The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-04
IRON WORKERS.
is THERE I'd ee ANoTER erRlKE7
rA. Conference at Pituburrl-sAort, sharp and
DseI.Irs-rhs Men VIII Accept No Reduction
and the Manufacturer VIII Not
Yieid-yery bad OutIotk.

PITTSBURGH, May S.-The second confer
ence Of Iron Manufacturers and Amalgama-
ted Association committees, which was held
this afternoon. lasted only 10 minutes.
President jarrett, on behalf Of the work.
men, stated that no reduction in wages
would be accepted. The manufacturers
made no response, but moved TO adjourn
sine die. which was done. Both committees
held secret meetings later, but decline to
divulge the proceedings. The work
men profess TO believe that the manu-.
facturers will Withdraw their demand for
reduction before June lst, and that no
strike will ensue. The manufacturers
state that the workmen are mistaken in this
view Of the case, and that II the reduction
is not accepted the mills will shut down
June first and remain closed until the
workmen come to terms. The manufastur.
ers freely state that they expect strike,
and have booked no orders for delivery
after June first. The feeling OF the general
public is gloomy. Nearly 100000 men are
employed in the mills Of the West. includ-
ing laborers, and their idleness will greatly
increase the existing depression in trade.
The Home View.
A reporter Of the INELLlGESCER met
Hon. G. D. Hubbard, President Of the Top
Mill, last evening on his arrival from
Pittsburgh, where he and Mr.. Frank Hearne
had been attending the conference. He
said there was liltle 10 tell about the con.
ference. The two committees had met,
and the representatives OF the Amalga.
ted Association said that they must de.
cline to entertain any proposition from the
manufacturers looking TO reduction OF
wages. One OF the manufacturers present
remarked that this left no ground for con.
sulta,ion, and moved to adjourn, which
motion prevailed aud the session dissolved
alter having been together only aifew
minutes. d
The members of both the interested par.
ties who have been looking for a peaceful
settlement now admit that the indications
point to a lockout. Mr.. Hubbard says il
all depends on the manufacturers. They
will have general meeting shortly, at
which the situation will be canvassed and
final action taken. II they conclude to
maintain their demand for a decrease,
there will no doubt be a strike, though
how long mills will remain idle the III
ture must develop.
The manufacturers complain OF the dull.
ness Of trade, and give many reasons which
they think make a reduction Of the wages
paid skilled workmen necessary. One OF
these is the lower wages paid some classes
Of workmen, particularly boilers, in tho
east, which enables eastern manufacturers
to undersell those Of this section. Several
Of the Wheeling mill owners say that II
the manufacturers yield to the working.
men now 1t will be at a considerable sacrl-
fee, and that an adjustment Of wages on a
juster basis will be merely postponed, for
the manufacturers will be compelled, TO
force 1t at some time in the future.
The leading men OF the Amalgamated
Association here say the difficulty Is in the
sweeping character OF the reductions de-
manded. Had they made reasonable propo.
sitions the Association could not have
helped recognizing their justice. But, as
1t was, the lodges here could not see any
justice in the proposition OF the mill own.
ers, and the expressions made on the occa-
sion OF President Jarrett's recent visit here
were all to This effect.