Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-14
WILL THERE BE A STRIKE?
The Importance OF the Action of
the Nall AssOciatiOn-A Reduc-
ton of Wages Absolutely Es-
sential, According to Manufac-
fnPaPG

I Pittsburgh Commercial
The resolution passed at the meeting
ot the nail manufacturers held in this
city last Wednesday, has created consid-
cradle interest here as well as at other
points embraced by the Association.
What does il mean? Will there be a
strike or a lOck-OutF Are the assertions
made in the preamble true? These are
questions that are heard on every cor
ne-? As 10 whether the assertions
made in the preamble are true or not
they have not been denied. When the
leaders OF the workingmen are ap-
preached they evidence "a disinclina-
ton 10 discuss the subject. The
facts, moreover, seem TO be with the
manufacturers. Take the first class
OF skilled labor in the nail mills, boilers.
IL Is asserted that the nail mills in Har-
risburg and the Susquehanna valley pay
$3.50 per ton for boiling; those in the
Schuylkill valley pay S3.55; New Jersey
mills the same; New England, $50 to
500; Chattanooga, $3.50. Ii these are
the correct figures they certainly bear
out the assertions OF the manufacturers.
To be sure these are only assertions
without proof, but if they are not true
Il should be known i'm order that il NAV
be positively learned whether our in
dustries are SO heavily handicapped in
the race Tor business, as the manuiac.
turers claim.
Take the cutting of nails. Pittsburgh
pays u cents per keg for ten pennies
Tor this work Harrisburg and the Sus-
quehanna valley, 10 cents; Schuylkill
and New Jersey, l5 cents and a small
fraction; New England, II LILO cents.
Again il Is found that the statement OF
the Nail Association that they are pay
ing from 33 l-3 per cent. 10 30 per cent.
more Is established
In the preamble of the Nail AssocIa-
ton, which is referred To- above, il is
claimed that our mills are being stop
ped or run on short time. This is easily
diSproyed ii not true. There are eight
nail mills in the city. One Ofthese, the
old Woods mill, has not been operated
as a nail mill for some time, though its
machines would have been run when it
was operated by Mullen Il MalOncy had
there been any profit. OF the remain
ing seven, Lewis, Dalzell x Lewis has
been idle for months. Spang, Chalfant
x Co. have virtually abandoned the
nail business Iug x Co. have not
turned u wheel for months. Jones II
Laughlin and Graft, Bennett II Co. do /
not average half time. Shocnbcrgcr II |
Co, and Chess, Smythe " Co. may |
average four days in the week.
In answer TO the question, what does /.
the resolution OF the Nail Association |
mean IL may be said that it is more |
in the nature OF notice and a state |
ment OF what the manufacturers ask. !
They make certain assertions and give |
certain reasons when they ask a Teduc- |
ton, and as one prominent manuiac- |
turer remarked, they do not wish it said |
that they have not shown the necessity |
Of reduction.
But the most important question To /
Is, will there be strike or /
lOck-out. This question has been /
asked OF several manufacturers, ami .
while tOa man they have expressed /
l..,,,- ttiat u tnizIil iiUI come 20 lnlS ia~I
resort, they also say that that must br
the natural result unless a reduction Is
conceded. They say that they cannot /
run without such a reduction. With II !
they can, and can regain part Ol /
the trade they have lost.
What the workmcn think ot the stu |
alton is more difficult To learn. lndl- |
they do not care to express
their opinions, either freely or other
wise. There seems 10 be strong uu- /
der current OF feeling, however, against |
such sweeping reduction in wages as
il contemplated in the resolution. They |
m prcsrnt maintain an ominous silence, /
which may prove only the calm before
the storm.