Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-12
TUG OF WAR.
Tbs Situation at the Cleveland
Mills.
The Worsmen Determined to Garry Their
Point-Statements from Both Sides
The Coal Miuers-lmporting
Negroes to Take
Their Places.
THE GENERAL LABOR OUTLOOK.

CLEVELAND, May 11.-Inactivity has dis
placed labor, and quiet pervades the works
of the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company IN
the Eighth ward. Crowds OF the striking
workmen walk the streets, or congregate on
the corners and talk the matter over, ever
and anon proceeding to some convenient
hall for the purpose of holding mass meet
ings and passing resolutions. Two such
meetings were held yesterday, one IN the
morning at Pereira Hall. The capacity OF
the place being insufficient, an adjourn
ment was made to the-fown Hall,
where a two hours meeting was
held in the afternoon. Both gatherings
were presided over by Lawrence Davis, a
local official of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. The greatest care was exercised IN
the exclusion of outsiders, and no one was
permitted to enter unless he conld give sat-
isfactory proofs of being one OF the strikers
or member of one of the lodges of the AS
sociation.
was enjoined upon those present, and all
the facts that's that could be obtained con-
cerning the proceedings were such as leaked
out.
The striking workmen, as a rule, refused
TO answer any questions concerning the
strike, its probable duration and outcome
or the plan of action of the strikers. Inc
refusal was probably due to the fact that
the rank and file OF the strikers know put
little of the contemplated movements, as II
is part of the policy OF the leaders or
sagftators to keep their adherents, so far as
possible in state of ignorance. union
man was found almost by accident who
discoursed readily on the general points IN
vOlved.
How long will the strike continue
asked the reporter.
"J'ntil hell freezes over, unless the COM
pany accept the terms of the Association
before that time, was the somewhat torcl-
BILE response, and the speaker continued:
THE principal cause OF difficulty between
the proprietOrS and the men is the lack OF
a permanent scale of wages. There is moth
ing which tends to demOralize men so
much as this. a permanent scale has been
adopted in ether cities, and the Association
resolved to obtain it here. Advances were
also asked in the prices paid in the various
departments and the company was request
ed to
Sign the Scale
with the understanding that the rates gov
ern for wear. This they refused and the
strike followed. | think very likely the
company would have met the advance
asked, were it not for the condition. The
settled basis of wages would prove a good
thing for both employer and employe, and
would prevent the yearly labor troubles.
What assurance have you that the
strikers will not return to work?
"They are nearly all members OF the
Amalgamated Association, or Knights OF
Labor, and are pledged to remain out until
the strike is declared off. Members OF che
association receive an allowance for the
support of themselves and families during
strike, and are therefore able to lose their
time. The city has been thoroughly organ
lied by the association and the lodges are
all i'll flourishing condition.
A visit was made to the works, and the
contrast with the former appearance OF the
mills was remarkable. All the depart
ments
except the plate mill and the rail mill,
blooming mills, rod mills, bar and guide
mill. Bessemer Il Siemen'S and Martin
steel mills, the big hammer shop, and the
entire wire department were vacated. A
few boiler makers. machlnlsts, carpenters
and masonS remain at work, although
manN Will De lOICtu W uloCOubiuuS NhSiA
labors, from lack of employment, unless
the difficulties are adjusted. The
blacksmiths could not work yes
terday for lack of blast.
what Mill Owners Say.
Mr.. Vim. Chisholm was called OH at his
residence last evening, and inquired OF
concerning the intentions of the Rolling
Mill Company. .,
I'VE have always made it a principle, y
said he, "to
Conduct Our Own Business
affairs in our own way. and shall not sub
nit to dictation from the Amalgamated or
| any other association. When any OF our
employees have come to us with grievance,
the trouble has invariably been rectited,
and that is the policy which will be pur--
sued in the future. We cannot be forced
into signing a scale of wages, andwe do not
| propose to do so. Our contracts are such as
can be readily filled by other parties, and
our mills can remain idle without any Sc
| rious damage to us.
"The rate asked was not general increase
of ten per cent, but ranged all the way
from nothing to an increase OF fifty per
cent, according to the department and the
work. We did not offer to grant the ad-
vances asked if the condition requiring the
scale to be fixed permanently were with
| drawn, but have utterly refused to make
any concession to the strikers whatever.