St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-07
THE GREAT Iron STRUGGLE.
Sketch of the Amalgamated Assoc
citation, Party of the First Part.

branch of industry, the world has ever
known. One year ago, when William
Weihe, the champion puddler Of Pittsbug,
was elevated to the position of it's president,
the amalgamatiOn claimed a membership of
rs, 900, with as many more of kindred
branches clamOring at it's door for admis-
sion. The great strike which began on June
1 is simply the rejection by the amalga-
nation OF the proposed reduction of rs per
cent. over last year in the sliding scale" of
prices by which it is governed under the
laws by which it it is held together. The
history ;of the amalgamation. with sketch
of the general plans of it's operation, as well
as the dangers of disruption which now
menace it, would not be out of place in this
column and would be of interest here in the
Northwest, where the powerful union is
unknown: and especially as there is a proba-
bility that Minneapolis will number bar
or sheet land perhaps rally mill among her
industries at no future day.
THE SONS OF VULCAN.
The oldest, best organized and most re-
spected of all of the organizations of iron
workers, was the Sons of Vulcan, now alb
sorbed by the Amalgamation, of which it
was really the corner stone. It was formed
in ante-bellum days and drew for its
largest membership On Wheeling, when that
city first came into prominence as an iron
center. It was composed exclusively of
puddlers, and though importuned for years,
steadily refused to admit rollers, heaters
and others, even Of the forge department
It's organization was perfect and in every
agitation in iron circles it was looked up to
as the recognized leader. Headquarters
were established at Pittsburg and Wheeling
became district only. Less than ten years
ago, after other branches of iron workers
had formed unions, it became apparent that
general organization was necessary to the
well-being of the workmen. Forge and
finishing departments occasionally differed
in their ideas OF justice in work and wages
and at this time, when the ten large nail
mills of Wheeling rose and forced that city
to the front as the nail center of the world,
other unions sprung up to assert their
rights. An important strike utterly failed
for want of harmony, and this was a poten-
tial factor in driving the different branches
together. A delegate convention was held
at Pittsburg and
THE AMALGAMATED ASSOCIATION
of iron, steel and tinWorkers of the United
States was formed, swallowing up every
OGllCl OlSdl1LdIlOll VI Hill WOlhClSe Oldu-
ually the scheme of organization was per-
fected until, in 1878, the association was a
power in the land never before known in
branch of iron and steel work, whether bar,
sheet, pig, muck or nail, except feeders, and
extended it's jurisdiction from Philadelphia
and from Erie Oh the north to Wheeling,
Vo thnfco1,fb Civ Iictriofc
tablished. each having vice president in
and settle difficulties that might arise be-
as will be better explained hereafter. Each
the lodges usually being made up Of ope
class or workers and having pro rata rep
resentation in district assemblies. In its
perfect entirety, the amalgamation was
similar to national political convention,
the lodges being represented as are the
states iii the body named. After several
costly experiences, the amalgamation per-
fected
THE SLIDING SCALE
of wages, which affected every member of
the organization, and based the wages to be
paid ON the selling price OF iron. The
pound of pig iron was made the unit and
regulates the price of labor, the scale be-
ginning: 'When iron sells for 2 cents, the
price for pudding shall be SIS ton" the
scale running up to scent rate for iron.
The iron scale affected all but the nail de-
partments, where the selling price of nails
determined the wages of nailerS. The
Pittsburg price for pudding on boiling
was the general unit, Wheeling paying an
oF 1&, 70, &l,o
ence in coal and in the system of paying
furnace The scale is printed and it's pay
ment becomes contract between millown-
ers and the amalgamation, the ''signing OF
the scale'' announcing season of quiet fol
year. The scale runs from June 1 to
May 81, so that only once in every year can
a general trouble be brought about.
THE MANUFACTURERS UNION.
During the great strike of 1881, when fol-
months all of the great mills lay like sleep
ing giants, the manufacturers realized the
advantage organization gave to the amalga-
nation and after series of meetings re-
solved themselves into an offensive or de-
fensive union, or protective union, as they
called it, pledged to stand together ON the
matter of the scale. This union was ig-
ANONYMOUSLY routed by combination of
circumstances. During the long period of
enforced idleness new mills sprang up all
over the West and old ones increased their
capacity. Seeing the trade steadily supplied
with nails and iron and foreseeing a loss of
their prestige in the market, Wheeling and
Pittsburg were forced to yield and the ANAL
gamation gained its point. This ended the
protective union, practically, and left In eX-
L. H. Nos1 s1As0
with headquarters at Pittsburg, which reg
ulated the card rate of nails.
FIXING THE SCALE.
In April of each year the preliminary
steps are taken by the amalgamation for
fixing scale for the year beginning June 1.
Lodge meetings are held and each lodge
formulates its ideas and sends its delegates
with instructions to it's district assembly.
At the district assembly delegates are
chosen to represent the various lodges in the
general convention, which meets in Pitts
burg in May, and at which the full
and final scale is prepared. At a
stated time this scale is submitted to
each mill for signatures, and on the result
depends the running of the mill. Mill
owners consult, and if the scale is accepta-
BILE it is signed; but if it is not, confer
ence is requested and committees from the
amalgamation and the mill overs meet
and discuss the matter. If the first day OF
June finds the scales unsigned, the mills
are shut down and lockout ensues, to
continue until an agreement is arrived at by
concession on one side or the other. 1t is
the policy of the amalgamatiOn to indu ce
the mills of one or more districts to run,
pending general settlement, the reason
for which Is obvious. By SO running, 9
portion of the amalgamation is kept IL