The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-19

A5 q peculiar puhae VI lIe PIee0nt bAAAe'
SECRETS OF TIE STRIKE.
The inside history Of this struggle re-
veals curious complications which led to
the trouble, and even more peculiar COM
pllcatiors thst have grown out OF 1t since.
It exposes secrets regarding facts and fig
cures that will create stir, and warrants
deductions that are surprising. The first
disruption OF the most powerful trades
union in tha world, and an original
idea Of conducting strike by procuring
the strikers employment in other oc;upa-
tious, are instances Of what is found ina
thorough investigation OF the hsItyear
strike as completed yesterday by the Com
mercidl Gazette.
To the growing use Of steel in iron mills
and the consequent effect on pudding.
both as to the amount OF work and rate Of
wages, can betraced the beginning Of this
strike. Where once the puddlers were
accustomed to rule things with proves
and 10 largely control any mill, now their
occupation il partially gone and their in
tiuence ia on the wane. The Introduction
OF steel not only interfered with their work
in the past, but it also prevented and
prevents an increase in the future in the
amount Of work 10 be done. Too late the
puddlers saw the error OF ever permitting
the introduction OF steel, for instead OF q
competition limited to themselves, an open
field and no favors stared them in the lace.
FIGHTING AN INNOVATION.
The iron rail business instances the ef-
feet on this class Of labor. Thousands Of
puddlers in iron used to be employed,
now there are none, and in place Of iron
one and half million OF tons OF steel rails
are annually made, and the puddlers who
once found employment 10 this class OF
manufacture have now drifted into other
trades and other work. In tinesheet mills
great part Of the output is now steel.
Maehinsry-rods and axles, once made Of
iron, are now manufactured from steel,
and from these manufactures, too, the
puddler has been crowded 10 the wall.
Be- ans and girders are now made OF steel
and the puddlers suffer again.
But the puddlers were determined not
to die without struggle. After permit
ting the establishment OF steel on firm
fooiing they began the fight. All labor
contracts for several years back have been
based on the price for working steel in
iron mills. The puddlers had aroused at
last, and they fought vigorously and hard.
They demanded that an extra price
should be paid for the working Of iron
into steel after 1t had passed through the
forge. They argued that the manufacture
era would now use more iron and less
steel. But the manufacturers saw another
way out OF the difficulty, and demanded
the puddlers to reduce the price oi pud-
ding: only in that way, they claimed,
could they postpone the evil day. The
lines were drawn and sharply defined.
The settlement OF the big strike in 1882
was not satisfactory to the Wheeling oper'
ators. They objected to several articles in
| the settlement, but 10 none more than be-
ing obliged to pay the twenty-five cents
extra for boiling. They were mad and
swore they would get even yet. Cincin,
natl and St. Louis once paid an extra oi
fitty cents for boiling, but that was re-
moved, and Wheeling alone was left pay
ing higher wages than any other manufac'
turing town. They promised TO see TO II
and they kept their promise. They are
getting even now and feel happy over it
HOW rHE THRRAT WAS EXECUTED.
The threat was not an idle one. They
did not waste time in considering what
should be done. Neither did they delay
their action ~ the puddlers had done. A
meeting Of the Wheeling manufacturer
was quietly held. They appointed com,
mittee to investigate the making oil steel
1 nails. The committee went all over tht
country, they had experiments made
under their supervision and they CANT
back secure in the knowledge that they
possessed the secret, which, skiltully
handled, would bring the puddlers z
their knees and show the industrial worlt
that while West Virginia 10 small Stat
and Wheeling small city. neither th'
State nor city capitalists could bs tram
pied on with impunity. ~
Mr., Winslow, manager Of tn
Troy mills al Troy, New York
had been making steel nails g
regular product for several years. stee
; rails had been made, but the city bein
uniayorably situated in reference 70 iue
and pig iron, the management found
, necessary TO tud some other product b.
which the output OF their Bessemer plan
could be used. Steel nails was the goile,
mean discovered, and the WheellD
people in their travels saw and invest
gated. They, were satittied. This vi
: the secret. Home they Iuahed lull
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