difficult TO invest at remunerativc
figures; but there ~ lies, the result OF years and
years of honest ana hard labor. There u another
feature connection with this that has been oroug,
my attention, and winch speaks well Tor Pittsburgs
Iaboring people, who been severely criticised
since the troubles OF last summer
co-oPERArIye MILLS.
Tho theory OF cooperative industry, oil which we
bear la the abstract the Eastern section OF
the country, has been practically ana successfully
carried out by workingmcn who made aud saved
their money IN and around Pittsburg Instead oi DC.
posting their money IN savings banks, any number
OF skilled kins have during the past
years and with their common fund have erected
iron mills Of their all along tho country Iying
west OF Pttsburg. Tho large ana wealthy manu-
lecturers just beginning 20 feel tho effect Of this
sharp competition on The part vi men who under
stand every detail OF the business lar Dettor than they
do themselves, and whose smaller requirements
enable them ~ be content win small prviis, and
hence sell ut lover prices only one OF the mills
started this plan has not succecdcd and that Was
owtpg 10 the absence a proper head iu conducting