Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-11
THE sTEKL SCALE.
some Remarks Made Upon 1t BY the Labor
Tribune.

Tribune.
There is no change in the situation Of
affairs at the Riverside, and all depart
ments are running along smoothly with
plenty Of hands. The current issue Of the
Pittsburg Labor Tribune says: ''It is gen
orally known that the few Knights Of La
Dor employed at the Riverside steel plant
at Benwood presented scale Of wages for
1888 that was lower than the A. A. Of I. &
S. w. working in the same plant =
A copy Of the Amalgamstsd Association
scale having been Left with the firm, .
committee called at the Office last week to
ascertain what were the prospects for get
ting the scale signed. and were refused an
audience, the firm or their Representatives
refusing to recognize them. This resulted
in Q meeting OF the Executive Committee
Of the Second district being called on Sat
day last, and striks Was legslized, which
will involve all the Amalgsmated Associa-
ton men working for the Riverside Iron
and Steel Company, both in their Wheeling
and Benwood mills, all OF which could
have been avoided had not the X. Of l.. At
tempted 10 cut down wages"
IL tho writer Of ths.absss hsd read the
REGISTER he would have seen how iucor.
rect his statements are. In the first place
the Knights Of Labor In the Riverside
steel plant are not few, and the company
did not refuse to recognize the committee.
nor does the strike involve all the Anal
gamased men in the employ of the COM
pany, because the nailers at their meeting
Wednesday evening agreed 10 go to work
on Thursday morning, and they did so.
These errors are only pointed out because
they might possibly mislead some people
into believing what are not facts.
The Labor Tribune then goes on to CON-
pare the scales OF the two organizations,
after which it says: Under this scale su
effort is being made 10 run the plant with
Knights OF Labor, some OF them having
signed it for one year, whereas all the steel
scales of the Amalgamsted Association will
terminate on June 80, this year, in order
that all scales, iron and steel, may begin
and end at the same time. More than hall
of the Knights for whom the scale is sup,
posed TO be signed absolutely refuse To
work under it, claiming that they were
hood winked into such an arrangement last
year, but will not be caught again. As
thorough trades unionists, we call upon oil
Knights Of Labor TO ignote any call sent
them TO go to work at Riverside. Don't
allow yourself to be used TO reduce wages
below the standard. We do not know
whether Master Workman Powderly and
Secretary Litchman or any OF the executive
board, or any of the fair dealing district Of.
ficeIs are cognizant Of these facts. II not,
here they are and we ask them one and oil
10 consider well what is about to be done at
Riverside We ask you, as gentlemen, and
as officers Of good organization, not to al
low your order to be used for reducing the
wages of an old and established trades
union. The Amalgamated Association oi
Iron and Steel Workers aided and is aiding
you to build up your order. IL you do NOT
feel like reciprocating We ask you, gentle,
men, to at least not countenaDce m effort
looking to the reduction OF the wages Of our
members. We ask You to come boldly out
against it and allow no knight Of Labor to
disgrace himself or drag the order into dis.
repute.
1--WE further ask you not " iorce COZ
dict such ~ will compel the AmalgsDated
Association 10 take stand as IL did al
Mingo Junction one year aye.
1--WE ask this in all csndor. We ask il
as fellow unionists fighting for common
cause. We ask il for the sake Of principle,
which the Amalgamsted Association has
loiled for years TO establish, and for which
it has spent many thousands Of dollars.
We ask it in order that the steel workers
may be allowed TO get what rightfully be
longs to them, and in order that their fami'
lies may not be deprived Of the few com
forts the extra wages would bring them.
Will you do it?'
1t is useless TO make any further com
ments, as all are familiar with the true stu
alton OF things at the Riverside.