The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-08
A LESSON TO STRIKERS.

One day last week the telegraph in
formed us that the strikers at the Edgar
Thompson steel works, Pittsburg, had
rejected the proposition made by the
proprietor, Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
whereupon the gentleman ordered the
works shut down until January l, 1889.
This order throws out of work over 5000
men, the establishment being one of the
most extensive in America. Naturally
the announcement was received with
dismay by the workinGmen," as the
dispatch states. 1t could not well be
received otherwise. The men see be-
fore them nine months of idleness, IN
less they Can find other employment
than that to which they are accus-
toned, which is not likely. They also
understand that wherever they
go OF whatever they do, pro-
vided they a.e fortunate enough to
obtain wage earning employment, it is
not at all probable that they will get as
much pay as they we're receiving, for
Mr.. Carnegie has the reputation OF
being a most generous employer, his
rule being TO pay well for honest work.
1t is certain that on occasions, when
business was brisk and trade was lively,
he has voluntarily in creased the wages
of his men.
Truly, the outlook is not encouraging
to the army of not less than $4,000
persons who were obtaining their daily
bread from Mr.. Andrew Carnegie. And
yet, one can not sympathize with them
as he should sympathize with those in
distress. Their misfortune is due to
their own foolishness, their recklessness
and their "cussedness." Mr.. Carnegie
was paying his employees fairly good
wages - all that he felt justi-
fed in paying them in the pres
ent uncertain state of trade. AS
a business man and a dnancier, he
dared not riskibankruptcy by offering
more than the trade outlook and the
orders coming in would warrant him
in paying. Discomfort seized upon
some of the men; greed took hold Of
them; they saw that Mr.. Carnegie was
a millionaire, that he lived in grand
style and spent money freely, and they
got itinto their heads that he was rob-
bling them; that is to say, that he was
making too much off their labor, and
that he should divide with them
Thinking they had him ION the
hip" as it were; that inasmuch
as they were members OF a union,
and the union weuld stand by them,
preventing the filling of their places,
the men struck for higher wages; they
deliberately went to work to force Mr..
Carnegie to yield to their demands, or
ruin him. He proposed to demonstrate
to them by his books that he could no,
in justice to himself and with proper re-
gard for good fnanciering, grant what
they asked; but they were unreason-
able, and would not see or
hear; they imagined that he could
not escape, and they continued what
they believed would prove an effective
squeeze. Mr.. Carnegie then proposed a
scheme, which, while it would make
him safe against loss, would give the
men what they asked, provided they
earned it. His proposition was to adopt
the proit-sharing system, the en-
ployees to be paid their wages as usual,
and at the end of the year were to re-
aeive proportionate percentage of the
profits of their labor, after the pro-
prietor had taken a fair interest
for the use of his invested capital.
There were some conditions but they
We e of minor importance. The prop O.
sition was fair and even generous one
but the men believed Mr.. Carnegie was
in so tight place shat he would have
to give more, hence they rejected his
offer, with the result announced above.
He happ ms to be in position where
he can defend himself. He is able to
close his works, and can keep what
he has if he cannot be permit
ted to make more. By shutting
down he cannot be bankrupted. True,
in protecting himself, he has struck
terrible blow at his men, but who can
blame himP They had no mercy on
him. and were without reason. They
would have ruined him if it bad been
possible, and his salvation will come
,,aar 70 their destruction,
There should be q very inn
pressive lessln for workingmen in
this incident. 1t should teach
man that the stsiks is their worst en-
emv. in nine cases out Of ten hurting
the striker more than it does his in
tended victim, and in the other case
bringing no permanent cool to those
who employ it. 1t should also suggest
itself to workingmen and labor unions
that there is danger of carrying their
bulldozing too for. Now. Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie is one great employer
of the country who can dis