, 1879-05-09

"What do you think will bo the resultl''
~ hardly know. There were people there
from all parts,-Alahama, Tennessee, Eastern
New York. and the tntcrior Of Pennsylvania
aud they were all very much astonshed ut the
wav In which the meeting Terminated, md could
give no rrascn for It. They felt thatit the H.
dustry had gotten to the point that 1t couldn't
bear any discussion, the condition OF things was
unfortunate, The meeting was chilled by Mr..
Morrill,. OF tho American Iron Il Steel ABsocia-
ton, with reference to the present and future of
the Industry, and tile dangers that threaten 1t.
To my mind oue Of the dangers was
OUR OWN AgTs,
and the course NC were pursuing md hnvo been
pursuing for tile last four yeaFs. There is more
Danger from that than from anything elsc."
"D9 s,', nos M others look upon 'l'e matter In the
"Ycs, majority Of them; aud, although it
seemed Impossible to got IN expression IN tho
Convention, still, when 1t was over, there was
no trouble aboat getting the members to or.
press themselves freely enough rs to what they
believed ard felt.h
"Why vera they afraid to 20 on rccorda'
'sThat Is something ganuot understand. I
have felt for good niRny yeGrs that tho posi-
ton OF Pennsylvania has been entirely antago-
nistic to ail on. Westeru interests South.
western nrd Northwestern. 1tseenls as though
they fct t their duty 70 break Us oil up, Il 1t
wns possible 10 loit. To my mind, tic provision
nRdo b. the Government to Elyc homo market
tO tho American people was intended tu SUBJ
serve the ittcrcsts Of the American pcople, mud
not tic Interests Of ono 6tate. nor thp interests
of manufacturers, as such, In any Statc, hut
that the intention was to include all the en,-
plOyes."
"uow ARE you GOING TO AEMEDr THE
THQuuLEfH
"That ID question. was In hopes Of get
ting sumo ltglit at the Convention. Il.e only
rnat1c | ia thh RfrraHfRf1- --Etnr fft4
credit system Of doing business; .bcain IN that
wny. There arc great many iran md steel
1ncn who navo been II difficulty. anu havo set
tied up for a5. 80, %, and GU cents. They arc
snuarcd away for business, and we have to meet
tliascompctitlon The ore men al,ou.dn't sell t1at
clnss unless they pay, nor til1 if0ti nftn sei to
men that make bars. And then they couldn't
g1vo four, six, n,s1 eight nonths' credit, which
as ssrious as any other, is tue distrust VIC have
Ut each other. W. seem to be atraid to talk to
ono another about our own busIness ana about
tle buslnesJ In guucral.h
Ills there no way 70 bring about
CONFIDENCE IN ONE AEoruER!''
"Not unless Rll aet honestly toward one an-
other, and tl,at they don't do now.''
"Will not the repeal Ut Tho Bankrupt law
have good cffectln
III lon't know. Wchavc had little experience
since then, a,4 t. looks % II H. stats law wasn't
like to SEQ adopted l., tn hayc men pay fnr what
cy buy, u,ld nut sell Gool8 tor less LEal It cpsts
to produce them. Tint Ins not been aonu for
sumo timr. II That policy ,wcre adopted, labor
would nut be crowded TO the wall MS It is now."
''ll other words, employers must be- more
hpncstl''
"Ycs, and moro frank with tl,elr employees.
As q rule, they do not trust their employees
enough with knowledge OF their business."
Isn't TINT rather curious state OF nj
fatrsln ,n
POLICY THAT HAs PREVAILED WITH OUR COM
FANNY
for the last four ycars is this: At the end OF
each year wo hnvo gono over md practically
mapped out our business to committees
Representing our employees Just as fully as we
did Among onrsclycs ~ directors; anu We have
sa!d: This Is our policy; We want 10 do this
rates; what WILL they be next yoarp And i'lut
Is our basta. II We lInve to take low prices TO
tlees competition. Wagca pre- low; 1t wo got
more, the men share In tic Increase, "a they
ought. Wc have never, III tho twuuty ycars our
works hayo been tn operation, madu a,l arEanuc-
tucnt ts,at tic employees have not adhered TO.
II there was any dissatisfaction, rs there Will BE-
ut times, men would Co1nu In AM! do double
duty, ratllGt than that we should suffer by their
acts. bclicyo it Is great deal better Tor us,
anl for every corporation, to trent tinpl0Ycs a.
though ltley were pnrs OF tlls ablshmcnt."
Was anything particular sueEcsted after The
adjournment Vt tho Conysntloni"
"a gentleman from Alabama mado
4 SUGGESTION.
There wcro about lb0 paoplo present. We rep
resaHtel tllnt many votes. Our employees husil-
bered probably 151,000, Tie policy wo were
pursuing, lnsgcly IN ttae:Mattcr Of i protective
tat!n, was .!,st W. wlth 1m yotes. wsre ndyo.
ono already granted by thu Government, ,-and
yote against II by tho way We wero
treating. them. Take our own works. W
We teel TINT without Tariff va cannot 20 on.
don't say we must hnve as high tariff u We
have. Although believe In thu' tariff being pro-
h1bltory US lat Us our industry ta concerned, |
Iudustsies. Suppose we calne to a squire issue
1a to sending u,ua to CongTess wh0 wure favor
able TO protective tariff. ultu we went on re-
ducinK TUG wagea OF our cmpioyes, until really
decent existence, and then asked them
to help us elcct our ConCroealnen to keen tho
tariff for usf they, would gay, What good
does II do usl You keep cutting wages down.
profit on his Investment, and be should be ablo
IL pay good. tar prlco for h!s orr, 80 that the
ore ueo can pay fair prizes for their labor. 10
with The coal, plG-mctal, and other men. But,
Instead OF tllAt, tile reverse u DONE"
TWILL THE AsaoCGATloN MEHT AGAIN sooNtn
don't know, nor do know Waere tue meeting
will bu held. In MY luJgmont, The American
Iron d. Hteei Association cannot Afford ito lot
thu matter rest whcrq IT. u uow. There WIS
the l!4ht possih1g thrown upon II. The policy
the Association llas beel pursuing foF thu last
ttys years should be thoroughly ventilated au1
clianged.h
us THERE MUCK YERLlNd IN FITTsnun1fh
f'Yes, a good dea! OF feeling. They hnYe All
idea tllat tu sas!K was put Oh for lhu beluttt Ut
Pennsylvania. aud duu't want to KtVo tht West
any &aare. A great manY pfulucers-pig-lFon