The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-26
CURRENTLAB0R TOPICS
OPPOSITION TO THE TARIFF BILL
N. "froa Age" YAK. Few Remark, on tAsilt.
Latter, From Coasrsssnsn on the Labsr SIT
uatIOs-A Phase Of the Inpsndiar
striks-Tradss Labor TribuBaL

PITTSBURGH, May 25.-The Iron Age o.
this week, issued to-day, responds to the
allegations previously published regarding
the action Of Pittsburgh iron manutactur
ers on the tariff legislation, in q decidedly
vigorous style. The editor talks straight
out from the shoulder as follows: "1n ar
editorial last week we copied and com
mented upon the letters written by a mum
Der OF congressman to the officers of the
Aualgamated Association, in which these
Congressman stated that neither the reduc-
ton in the tariff nor the condition Of the
market necessitated reduction in wages.
Il is now asserted that these letters were
written by-Jadge Kelley, OF Philadelphiai
Colonel Bayne, Of Allegheny, and Major
Mckinley, OF Canton, Ohio, and they have
been republished in the Pittsburgh papers,
with the names oil these Congressman TO
give them additional weight.
This thing might Just as well be fought
out first as last. We deny utterly the state
ment made by the Amalgamated Assocta-
ton. We deny in toto that the manutac-
turers-meaning the iron manufacturers
wanted the present tariff bill. We deny
that the Pittsburgh iron men brought such
pressure to bear upon Judge Kelly that be
was forced TO succumb to their wishes, and
we assert that Mckinley, Bayne, Miller
and others voted sgainst the bill at the re-
quest OF the Pittsburgh iron men. We assert
that the Western Iron Association, nearly
majority Of the members Of which are
Pittsburgh iron men, again and again,
passed resolutions unanimously against the
Senate bill, and demanded that the Tariff
Commission bill or none be passed, and
that its Secretary aud committee went 10
Washington several times to carry out the
instructions OF the Association.
MANUFACTURERS AND woRENEN.
Regarding the situation between manu-
iacturers and workmen at present, the
same paper remarks to this effect: There
has been little change in the relative posi-
ton Of the workingmen and the manuiac-
turers in the Western iron mills since our
last. The situation may be characterized
as drifting-whether into strike or out
OF it remains TO be seen. No conferences
have been held, and we understand that
there is no suggestion from either side look
ing toward a conference. 1t seems now as
though the scale would be presented in the
western mills on Wednesday or Thursday
oil the present week, and, II indications
are to be taken as any guide, the mills will
quite unanimously refuse to sign it, and il
this il so q strike seems well nigh ineyita.
Bile, for il the workingmen offer the present
scale to the manufacturers and they refuse
TO sign il, what would otherwise have been
a lockout would therefore become strike;
or, in other words, the manufacturers refuse
the workingmen's demand and therefore a
strike ensues-not lockout
Indications from Cincinnati are that the
action OF the manufacturers last year, in
consenting to modification OF, the agree.
ment adopted at the long strike in 1881, will
have the effect that was anticipated at the
time-viz., that the workingmen would re-
gard the agreement as binding only as long
Ms it suits their convenience, and that time
has now come. 1t Is reported that the
puddlers, at the meeting held Saturday
night, determined TO demand the restora.
ton OF the fifty cents extra above Pitts
burgh prices tor boiling that was paid in
the mills OF the Cincinnati district up to
last October, and it is intimated that the
finishers will join them in this demand. II
this proves true there is no doubt that the
manufacturers will resist 1t, asd therefore
the strike in the West this time will include
not only the Pittsburgh, Wheeling and
Valley mills, but the mills OF the Clncin'
nali district as well.