Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-04-05
INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

The Talk in Iron Cireles-The Glass Sit
uation.
Although there was quite an amount OF
gossip in iron circles, yesterday, IN regard
10 the secession of the nailers from the
Amalgamated Association, there was not
the great amount Of comment expected, Tor
the reason that great many mill men knew
comparatively little Of what had trsnsplred
in the Nailers' Convention, aud were,
therefore, not prepared to talk of the effect
it would have on the future of iron men IN
general One mailer said to REGISTER
reporter: Il believe the iron nail IS dead
beyond any hope of resurrection. This is
the age OF steel, and the steel nail has come
10 stay. do not think the Amaigamated
Association is going to disintegrate, how
ever, nor do | know whether any other
branch of the Amalgamated workers will,
in time, become identified With the nallers.
Time will only unravel that
point. There being from 800 to
LOCO ,nailors in the association their
withdrawal will very naturally reduce its
strength. Several years ago | came to the
conclusion that the immensely OF the Anal,
gamated Association would in the end be
its greatest enemy. There were too many
interests involved to make it endure perms
nently, there being nearly 100 different
branches of labor represented. lay great
stress upon Miles Humphreys view, that
there is such thing as an association be-
coming so big as to break OF its own weight
Mr. Humphrey as everybody knows was a
prominent labor leader and was one Of the
Presidents of the Sons of Vulcan order"
A Pittsburgh nail manufacturer, when
told of the news, spoke as follows: Il deep
" regret this secession, which cannot be re.
corded otherwise than as the downfall Of
he Amalgamated Association, but il can
not be denied that the organization has
brought this fate on itself. regard conser.
vetive trades unions as a great good, tend
ing as they do, towards the ameliorstion Of
The condition of the laboring classes, the
intelligent consideration of wage questions
and their amicable settlement by srbitra-
ZION instead Of the old barbarious and ruin
GUS method of strikes.
But when a trades union goes outside
these limits and endeayors to block the road
TO the march of scientific invention, as this
association has done, in practically boycott
ting steel nails, its failure is inevitable. The
Amalgsmated Association has endeavored
TO subserve the interests of the puddlers at
the expense of the nailers, and, as was to be
expected, the latter refused to be made a
catspaw to pull the chestnuts out of the fire
for the puddlers. Disruption is the fate which
must overtake everybody which endeavors
10 unite two classes of men whose interests
are so obviously conflicting as those OF the
puddlers and nailers.
~ hope the association will learn by ex'
perience in the future, and follow a more
enlightened and less selfish policy. Other
wise it must be torn to pieces by internal
dissen'ions no long time hence"
4 Pittsburg telegram oflast evening said:
The first district convention of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel Work
ers was held this afternoon, and after elect.
ing fifteen delegates to the national scale
convention which meets in that city on the
18th inst, bya majority vote reaffrmed this
years scale Of $50 per ton for pudding.
A respectable minority favored the accept
ance Of 10 per cent reduction in the scale,
but after lengthy aud spirited discussion the
proposition was voted down and the delegates
70 the National Convention we're instructed
70 insist upon the present wages. A reso'
luton was then adopted endorsing the &C
lion of the national lodge officers in reyok
iug the charter Of Hersey lodge Of nailers at
Bellaire Ohio, for violating its obligations,
after which the convention adjourned.
Forfy-seven lodges were represented and the
best Of feeling prevailed:
The above seems to foreshadow a strike
as the manufacturers are understood as say
ing that reduction must take place.
1t has been learned that the glass manu-
tactmers OF this section held meeting
Friday to transact some business, at whici
lime a communication from the glass
workers was taken under consideration. A.
near ss could be learned, the proposition
made by the workers was to the effect that
no local unions cosld accept or make any
terms other than those adopted By the
National Glass Workers Association, unless
they left the union, and of course they did
not propose to take the latter course They
we're willing to 90 to work at the old rates
until the convention of the National As.
socia,ion in July, when they promised to do
everything in their power to have q national
wage and move list adopted.
The manufacturers considered this pro
position, but decided that they would make
10 reply to it, as they had previously
stated that they could not start up their fac
tories unless the men went to work at the
same rates as those OF Pittsburg. This, no
doubt, permanently settles the matter III
I'll the convention meets in July.
In conversation with a manufacturer,
Yesterday, he stated that they were not anx-
lous now 10 start up. as all the spring Or
ders were placed. although if terms could
be made several of them would start up
their works, but" said he, "ss
the men cannot work on the
terms of the Pittsburg operatives We will
probably not start up until next August" A
glass worker was met and be stated that the
men could not possibly do otherwise than
have done and would hold out to the last,
and until 8 decision was made by the Ma
fionsl Association.
The following dispatch from Pittsburg
being received last night will be Of interest
to the glass men in this vicinity:
1t has Just been learned that secret con-
ference was held in this city between com-
mittees representing the window glass man
ufacturers' association and the window glass
workers union. The matter under consid-
Grafton was proposal from manufacturers
for 20 per cent reduction of wages to take
place after the close Of the season, and also
the ACCESSIBILITY of sn early shut down. The
discussion lasted several hours and the con-
ference finally adjourned without reaching
any definite conclusion.