New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
IRON MILLS CLOSING.
or ABLE TO AGREE ON A SCALE OF WAGES.
IHE WESTERN MILLS FROM PITTsBURG TO CHICAGO
AFFECTED BY THE DISPUTE BETWEEN WORK
MEN AND EMPLOYERS.
RI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE-g

iBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE-I
Pttsburg June 30-The big lockout Of the f1Vn-
workers practically began to-day. The old scale
expired this evening, and as no agreement was
reached at yesterdays conference the mills all
closed at to-day, and what may be long
rest of the men had at last begun. In the after
noon they stood around in groups discussing the
situation. They generally seemed in the best of
spirits, rs they had advocated for years a summer
shutdown Of couple of months even if there
were no lockout or strike. At the Amalga-
mated Association headquarters, President Welhe
and Secretary Martin were closeted good portion
of the day with a number of the leading members
Of the association About 10 o'clock telegram
was received from the committee at Apollo,
Penn. It stated that the Apollo Iron and Steel
Company had singed the Anal lgamated scale in
full at O'clock this morning This telegram
created considerable enthusiasm. So far four
firms have signed the scale They are the Apollo
Iron and Steel Company, the Akron, ONO,
Iron Company, the Mingo Junction. OHIO, Iron
and Steel Company. Tonight it is
reported that the firm of oliver Bros, & Phillips,
which employs about three thousand men, will re-
sumo work two weeks from next Monday. The
report has not been verified, but finds many be-
LEVERS because this firm has always been the first
to sign the scale
On the other hand the manufacturers say that
their strength is not all weakened A. F. keat-
Ing chairman Of the Western Iron Association,
has received assurances that there will be no
big break of the firms He received an encOurag
ing telegram to-day from Ironton Ohio, IN which
the Kelly Nail Iron Company and the Bellcfonte
Iron Company said
I'VE will not sign the Amagamated Assoca-
ton scale even if Pitsburg does. Manufacturers
offer too much We will get our work done at
much less than the Pittsburg manufacturers have
offered
The manufacturers point to the above as evil
dence Of the fact that both here and in the West
the trade is practically unanimous in favor either
Of suspension of operations or the acceptance OF
reduction of wages on the part of the workmen
Mr. Keating when asked about the signing OF the
scale by four firms, replied;
II is not a break among the manufacturers
The telegram from Ironton shows how determined
and united we are. Why, the Apollo Works is
steel plant What that firm does is no concern OF
ours They never belonged to our association,
and we did not calculate upon their refusal to
sign the scale. The Junction Iron Company Is
Besscmer steel works so its surrender does not
weaken the Manufacturers Association. In fact,
not only will the firms that belong to the Western
Association refuse 10 SlgH lllc scdit' DuV
of non-union iron mills will shut down on July /,
simply because the iron business Is SO depressed
that they can afford to run longer at the pres
ent rate OF wages
DO YOU think there is any prospect Of another
conferenceg
mo. The conferences are over. The manu-
facturers will not ask for one. They have gwen
their ultimatum They can do no more. III the
Amagamatcd people want to accept our scale
they can do So
1t is expected that if the Eastern firms sign
the scale they will ship their products to the
Pittsburg market. A manufacturer stated that II
the lockout continued for only three weeks this
would be the case, as there is little stock ahead
here. The Eastern manufacturers are now taking
advantage OF cheap freight rates and are shipping
their products TO Western points.
Intense interest is manifested throughout the
country about the lockout. Business men are
receiving kilograms from every direction asking
il the indications point to n prolonged shut down
Of the mills
Several puddlers said to-day that none of the
men wanted to work before September l. They
claimed that $40 per day would not pay pud-
dler to work at furnace in the heat Of July aud