Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-02
THE SLIDING SCALE.
Saturdays Conference and the
Prospects Among Iron Men,
Both Owners and Workers.

II
Both Owners and Workers.
As a preface to the following, and for
the better understanding by those I'M
familiar with the mysteries OF lron-mak-
ing, it should be explained that what is
known as the sliding scale, " is a scale
of prices paid workers in iron, which
varies with the market price the man
ufactured iron. When this scale was
adopted, covenant was made between
owner and worker that In case either
wished a discontinuance OF it, he was TO
give the other thirty days notice.
Our Wheeling nail manufacturers be-
long 10 the Western Nail Association
and are to a great extent governed IN
their actions by the rules adopted by
that Association. The prices for boiling
are set by Pittsburgh and for nail
ing bv Wheeling. At the former city,
boilers of iron work under annual con-
tracts, the last of which expires June
Both OF this year, and as the Association
has resolved upon reduction IN price,
il was decided 10 discontinue the shd-
ing scale; and consequently, the COM
mittees representing the nailers OF the
various mills were notified TO meet the
owners on Saturday afternoon, that day
being the required thirty days in adj
vance of the time when the contract
with the Pittsburgh boilers would ex-
pire.
To obtain the result OF that conference
in this city, a reporter of this paper
called upon the two branches, labor and
capital, to obtain their several views.
The surroundings Of each were IN per
feet keeping with their different stations
in life, and might have, in some cases,
proved prolific subjects for the pencil OF
a Mast, ifnot to point moral or adorn
a tale.
Some of our Wheeling nailers, by
thrift and economy, have been
enabled to support and rear
their families in the midst OF
comfort, if not luxury; but others have
been less fortunate, and many, together
with members OF other branches OF IRON
workers are often compelled to undergo
their proportion of the struggle Tor ex-
istenCe." The representative employe,
striking the mean between those who
receive the higher aud the lower wage,
does not lie i'm a bed of roses. His
dwelling is truly that OF the hard
handed son of toll. His small parlOr,
which in many cases, is also the family
dining-room, though neat, is not draw
ing-rOom. His household and kitchen
utensils do not form glitterins array,
but betray his slender means. And
the general surroundings tell an elo-
ouent story of the struggle to keep want
and the sherif7s hammer from his door
and goods, and to him the prayer
give us this day our daily bread, has
often a deep and terrible intensity.
Look on that picture and on this.
The manufacturer was in cosy apart
ments that denoted the possession OF
wealth and the refinement which goes
with it. The luxurious drawing room
was fit abode Of the MUSES., with its
grand piano and harp, and the master
pieces of art which adorned the walls;
with its costly furniture and rich cur
tains, and soft carpet on which foot
iall could not be heard; and while
mOralizing over the problem: Can
wealth bring happiness? glimpSes might
be had, through half open door, OF an
elegant side board loaded with massive
silver and cut glass; with decanters OF
wine and baskets of fruit. And the
owner of all sat half buried in an easy
chair notwithstanding on the struggle,
which To him meant more or less money
and to his operatives, bread and butter
As to the conference, the committees
and manufacturers met on Saturday and
the former were notified that at the eX-
piration of thirty days, the sliding scale
would be discontinued. Nothing was
said of reduction, but it is generally
understood that that is what it means.
The Western Nail Association will meet
on Wednesday and scale OF prices be
adopted.
Manufacturers say they have gone
into this only after lengthy and mature
deliberatiOn, and have gone in 10 win.
Their claim is that they are forced into
asking a reduction in prices paid skilled
labor, by the lively competition OF the
East. There is a greater unanimity OF
opinion and concert of action than ever
before, and they will hold out TO the
bitter end. We asked:
"What Go you think will be the final
result?'
THAT is more than any man can fore
tell. 1t will become Il mere matter OF
endurance, and the one that can hold
ont the longest will win. We are pre-
pared for a lengthy and stormy time,
and will make not the slightest effort to
resume before the end OF fall or the be-
ginning OF winter.
"Will YOU run through June?'
THAT depends entirely upon and
rests with the men. Ii they Will work,
we continue. June is always good
month, and we should like to continue
i'm operation. The nailers will soon hold
their convention, when something more
definite will be known
"Are there any prospects OF filling
your mill with nOn-union men, or have
YOU considered any such plan?"
1T would scarcely be practicable. All
the departments must be so filled, as
union men would not roll iron for
"black sheep" and would not cut iron
that they rolled. The Solar Iron Works
OF Pittsburgh succeeded in that plan,
and will continue IN operation during
the lockout there. They some time ago
discharged every union man in the mill
and were obliged to roll up their sleeves
and work at the rolls themselves. After
the fight they have had, the Association
allows them to continue when the others
are shut down"
We attempted to gain an insight of
the meeting of manufacturers held on
Saturday night but though they talked
freely of others matters, their lips were
sealed on this subject
That the men will resist any attempt
to reduce their wages is obvious. They
will stand out for the present scale OF
prices. Our suggestion that they at
tempt a compromise was met with an
indignation that showed their determin-
alton. One of them said
"Why do they ask this of us? Look
at the mills and tell me what they are
doing. There is the Top Mill, the River
side and the La Belle, all with more or
derS than they can possibly fill and all
running full time. There has been
more iron produced thus lar this year