New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-17
THE LABOR AGITATION.

HOW THE GREAT IRON STRIKE WAS BEGUN.
woRKINGMEN NOT UNITED IN THEIR DEMANDS
EARNEST WORK BY PRESIDENT JARRETI-WhAr
THE STRIKERS HAVE ALREADY LOST
IRON "A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuhEl
PITrsBURG. Penn, June 15.-H the iron
workers had few among them ike PreSiuent
Jarrett the head OF their trade ORGANIZATION ana
would follow the judgment Of such leaders there wouiu
be few strikes in the district and the present one
would never have been begun. 1t Is wellknowh tnat
he counseIled against this strike, and that his
advice was approved by that class OF worKngmen VINO
have saved money sufficient to MAINTAIN tneir ianes
for months should the strike continue so long, WITHOUT
drawing on the funds in the treasury OF the Anaga
mated Association OF Iron and Steel WorKers H"as
the workingmen who spend their earnings az soon 10
they receive them and who always in the majority
who forced this strike and who will suffer the most
from it, Many dissatisfied with MI jarrett
and there is already considerable talk as TO who his sue
cessOr will be.
The workngmen are not united in the demand Tor IN
creased wages so far as their better judgment Ia con-
cerned Under their trade organization the majority
rules and AS Amalgamaed Association astrong one
its members will probably continue to act as unit Win
the more intelligent members opposed to the course no"
being pursued howeverhey will serve as the little eaven
that leaveneth the whole lump AS the strike proceeus
and the who precpated 1t no longer nave circuit
with the grocer pinch of hunger Will cause theh 10
posed TO the strike and in the end work Will probably DC
resumed at the old rates.
There Is certainly at present more unity
among the manufacturers than among me
strikers. The former feel that tne n. st The
IL unjust and not made upon any theory OF iSt.
working1nen in want and do not claim TO be me
of living is higher now than year ago. DuI thc Tb
aim that the strike Is made upon maj ht in the
alleged basis of the dissatisfaction - Deci tha III t9
division of the product of the JOINT action o, ooI brn
or in the words of Secretary Martin, OF the amaga
mated ASSOCIATION, ,o .ne ne IL
P soon es the Strike was determined upon President
Jarrett took hold with the intention OF making the Des
of it, and he is working with VIII TO tnat eh h foiiv
convinced the strikers IN Cinclnhau Oh the ioib
viii probably induce resumption of business In 81 81
Louis in the five mills At Chicago and the two az e
tro II is the belief of the strikers that this VIII take
the trade from the PtsDur6 manufacturers anu DInI
pressure upon them to accede to the demands ior III
makeit worse for the strikers by supplying the moderate
demand iron and keeping down the prices the scale
The thiry-twO mills, most of them small ones IN Cicn
natl st. Louis. Chicago and Detroit VIII hardly Dc ape
to take the trade OF the ninety large ones uidI
win remain closed Some of the men are be- be.
ginning to talk about this strike being a p u. up
lob on the part of the manufacturers TO increase
The prices OF iron while they are repairing he
such talk this bespeaks increasing disSatiSiacIoh
on the part OF the with their attitude ,.., -.
The number of men now on strike IL estimated AZ
tne skilled and unskilled labor together, is little over
81 day. At -, the worngnen VIII already nav iost
in wages ana II they were 20 go 20 be rate
Ofncrease demanded, for the loss already susl ~
the strike is likely continue for weeks anu peIhPs
months, il almost inevitably result ID loss 10 .ic
era are losing on the S35OO0,OO0 OF capital
| invested can only be vaguely estlma's co.
but at the rates they have been getting iGI
iron for some time past the loss Is not they assert
| greater than per cent per annum mere mas oeeu
some talk of the weaker manufacturers beng Orccu u
succumb TO the strikers in order to provide means u
meet notes and drafts falling due. Ihefe Is reIy
| LITTLE in this statement. Inc mdnulac'
| turers as a rule only negotiate paper on business
already DONE the receipts for winch VIII come IN tho
sane AZ if The strike were in existence then thC
banks here and al other iron centres are almost wholly
the hands OF the manufacturers ana there Is an nPeO
agreement that help Will be extended where needed