Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-13
THE FEEDERS, FIGHT.
The Latest Phase OF the Situation mt
Pittsburg.

fittsDurR.
Regarding the trouble between the nail
feeders and nailers, referred to in yester-
days REGIsTER, the Pittsburg Dispatch
says:
There was gathering of indignant nail
feeders out Penn avenue yesterday after
noon. 1t was the unanimous opinion of
those present that they were being i'm
posed upon, and that il was time TO call q
halt on the present methods of doing busi-
ness. As announced yesterday, strike,
to take effect to-day, had been decided
upon. This would have the effect of
closing down the factories that are
now in operation. After considering the
matter further this action has been recon-
sidercd The feeders will continue work
for the present, but in short time expect
to run the nailcrs out and take their places.
The nail manufacturers seem anxious 10
get all their machines in operation, but are
unable to do so on account of a scarcity of
feedcrs~ One by one this class of work
men are dropping out of the business, for
Mt present wages they claim it Is impossi-
BILE to earn enough money, TO support them
selves. One feeder, il is said, worked last
week and earned 81. His board bill for
that time amounted. to- 81 i5... lie imme-
diately threw up the situation, saying he
could earn more money on pipe line.
From information obtaind from num-
her of feeders yesterday it WAS learned that
a movement is on foot to introduce self
feeders in the nail factories here. These
l. .t...tl l.Nrt h..t tas.tl-
crs but the feeders are experts with them.
Colonel Joseph ChiSty, a rair,s fntatire
feeder Of this city, in conversation with
reporter for this paper yesterday, said;
I'VE were foolish Ia support the nailers
through their long strike, for we have re-
ceiyed no benefit whatever and are in q
worse position than We were before. do
not blame the Wheeling feeders for the
course they pursued, and am only sorry
now that we din not do 50 too. The nailers
are independent, but will soon find
that they have made a mistake. The man
uflcturcrs will no doubt put in self feed
ers ii they cannot operate their machines
and this will give us chance and throw
the nailcrS out.
at will bc cheaper to make nails with
scll-iredcrS, rs they are allowed a 10 per
cent reduction when these machines are
used. This is almost equivalent TO Il a.
cent card. 4 feeder could make more
money some years ago at the l1-cent
card than now, because the nails were
larger. Then it required from Is to %
nails to pound, but now it takes from 6O
to65. We can only make sixteen Kegs a
day now, while We turned out twenty-five
some years ago. About ten feeders went
to Wheeling from New Castle last week
to take machines, and under
stand that some of the Pitts
burg feeders will follow their example
There are only 100 nailers at wor k IN
Pittsburg to-day, and not as many feeders.
II the nailers will give MS 3-j We will con
tinuc work. They will not do this, how
ever, and arrangements are being made for
Il convention. At this meeting we viii
decide whether TO enter the Amalgamated
Association or the Knights of Labor.
MANY of the Western members OF the
Feeders Union favor joining the Knights
of Labor We will then bc in Il position
to fight the nailers. They are making
abord 81 II day, and want uS Ia accept
II. 80, or less, for our work"