Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-07-05
IRON MILLS SHUT DOWN.
Great Strike OF Amalgamated Iron
a.av1 and Steel workers. i..

Great Strike OF Amalgamated Iron
a.a'1 and Steel workers. i'. s
if -.Tfi ll --- 30 lsIfss EII-tt
PITTSBURGH, Pa, June 30.-The iron
workers strike Is now on. The confer
ence Of the wage committees Of the
Amalgamated Association and Iron
Manufacturers yesterday afternoon was
short and decisive. The woTkers' repre-
sentatives stated that the lodges had
voted upon the question of reduction
and had decided almost unanimously
to reject it. The manufacturers then
stated in language just as positive that
they would not pay present wages. In
this city 18, 500 men will be thrown out
of employment by the strike, and in
the west IL is estimated not less than
rs, 600 workmen will be affected.
There is no change in the iron situa-
tion this morning. Roth sides present
firm front and when the day turnsgo
off this evening, all the mills in the
west but twelve operated by non-
union men, will close down for an in
definite period. r..,.r.
A dispatch from Youngstown, o., re-
ports the mills in the Mahoning valley
preparing for a protracted suspension.
Notwithstanding the discouraging re-
ports received by the mill men, they do
not seem to be worried. Almost all
who were spoken to believe the sus-
pension will not continue longer than
two or three weeks. A shut down is
always necessary at this time of the
year for repairs and stock taking. The
manufacturers, they claim, have used
the same arguments for years, and
always opposed the Amalgamated AS
sOciatiOn vigorously as ut present.
Since the strike of 1882, the scale has
been signed in conference, with but one
exception, and that was in 1885, when a
strike was declared. One by one the
firms signed the scale that year, and
all in operation within a month. .,
On the other hand, the manufactur-
ers assert that their mills are in good re-
pair and that they could run oil sum-
mer, but they will not pay more than
SIS per-ton for pudding. nt IT,.
In speaking of the situation, Charles
]. Tranter, prominent manufacturer
of Cincinnati, said: 1.-THE conference
committee have adjourned sine die, and
the mills will be shut down this even
ing. There are no hard feelings exist
ing between the wOrkmen and manu-
facturers. 1t is matter of business on
both sides. We can't successfully make
iron with the present wages. The price
paid for labor is cheaper in Philadelphia
than it is in this section. The time will
come when uniform wages will be paid
in all parts of the country. If men here
make point to-day, they will lose
twice as much tomorrow by the opera
ton. The manufacturers cannot re-
treat from their position. This must
be apparent to everybody who under
stands the situation. My opinion is
that the great body of the men would
be willing to accept the scale, but they
are led on by those above them"
The manufacturers expect few to
sign the scale, but they claim that they
will be small concerns and that their
signing will not affect the situation.
At noon the amalgamated officials
received information that the scale had
been signed by the Apollo Iron and
Steel Company, of Apollo, Pa. This
makes three firms that have signed so
far, the other two being the Akron
Iron Company, of Akron, Ohio, and
the Laughlin and Junction Steel Com
pany, at Mingo, Ohio. The three mills
employ about l, 400 men.
A dispatch just received by President
Keating, of the Manufacturers associa-
ton, from the Kelly Iron Co., and the
Bellfont Iron Co., of Ironton, Ohio,
state that they will not sign the scale,
even If it is signed by the Pittsburg
manufacturers, as they can get their
work done cheaper. Mr.. Keating says
the signing of the scale by the Apollo
company will have no effect, as they
were not members of the manufacturers
association. 1 aH.ag
Late this afternoon word was re-
ceived at the amalgamated association
headquarters, that the Cleveland Hard
ware Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, had
signed the scale. f.t.. *tlsH-
WILL CLOSE DOWN.
MILwAUKEE, WIS.,, June 30.-Fran-
els Hinton, manager of the North Chi
cago rolling mills, at Bay View, says
that the works will shut down tonight
and remain closed until the disputes
are settled. The mills generally en-
ploy about 1900 men, but nearly 400
have been idle for some time.