Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-24
WAR OPENED.
The lrea uaautaetuFsss Eaasrss
tho Aetisa Of TIE cesveatlea.
And win Close Down June I, Rather
than Sign the New SeaIs-Stass
Of A6ain II Cleveland
and eloSsAsN.
LATEST NEWS FROM ALL QUARTERS.

PrrsBuRa, May 23.-This afternoon the
iron manufacturers met and ratified the 90
ton taken BY the conference committee.
in refusing to grant the sdvance asked BY
the Amalgamated Association. Every
manufacturer in this district was present,
and one and all expressed their detsrmins,
ton TO close down on June lst rather than
sign the scale as submitted by the iron,
PITTSBURGH, May 23-The iron manufac.
turers seem determined to stand firm. Mr..
Graf, OF Grad, Bennett q Co., said he
thought the outlook very favorable for Q
holiday, as the workmen had decided to In.
sist upon IN advance which In the present
condition Of business We cannot ooncede.
J. w. Painter, Of Painter & Co., said hs
looked for general strike. "The iron
trade is very dull just now" said he, and
general suspension would work OF tho
present scale OF wages firmly believe that
many OF our mills would have 10 stop this
summer. We are verging close on 10 overpro-
duction, as any person who examines affairs
must acknowledge. Within the last two
years improvements and addi tions have
been made in nearly every mill about Pitts
burgh, and the majority OF them have
largely increased their production. This
must tell on the market In time, and nov
We are beginning to feel II. The new rail.
roads have countermanded many OF their
ordco TO which fact the present dullness
is mainly attributed.
I'VE can't pay the demand" said Mr..
Iaughlin, member Of the large South Side
firm who was next INTRODUCED. You have
said so before and then paid the price," re-
turned the reporter.
well, you have heard OF the last straw
which broke the camel's backg' said Mr.. l..
This new scale is that straw. The men
seem TO have made this demand, without
any regard to reason or the state Of trade,
and the manufacturers are determined 70
fight Il out The firms are all prepared for
the struggle, and IL seems TO be the general
opinion that the line must bc drawn some
where, so that We may have some idea ~ 10
how far the demands may be allowed to 90.
Pittsburg seems TO have been chosen o. the
battle ground, and while we all deplorc tho
necessity We must fight II out"
Mr.. Weeks was the next one scen. and
when asked his opinion he said: 1T looks
TO me like fight never saw the manu-
facturers 20 determined before. This de-,
mand for an increase Is made right In the
face Of positive promise given last year,
that no further advance should bc nked on
the present DASb. w UIe We nave uOuc uut
the most friendly feelings toward the men.
yet we think they have broken faith with
us, and what assurance have We that ID.
ditional demands will not be made
next year. And l must say it is
the first time / ever knew tho
Amalgnmated Association 10 break .
promise. When this. demand was made
the delegates argued that they were not On
the committee last year, and therefore they
had had Z. made ne RFSRih oT AsssiSA lhss lhoss
which has assured us that II the rate was
advanced no more would be asked. That
promise has been violated, aud can nov
see nothing but o struggle. II we surren-
der now ID means not only rise In tho
price OF pudding and rolling. but oil
branches OF mill labor will demand an In
crease The same fight will he on hand
next year, II the question Is not dehniteIy
settled now. However, II We must hghi,
hope the contest will be conducted with
dignity as becomes men who can hold their
tempers." =,
Mr. Martin, speaking In references 70 the
promise claimed by Mr.. Weeks said that
there was no agreement made, - Mr. Jar
rett had no authority 70 do anything o. tho
kind. lie merely said that he beibsved thas
the arrangement made two years ngD would
fix matters 30 that all troubles IN the future
would be obviated. And his ststsment
then has nothing 70 do with liking ths
scale now"
From the foregoing u 10 evident thal
both sides are preparing for war 70 ths
knife.