Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-06
The WAGES QUESTION.
Views Concerning the Proposed
Scale Reduction.
A Talk With Vice President Thompson-The
Men Won't Stand It-Further H.
formation from Pittsburg.

The REGISTER yesterday morning pub
lished the news from Pitttsburg that man
ufacturers were discussing proposition to
reduce the wages Of mill men 10 or Is per
cent. The news met variety OF recep-
tions here. Such contradictory reports
had been given out that the truth could
not be told, and those manufacturers who
were approached on the question gave
very unsatisfactory answers.
Vice President Thompson, OF the Anal
eamated Association, was accosted by re:
porter, Yesterday, who wished to know OF
the proposed reduction OF wages. be re-
piled that, as far as he was informed, he
did not believe that the men would stand
any reduction.
Have YOU any objection to stating your
reasons in general way" asked the re-
porter.
well, there is just this about it: The
men were receiving the same wages (wltn
the exception of So cents on the ton, and ~
average kegs OF nails make a tom when
nails were selling at $50 and 200 per keg
az thew do now, aud if the manufacturers
want to reduce the selling price OF nails.
why don't they do it? We are being paid
at the same ratio as if nails were only
selling for 81 so per keg. As faras have
been Informed, the cause OF the numerous
stops of the mills was fight between the
man ufacturers and jobbers, the latter
wanting to control the prices, and
The former, being the producers, wanting
to control their own production. NOW,
the manufacturers try and put down
wsses. OF course it would be naturally
supposed that the price OF nails would also
be brought down, but on the.other hand
the nail association at their meeting, though
they cry mo demand, do not offer to reduce
the card price of nails. believe personal.
ly that there are no manufacturers but sell
under the card rate, So 40 per keg, but that
Is only nv personal view. | do not know,
for fact, that such is the case. At any
rate they have not reduced the card rate,
and why should they want the men to work
for lower wages? This certainly is q
new story to me and also to all the work
men. think if they try and reduce the
wages that the workmen will not agree to
it and will strike, for the men believe that
il, as the owners state, trade is dull, ii is
better to strike for their Just rights than to
work few weeks out of as many months,
for the mill certainly would not run half
the time, even at the reduction, should
trade continue as they say il is, very dull
"What effect has the tariff had on the
production of nails"
Scarcely any. 1t has been raised in
some instances and lowered in others, leay-
ing it nearly the same as it was before the
tariff was changed. Now on steel that is
entirely different The tariff swept things
and the men willingly accepted the reduc.
ton of 80 per cent. Before the tariff bill
passed the men agreed to accept the reduc.
lion of u per cent. All the workingmen
want is a fair and impartial transaction, for
as soon as they found out what had been
done by the tariff, they freely accepted
their portion of the burden and resumed
work at the SIS per cent. reduction. firmly
believe in the event of the manufacturers
trying 10 reduce wages we will strike and
will be victorious beyond doubt"