The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-06
THE IRON WORKERS.
THE CONFERENCE AT PITTSBURGH
To Determine III. scale for I'll. Eu.uIps Tear
What, he wheeling wOrknsa and 1AaafAs.
turtra Think Of the Situation and Pros.
psets-Ths BoIlsrI Complaint

VlGA-1Ht bVhNNA NbNFAs
The annual scale convention Of the Anal.
gaulated Association, 1. & 5. W., meets at
Pittsburgh tomorrow. This years conYen'
ton will be the tirst under the basis Of repre-
sentalion adopted at the General Convention
held at Chicago last summer, which is con.
ildently relied upon by the members to give
each section Of the country aud each branch
Of the Association a fair representation in
the convention, aud prevent It's being pack
ed by the more radical members OF the Pitts.
burEh district, az II Is alleged 1t has often
bt eli heretofore. The basis oil representation
Is one delegate TO every three hundred mem.
bsfs, which gives this district five delegates
In the meeting. These were chosen last
month, and are rs follows:
Heating Department-Thonas Mccarthy,
OF 1rontsn, Ohio.
Sheet Rolling OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Jacobs,
OF Crescent mill, Wheeling.
Nail Rolling DepAFtment-WilliAm Lewis,
Of Laughliu mill, Martins Ferry, Ohio.
Mailing Departmental. D. Work, OF La
Belle mill, Wheeling
Boiling Experimentation Brown, OF
Riverside mill, Wheeling.
VIEws OF wBEELING MEMBERS.
The Wheeling members OF the Association
are almost unanimously In favor OF conser.
yatiye policy, aud the delegates from this
district are understood 10 be opposed to
any course at this time which would tebd TO
interfere with the harmony now existing be-
tween the manufacturers and their employees
OH the wage question. While many OF them
think wages should De adjusted, they do not
think this Ia the time TO urge the matter on
the attention OF the manufacturers, feeling
disposed TO let well enough alone for the
present. Persons In position 10 know say
that the prevailing sentiment among men'
bers OF the Association In this district Is op.
posed to any change In the scale, and II the
same feeling Is general over the country, the
convention will reaffirm the old scale
10 all important PARTICULARS. There
was proposition submitted TO the
district meeting OF the Association last
month to change the basis OF the sliding scale
OF wages, making 1t the price OF sheet iron
instead OF bar, but It Is inferred from current
expressions that this was not favorably re-
ceiyed by the meeting, although the Justice
OF such change cannot but impress Itself
upon every persons mind. Said prominent
iron worker the other day: "a change has
got to come, but We are In no position 10 en-.
iorce 1t now, and II the better judgment OF
the Association prevails, as have no doubs
It will, In this convention, there will be no
innovation agreed to at all on Saturday"
WHEELING MANUFACTURE.
The manufacturers here do not talk very
freely on the situation. Que OF them said yes
terday that 1t was bis private opinion that
wages would not be reduced, as 1t Is alleged
was proposed at au informal conference
after the meeting OF the Western Iron Asso.
citation Ut Pittsburgh Wednesday. This, how.
ever, was only his individual opinion. He
knew nothing OF the views OF the mauufac'
turers IN general, but while In justice TO the
manufacturers, he thought, there should be
change IN the scale In their favor, he beliey.
ed It would be very unwise to press 1t at this
time.
ave have had enough trouble.' said he,
land prophesy that the opening year will
be one OF peace and prosperity among the
mills, notwithstanding the unfavorable &C.
ton Of Congress on the tariff, and the etiorn
OF interested parties TO make discord and
profit by 1t, while the mills as well
as the workmen OF this section sui
fer. I tell you, all parties had their
eye teeth cut last summer, and 1t will be
some little time before either the manufac.
turers or the workingmen precipitate such
another strike Or lock out, or run the risk OF
me This talk osn always be heard about
the Tin. = the annual scale convention meets.
Sou can heal anything, and good deal OF the
talk ia for an oby,scns purpose. But wait and
see, You will find mot:crate and conserya'
tive set OF men meeting at Pittsburgh satur.
day. and by their fruits ye shall KNOW
them.'"
TALK AT PITTSBURGH.
AT Pittsburgh different view was taken
OF the matter. An evening paper says the
proposal TO reduce wages was much talked
about there yesterday, and 1t was noticeable
that all the opinions ran in one groove, VIE
that there Is no necessity for reduction OF
wages. Many mill workers, when spoken 10,
shock their heads sagely, and said that they
had been expecting something OF the kind.
Also that another vacation OF three months
would not come amiss. Secretary Martin, OF
the Amalgsmated Association, said he had
nothing new TO say or did not know OF any
thing new. He is quoted, however, as saying
There Is no reason for the proposed reduc'
ton, and there Is reason for maintaining the
present scale OF wages. Rents are higher this
year than they were last, and provisions re-
luhlu NJ hUDuk SanG PtAScs az NotAtAe
men must live. and they eau not purchase
the necessities OF life II their pay is reduced.
What the result will be cannot tell"
THE MANUFACTURERS.
Among the manufacturers every person
was cOse.mouthed. It was freely stated
That they had arranged scale, but what It
Is could not be ascertained any nearer than
The figures given yesterday, save that 1t Is In
tended TO ask puddlers 10 work for 50 per
ton on q 2 cent basis for bar iron. Other
classes OF w0rkingmen will be called upon 70
accept reduction that Is apparently greater,
but tits really in the same proportion as that
proposed 10 be imposed on the puddlers.
The manufacturers were also silent when
The probability OF strike was suggested, but
in one office gentleman said: Last sum.
ner's strike put money into the pockets OF
The manufacturers, and unless the condition
II trade improves strike would not be OBJ
ected to this year"
LAST SUMMERS STRIKE.
"How we're the manufacturers benefited last
year?" asked the reporter. Prices were not
improved, were they9"
mo; hut the production WAS restricted, and
Tue price oil iron was kept from running down.
When the strike closed the iron In stock was
'old at a profit, and so It will be this year,
i a strike takes place. In fact just the pros
pect OF strike will cause trade TO pick up,
IS jobbers always fill their stocks as soon as
possible when they believe q strike Is conf
n.y."
Wheeling workmen are very indignant at
he prospects, but do not know what TO think
II the printed reports. Some of them were
II the opinion that the manufacturers had
caused the publicat ions, while pre-
lending to desire to keep their discussion
rom the public, and that It was intended TO
have an influence on the action Of the con-
Gention tomorrow.
TIE BOILERS AND TUE ASSOCIATE NJ
There is general opinion that a separation
II the boilers from the Association and the