Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-19
JARRETT ON THE SITUATION.
His views OF the PrOspect-A Strike
InIess the Scale Is signed.

There seems to be no doubt, says the
Pittsburgh Dispatch, OF yesterday, but that
the members of the Amalgamated Associ.
alton will cease work on the last day OF the
present mol th. President Jarrett stated
yesterday that the present scale would be
submitted to the manufacturers next week.
This will probably be done on Wednesday.
"Will it be conditional" was asked.
Not at all
Then that means a shut down il the
scale now in use is not accepted
THAT is exactly what it mems, he re-
piled.
At the first meeting of the committees
from the anufacturers' Association and
the Amalgamated Association the men,
beers of the latter submitted proposition
to the effect that manufacturers should
sign the present scale and should shut
down the mills for two months-July and
August. 1t was claimed that during those
months the heat was so intense in the mills
that employees could not do justice in the
work to their employers. The proposition
was net accepted by the manufacturers.
Would the workmen agree to a stopplge
for more than two monthsY' was asked OF
Mr.. Jarrett
"Yes, they would agree to three months,
or six months. if necessary. That would
not be a strike or lock out, but it would
be a stoppage brought about by mutual
consent. The stoppage would enable man
ufacturers to dispose of their surplus stock,
and thus the trade would be benefited.
For a number OF years we have wanted
lust such an understanding that would
permit the workmen to cease for portion
of the heated term. The glass factories
CT, fnr
iron mills? An excellent opportunity is
presented at the present time to introduce
such a rule. Now. let it be done, and
workmen will rejoice
The manufacturers oppose such a plan
for several reasons, They say that should
the union mills voluntarily shut down.
their trade will 90 to the non union mills,
and when the union mills begin again 1t
will be impossible TO get their customers TO
return. In the heated season bridges and
similar undertakings are constructed, and
the iron must be manufactured for them at
that time. Pittsburgh mill owners claim
that should they shut down Eastern mills
would secure their trade, and the result
would be that the iron industry OF Pitts
burgh would be greatly decreased,
Several workmen spoken to yesterday
seemed to enjoy the prospects Of a lock-
out. They said they were in a condition
to cease work for six months. The men
were of the class whose wages each week
amount to from $25 to $50. Some manu-
facturers are as apparently delighted as
their employees at the prospects OF a rest.
They say that they will be enabled to make
more money than if they continued in
operation throughout the year. They can
dispose OF surplus stock and then secure
better prices. Other mill owners state that
they would prefer to continue in opera.
ton. BY ceasing they say, the trade OF
Pittsburgh will be injured. These same
manufacturers claim that il they shut
down other issues than that OF the wage
question will come up, and one OF these
will be whether OF not they will try to
break up the Amalgamated Association.