Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-24
A RAY OF LIGHT
Thrown on the Iron Conference,
at Pittsburgh.
From the Side Of the Workmen-Rejection
of the Manufacturers Propo-
sition-General Labor
Notes.

Since the conference, held at Pittsburgh
on the 14th inst, by the committee from
the manufacturers and the Amalgamsted
Association, there has been desperate ana
determined effort made to keep the result
secret from the festive reporter. The REG
IsrER has already published that it was very
reliably stated the manufacturers had pro-
posed q reduction of so cents a ton on pud-
ding, on ~ cent iron card, and also 2
cent card as starting point for the scale.
This lacked official confirmation, but was
never denied. A Pittsburgh workman, who
attended the conference, now confirms 1t.
He said:
'Yes, attended the conference held on
the l4th inst, and while there was deal
of talk from both sides nothing was &C.
complished, except the rejection OF the
proposition made by the manufacturers 10
sign a scale, representing a reduction OF
fifty cents from the present rate paid for
pudding, or S. per ton on the two and one
half cent card, with power to make cor
responding reduction on the two-cent
card rate, which would mean clear drop
on the latter to ST. 50 per tom"
well, did the manufacturers stop
here" he was asked.
mo" was the response, they didn't
stop here, but do, and no further prob
ing, please" And the reporter left the
gentleman alone in his glory over hay-
ing, as he considered, "blutfed rcpor-
ter"
But another official who had been at the
meeting, was encountered, and after hay-
ing been put through the same routine Of
questioning, he took up the line where it
was dropped by the first. one spoken to,
saving: "a corresponding reduction in
ali departments OF skilled labor is in
tended, which would be equal to little
more than 10 per cent below the pres
ent rates paid. More than this the man
ufacturers were pert enough to inform the
Representatives of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation that they the manufacturers) would
not again meet in conference unless the
propositions made were acCeded to, but you
can safely say, judging from present indi-
cations there will be no such concessions
made by us"
What reasons were given for this sweep
! ing reduction" he was asked, when he
| said Well. the eastern question was
wrung in profusely, but what bearing has il
! on our cases. especially as far as pudding
! is concerned? In the east almost twenty
! per cent. of the wages OF the puddler s
! helper is paid by the firm and the balance
/ by the pudder, which would leave very
! little, if any, difference in the cost OF pud.
! ding to the manufacturers IN this district"
Nv hat prospect is there for the heaters
| and rollers Withdrawing from the Amaga.
/ mated Association and forming "a indie.
! pendent organization, and what Is the prI-
| mary cause of the dissatisfaction now exist
! ing which seems to point to such an ulti-
| matum?' was asked
Well" said he, "that is a question
don't propose ventilating to any extent,
and when | say | am through, or words to
| that effect, | want you 10 withdraw your
! probe. To be brief, it is the pudders that
want to withdraw. The rollers and heaters
are a class who make deal more money
than we puddlers do, and consequently an
better afford to spend money freely.
! They are almost always the first
! to stand up for a strike, and likewise the
! first TO break one by clamOring for work.
! For instance, last summer when we pro-
| posed to strike, they stood up for it like
! little men, not, however, because they
wanted us to get the advance, but because
| they wanted to go on extended ishluS
! trips, which they did, returning only after
| spending all their money, and the first we
/ heard was that il we puddlers didn't go to
work they would. The fact is, were it not
! for this, the puddlers would have starved
| last year before going in at reduction.
! The question of Withdrawing from the as
ISOLATION is now being agitated, and IN the
meantime have nothing further to say
on the subject"