Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-31
THE LABOR QUESTION.
MOST OF THE PITTSBURGH IRON
MILLS ALREADY SHUT DOWN.
Fears of a Long 'LOck-0ut-The Manu-
facturers Determined to Resist
the SCale-The Pud-
dlers Firm.
Pittsburgh Post

Pittsburgh Post.
Most OF the iron works OF the two
cities have already shut down and the
indications are that there will be a
lengthy suspension in all our iron estab-
lishments. The present agreement be-
tween puddlers and manufacturers will
expire on Sunday. Decoration Day has
generally been observed by the iron
workers and manufacturers as a holiday,
and for this reason many mills closed
down yesterday. 1t will not be
worth while to relight the fires
for tomorrow, so that all works
that are idle to-day will re-
main idle tomorrow also, and, indeed,
until the present disagreements between
the boilers and manufacturers are set
tied. 4 number of mills, anxious to
get their orders filed will run to-day
and tomorrow also, and then they will
shut down. The lockout has virtually
commenced already, however, since the
great majority of mills closed last even
ing.
THE MANUFACTURERS POSITION.
As has been previously stated in the
Post the boilers voted some days ago to
resist any reduction OF the present scale.
ThemanuiaCturCTS have also determined
not 10 pay the present rates for boiling,
viz; y per ton The manufacturers
Of the Company have unan-
imously resolved to place the
whole question of wages in the
hands of a committee consisting OF
MeSsrs. Is. F. Jones, III. W. Oliver, Jr.,
and Thomas Carnegie. They had all
previously expressed their determina-
ton not to pay s. while S3 90 remains
the price in the East. At the recent
meeting, when this committee was APP
pointed, the committees were very
plainly made to understand their views.
The meeting was attended by every
iron manufacturing firm in the country
except except one-the Pittsburgh
Forge and Iron Company-and the SEN
Tor member OF this firm has joined in
the agreement with the rest, 50 that the
manufacturers are now unanimous.
THE PUDDLERs' VIEWS.
The boilers seem to think that the
manufacturers are tTylngtO impose upon
them. They acknowledge that Eastern
boilers get only So 80 per ton while they
receive - per ton, but claim that the
manufacturers can stand it. They think
also that the manufacturers will not
close down, and that they cannot afford
10 keep their mills in fdleness and that
it would be better for the manufacturers
to make a little money than none at all
on their money invested in iron works.
For these reasons they believe that they
can force the manufacturers to their
terms. and that the latter will sooner or
later sign the scale. At least they pro-
fess to believe these things, and We give
their views as well as those OF the mill
proprietors.
HARRY DIVERS OPINION.
The reporter last evening interviewed
several of the manufacturers in regard
to the situation. Harry w. Oliver, OF
Lewis. Oliver Il Phillips, and a member
of the committee, was first called upon.
Mr.. Oliver informed the scribe that no
conference has been held with the pudd-
lers. The committee have the right TO
determine what shall be done, and are
i'm close communication with the
principals. He thinks there is no room
Tor compromise. He felt positive that
the proprietOrS will not sign the scale,
and stated that his own firm Will
close down. The puddlers are
now WORKING for 81 per ton at Scottdale
at the works of Messrs. EversOn x
NcCrum, who likewise had found that
they could not afford TO pay s. per ton,
and had kept their works closed till
the men wen tO work at 81. N"SSrS.
Everson x V Crum were determined to
do Justice to-, themselves, rs well as TO
the boilers, ] lld they have succeeded in
securing the deduction. At JOhnstown
the price is 1925 per ton. The Pitts
burgh manuI lecturers see these things,
and are lust l. determined as Messrs.
Everson d McCrum were. Even If the
mills in the Mahoning and Shenango
valleys and Wheeling agree to sign the
present scale, their action will have no
effect towards settling the question
in Pittsburgh and vicinity, no matter
whether mills here are running on spe-
cialties or not. Mr.. Oliver said in reply
10 a question whether a reduction here
would not be followed by reduction in
the East, that prices have now reached
hard pan i'm the East, and he does not
think il possible to make further reduc-
tions there. The agreement of the APP
polio mill was recalled TO Mr.. Oliver,
and he said that the action Of this mill
has no bearing on the subject, as the
mill is a small one, and manufactures
fine grade of iron.
OTHER MANUFACTURERS.
Mr.. Bvers, of A. NJ. Byers & Co., was
also interviewed. He expressed the
same opinion as Mr.. Oliver. so far as
am concerned" said Mr.. Byers, 1.-The
puddlers would wait long time before
/ went 10 see them. ! have no doubt
if the pudLlers would appointa commit
tee. composed of the intelligent men
among them, tomeet the manufacturers,
the threatened lockout could be pre-
vented. If they DO not pursue such
course of lock out is inevitable, and 1t
will be a protrated one. The manuiac-
turers mean business"
Messrs. Painter & Sons, Phillips,
Nllnltk q NO.s JouNS ~ A<t'AS'AAAA'-
and other firms were visited, and
they all took the same view.
Said ore manufacturer: The pud-
dlers will not be convinced till the mills
are closed down, and till they are suf-
feaing from want of work. There is no
other way to convince them that We are
losing money, and We are determined to
let them sutleras much loss as we suffer.
Our mill will remain shut down till
doomsiay, unless the prices OF iron ad-
vance far enough to justify us in pay
ing - per ton.
The indications are, therefore, that
there will be a long suspension OF work
i'm the iron mills. All other laborers IN
the mills will be forced to idleness, and
few of them receive as big wages as the
puddlers. The grocer, butcher and mer-
chant will also be affected, and a pretty
general stagnation OF business may be
expected.