Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-04
WORKMEN'S WANTS.
Conference Of the Amalgamatsd
Association
AND the IRON MANUFACTURERS
The Miners Make a Suggestion to the
0perators--TheY Want No Strike,
but will Not be I'm.
posed Upon.

PITTSBURGH, May 3.-The conference be-
tween the iron manufacturers and the
Amalgamated Association representatives
held this afternoon, was the principal
topic Of interest in industrial circles this
morning. About 10 o'clock the Amalga.
mated committee met at their headquar-
ters on Smithfield street, where they were
seated around the large table, with Presi-
dent Jarrett at their head. The entrance
of the visitor stopped all proceedings, and
all paused to exchange chaff with the in.
truder, but when anything like informs-
ton was asked for dismal silence fell
over the group. II was evident that a eau
Gus was in progress, and the number of
documents scattered about the table showed
that sone
Heavy Statistics
were to be fired in the atteruoou. Notice.
able among the group of delegates was Mr..
Charles n. Carpenter, of st. Louis, who is
regarded as one of the ablest orators in the
labor rank. He comes as representative
of the Fifth district.
At the Office of the Western Iron Asso,
citation on Fourth avenue similar scene
was enacted, and Secretary Weeks declined
all invitations TO come out" sending back
word that he was engaged.
On all sides the same scarcity of infor-
nation or predictions in reference TO what
the outcome will be was noticeable. How
ever, il was apparent that considerable un'
easineSs is felt on both sides, and all seem
to fear that the meeting OF to-day will not
improve the situation.
The Iron Trade.
The Labor Tribune OF this week com
ments upon an editorial in the last issue
of the Iron Age. which attributed the pres,
ent condition of the iron market to the
action of the late congress in readjUsting
the tariff. The former journal holds that
the tariff revision has had little 20 dc
with cold "slacks," as pig iron was reduced
a few cents only, ore duty was advanced
but the price OF ore has been reduced. CJaI
is cheaper or at least no dearer. 1t argues
that the effect Of the lower duties has been
anticipated several months in the case oi
some articles and several years in that oil
others, and the market is by long odds bet
ter than in May, 1882, and ventures the
prediction that there will be no sales made
this summer at as low figures as were &C
/ Cepted last summer. The editorial then
concludes with the statement that the
present tariff would fairly protect II manu-
facturers would be satisfied with reasona
| bic return for their capital, and says thai
| were they thus content there would be
! steadier profits and not such attractions tC
| invest, as every few years brings about
1 over-production and the periodical propos
| al OF the greatest economic panacea, 'reduc
| tiOn OF wsges.'
The situation.
The iron men claim that the present
wages cannot be maintained and hold thai
/ s. per ton should be the basis OF wage!
/ with iron at . cents. They apprehend n
! trouble and believe that the men will SEE
| the condition OF trade and consent TO re
/ duCti0n. Wilson, Walker Il Co, repOr
| business tOlerably fair, but the most o
! their orders are small ones easily TILED
/ Parks Bros. x Co. are satisfied with the
! present condition Ot things but expect {
! Frightening up in the near future. Car
| negie Bros. K Co. have adopted plan O
| shutting down part OF their establish
! ment when trade is dull, instead OF run
| ming single turn. Wm. Clark X Co. are
! inclined to think that over production Is
! the cause OF the present depression, and
! they can see no signs OF improvement
/ Hu>>ey, Howe X Co., are running single
! turn and report fairly active business
! The Pittsburgh Steel Casting Company re
| port very few orders ahead and have little
| hope Uf improvement in the near future
| At the Union Chain Works a member Ol
! the firm said that he considered trade
| duller than il has ever been since they EN-
| barked in business. The Pittsburgh Man
! ufaCtUring Company report business quiet
! They have but a small stock on hand, a
| they do not wish to load up on a falling
| market.
| The Miners Strike.
No new feature marks the coal situation
| to-day. At the miners headquarters pro
| gress is reported, while the operators
| manifest no uneasineSs or alarm in regard
| 10 the strike. Midway, Primrose and Briar
| hill mines are the only ones reported a
/ working to-day on the Panhandle.
The operators hold that two weeks will
| see the greater part OF the miners at work
| at the three cent rate, while on the other
| hand the miners claim that time will show
| a number of operators whose contracts will
| compel them to COncede the rate. The
| ASSOCIATION now has five regular delegates
| in the field, and their efforts in Spreading
the strike are backed by number OF
| volunteer workers.
| 4 Suggestion From the Miners.
The miners suggest that the difference
between the employers and employees b.
| settled by an appeal to the process set forth
| in the Voluntary Trades Tribunal act. The
miners say they want no strike, but they
feel il a duty to resist any encroaChment
of capital on their rights. Secretary Elan
merry says: Let the operators petition the
court fOr a license for tribunal; il they do
this we will assent promptly. Ii the Ope'
ratOrs 10 not petition We will petition our
selves.