Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-19
THE ISSUE JOINED.
fHB TWO WAGE COMMITTEES TO GEf 10
WORK TODAY.
Manufacturers Giving Reasons Why They are
Unable 10 Pay the Scale Presented
by the WOrkmsn.

The two scale committees, one repre-
senting the Amalgamated Association and
the other the iron manufacturers, will re-
sumo their session at Pittsburg, this morn
pg, and will attempt 10 effect an arrange
ment of the present complication, and
thus avoid strike or shutdown. In
case no settlement is reached the Anal
gamstsd committee will submit the Ieso-
luton adopted last Saturday, proposing
three-mouths shutdown. This resolution
is not locked on with favor by the manu-
facturers. While they admit that the
iron market is overstccked, yet they are
unwilling to let their works lay idle
The rumor that four firms would draw
not of the Western Iron Association aud
sign the Amalgamated Association scale
cannot be confirmed. In speaking of this
rumorsd break, one manufacturer said:
"Ol course, ii q manufacturer is disposed
to break over the lines We can't help it,
but they certainly will be less disposed to
break over than when they have perfect
right in honor to start as they would have
If the suggestion OF the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION were put in force. Then we are
in better shape than ever before to 6ght
for our nights. Heretofore there have
been mills which were financially weak.
They had to sign the scale to keep alive,
and in that way they were compelled TO
Weld. But now we have no weak mills.
The iron manufacturers were never so
nearly unit ss now, and the reason they
are 40 united is necessity. We can stand
an indefinite strike. Ia the first place
there is depression, and an ovec-produc-
ton goes without saying. In the second
place, the difference in the wages paid here
and the wages paid by our competitors
elsewhere is greater this year than ever be-
fore. We must fight. ii had this mat
ter in my own hands, it would take me
about one second to settle it "
The probable policy Of the manufac-
turers regarding this shutdown" propo-
sition was learned yesterday in the course
of an interview with member OF their
wage committee. This gentleman said:
''Itls folly to talk of such resolution
beirg adopted. | regard il ~ bluff OF
the Amalgamatsd people. Neither We nor
our smuloyes could afford to close down
for that length of time. Why, eyeu now
if our works stop for week some OF the
men will be complaining Of having no
means of subsistence. The Amalgamaisd
Association would not be expected to pay
so much q week 10 its members, as IT
would not b. strike,
A ...I,,,,,kaA MANILA haVA
settlement Of the wage question If they
want it. The manufacturers are willing
/ 70 90 few steps further in the spirit OF
/ harmony to avert q strike or shut down.
They may be willing to pay little more
! than their scale calls for in some instances,
though at the same time they knew that
| il il granting more than is Justified"
Regarding the threat Of the Amalgams-
ted Association that a ninety day shut
down would be ordered if the AssOcia-
tion's scale was not signed by the manu-
/ fscturers, Mr.. Heating said yesterday
at il my opinion that there is no aurplus
/ stock in the iron trade OF the United States.
This depression is not caused By over-pro-
| iuction at all, but is merely the result Of
natural business laws. | think that the
/ depression Is
/ prices are going down to a certain level
Any attempt made 70 stem this downward
/ tendency will be but temporary, and can
have DO lasting effect. The trouble ID that
the workingmen are the first affected
nv a depression and the last hen
Gifted by anappreciation. But that'swhat
it's eventually coming to. The manutac-
turers can't afford 10 pay the high wages
demanded. / wouldn't want any OF our
man 10 work for 3 cent less than they are
entitled to by the lsws of trade, and 1T
can't be expected. Last year the msnutac-
turers paid the ten per cent demanded by
| the Association when they actually could
not afford it. Regarding the shut down l
think either horn of the dilemma will be
| luxurious to both manufacturer aud work
men and think we will come to some SET
Element. We hope we can make the
workmen see it is impossible to keep ny
wages when the price Of iron 10 50 dc
pressed" o,
''Wun this depression be temporary?
Was asked.
mo" replied Mr.. Heating, II think
has come to stay. 1t Ia natural law
business which causes it and cannot d
controlled by any one. High prices AM
wages cannot bs sustained without rear o
panics or breaks"
Yesterdays session of the Association
was entirely taken up with the report 0
| a., C,ror,ittaa On Constitution.