Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-22
A CARD
From samuel Laushlin, President of the
Junction Iron Company.

and the company and which have para
lied our whole community, requires an e1
PLANTATION from me, as to the causes OF m
action.
In the early part of this strike, the n
ductions demanded from the nailers Wer
exhorbitant, reaching in some cases a
high as 40 per cent, Objections Wer
made by many as to the unfair demands
which were met by the reply: Make tn
demand-get all you can-taliin the sci
Element" showing plainly that the dc
preston of the trade did not justify what
now represented as necessity, and Wer'
not expected to be obtained even IN tn
dnllest times.
When the official announcement wa
made by the Nailers' Association that the!
had appointed Committee Of Conference
which had not been done in their primary
meeting for organization, desired that Il
should be met in the same manner 1t wa
rendered by them. This was not deemed
proper by the Western Nail Association.
From meeting to meeting | ANNOUNCED
that the course being pursued wsg not
agreeable to my company, aud that l felt
unless the policy OF the Association as to q
compromise settlement was changed, that
the Junction Iron Company would be com
PEELED to act for itself Independently
Recently i WAS the means OF bringing
about a meeting OF both parties. Presi'
dent Weir ard other gentlemen believing
with me an informal talk would do good,
and each learn to know the other.
The manufacturers here expressed IN the
words of the resolution passed by them,
that we are willing to meet committee
of the nsilers, ETC., for the purpose OF con
sidering in an informal way the points OF dill
terence between the manufacturers and
workman" and | was requested TO SO an
nounce, which l did, and time was set
for the meeting.
When we came together it was announc-
ed BY the manufacturers that the naileES
must define what points they would modify
before further conference could be had.
As this was no part Of the understand
ing in having the meeting, alter some few
words the parties separated, further apart
in their purposes THAI ever.
| thus considered that the manufactur
ers had placed me in notifying and
euuivocal position and had not met the
operatives in the frank courteous, and hon.
est manner they had reason to expect.
A further effort at Pittsburgh was
made BY me to secure conference, but
the committee OF conference appointed was
so constituted and had such conditions at,
tsched as again resulted in an utter failure.
AS a member OF that conference commit
tee was entitled to have been consulted
in the reply refusing a further conference.
except upon certain conditions In this |
was not even thought OF.
Reporting these facts to those mcst large
ly interested in my company, was direct
ed to make, individually, a reasonably fair
compromise settlement, which | did
For this the Western Nail Association
has deemed proper to attempt 10 humlliate
me in u childish manner or in other words
discharge me after | had quit.
Whilst ! have had pleasant social inter
course with many of the gentlemen OF the
Nail Association, cannot regret leaving
it. 1t has been told me- was too sym
pathetic with the poor man, and that as Il
manufacturer | would soon get over such
mawkish sentiments It was told me when
rails were recently selling at $2.75 and
81 90. aud when ! claimed the new mailer
should be paid on that basis, as per the
contract, that | was too honest, and that
be was not earning what was agreed upon
with me.
have no desire, as the accompanying
letter, OF February 18th, will show, written
three DAYS before the meeting, 10 longer
continue in the body:
Copy
OFFICE OF THE JUNCTION IRON Co.,
WHEELING, ". VA, February II. J
Geo. HISe, Esq, Secretary Of the Vest,
c,n Nul dissertation, Wheeiing, w..
ia.
DEAR SIg:-The action Of the Western
Nail Association towards the PRECEDENT CT
the Company personally, as we'll rs the
policy il has advocated in its recent couE.
ellis, dictates the necessity of the Junction
Iron Co. pursuing in the future only such
g course IS may be ordered by its Board
of Directors, irrespective OF its past stfilia'
tons, and am directed TO Communicate
this fact 10 you Respectfully
GEO. A. lIAUGHLIN, Secy.
1t was told me when in this charmed
circle deprecated the bsrSsyous treatment
of turning ont of their humble homes the
striking coke makers, exposing women
aud children TO winter storms, that should
treat the Devil with ire, and when striker
was down keep him down.
have violated no pledge and acted
within those limits allowed leaving every
manufacturer bound to only the extent d:
was deemed proper by their respective
boards-who should decide what was iheil
company's welfare and those employed by
them.
announced in the January meeting
that my company had informed me il
a stockholders meeting, that the policy o
last year should change in Sc and lwoul(
be expected to CONFORM, az President, t.
the policy indicated by the new Board o
Directors for the ensuing year-Rll o
which was plainly made known, and tb
Association was fully aware of the facts,
The whole course of the Western Maj
Association during my connection wit
it has been one OF discord and distrust @
each other, and suspicious of even the bes
intentions and lacking 10 sympathy wit
their employees From such company
can truly coy, Good Lord deliver me.
Ny action is one directed by stockho!t
ers, who, whilst investing their capital to
a fair return, are not forgetful of thos
employed by them; as also the communit
at large in which they reside.
As l have been able to manage for r.
sell in tue past, trust, With some meGsur
of success, to be able to manage the June
ton Iron Company in the same Es
without dictation from any except thos
interested
Respectfully Yours
SAMUEL LAUGHLII,
President.
i WEBBING. February ~, 1856.
A International FoGtrace