The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-02
THE WHEELING Steel CO.
The Scale Signed Thursday Not
the K, Of L, Scale,
NATIONAL SECRETARY LEWIS,
or the stcclworkcrs' Assembly, Visits
Bcnwood and Investisates-Au
omcial Statement About
tho Situation,


rived in the city yesterday, from his
home at Harrisburg, and in the afternoon
met with representatives Of the Amalga-
mated Association and knights of Labor
ut Benwood, in reference to the scale
signed on Thursday by the Wheeling
Steel Company. Last evening Mr., Lewis
called at the ISFELLIGENCER office to ex-
plain the situation, He says that about
eight weeks ago he received a communi'
cation from Benwood, proporting to be
from the Knights of Labor lodge, and
having the seal affixed, in response to
which he, under u false impression, au-
thorized the presentation Of the Knights
oil Labor scale TO the Wheeling Com
pany, At the same time he expressly
cautioned the Knights OF Labor not to
get Into dispute with the Amalgamated
Association,
Since that time meeting OF the Ma
tional Executive Board hus been held,
and in view Of the representations OF the
local member OF that body, 1t was order
ed that the Knights Of Labor scale be
not presented, and 1t has never been
presented.
Mr., Lewis says that when he invest.
gated the situation yesterday, he saw no
reason why n minority should attempt
to dictate terms 10 q majority, or that
two labor organizations, each having the
same object, should get into n wrangle.
He simply wants 1t understood that the
agreement made by the company is not
with the K. Of L., and that II trouble
arises the onus OF 1t must not be sup
posed to rest on the X. OF l..
Mr.. Lewis seems to be conservative
man. Besides being Recording and
Financial Secretary OF National Assem-
bly, 2l7, he is Secretary OF the Legisla-
tive Committee Of the organization, The
following communication received yes
terlay, fully COrroborates in every de-
tail Mr.. Lewis's statement Of the Ben
wood situation;
To he Editor Of the lutetltgaIer,
SIR:-Pcrmit us through the columns
Of your paper to reply to u publication
in your issue Of Friday, February |, re-
latiye to the signing OF the scale in the
Wheeling steel works. The article TO.
ierred to states that the knights Of Labor
scale was signed, which is incorrect, rs
there was no knights Of Labor scale pre-
scented, nor any signed by any knights
OF Labor organization. The agreement
was entered into by the Wheeling Steel
Works Company and five individuals
outside Of any labor organization, and
without authority from any employees
Of the works.
To make the case plain We will give Il
concise statement OF the case: In the
first place, in the commencement OF the
year 1883 there were two scales pre-
sented by the employees, one by the
Knights OF Labor and one by tho Anal.
gamated Association Of Iron and Steel
Workers. The knights Of Labor repre-.
scented about twenty men and the A. A.
OF |. and S. W. l2G men, and the com.
pany being in favor Of treating with the
minority, signed the Knights of Labor
scale, and us they had the Knights OF
Labor to back them up the A. A. OF l.
and S. W. submitted aud went to work,
but there was dissatisfaction among all
tho men, US the company had all the pd-
vantagcs and the men none. Under
those circumstances and by mutual
agreement there was, in December last,
a meeting held OF I'LL the employees OF
the Wheeling steel works, which was
well attended by both X. Of l.. and A.
A. OF |. and s. W., and 1t was their
unanimous decision to present the A. A.
Of ]. and S. W. scale for 1880, the X. OF
J.. men all agreeing to stand by and be-
come members OF the a. A., which they
have all since done, so that there Is not
at present tonnage man employed in
the mill who is member OF the X. OF l.,
On December 90, 1883, the Amalga-
mated Association Of Iron 4 Steel Work
ers committee presented to Mr. Wilson
the scale Of wages adopted by O'Leary
Lodge No. 7, Amalgamated Association
OF Iron & Steel Workers, to take effect
January LIST, 1850, and end June Both,
1880, or June 30th, 1890. On the 10Th
inst. Mr.. Wilson returned the scale to
our committee with note attached, in
which he stated that the company had
refused to accept our scale. Our COM
mittee waited on him with n desire to
know what there was Objectionable in
the scale to tho company. Mr.. Wilson
informed them what features in tho
scale the company objected 70. The
committee then asked for conference
with the company to discuss the parts OF
the scale which they objected to, which
was but q small matter TO adjust. Mr..
Wilson informed them that he would
let them know the following Wednes-
day II they could have the desired con-
ference.
At the time appointed Mr.. Wilson did
notNppear and his reason for not doing
30 Is now made manifest, as Thursday
evening there was notice put up at the
Company's office informing the EN-
ployes that they had signed the X. Of L,
scale for the year 1850. Our committee
went and interviewed the so.Called X.
Of L. committee, which is composed Of a
blacksmith, a maChinist and two labor.
crs and two or three OF them stated that |
they were authorized by W. II. Lewis,
NJ. W. OF n. Il. A. No. 2l7, 10 present
their scale. Our committee, knowing
that they were not members OF tho X. |
OF L., tclcgraphed TO Mr.. Lewis at Har.
risburg for information, and tho follow.
ing answer, was received from that
official to-day;
HARRsnuRo, Pa, Jun. 81.
Contradict the statement. They have
no such authority from me. Iemphatic.
ally protest against their presenting any
scale. w. II. LEWIS,
Rec. Sec. n. T. A., Ell, X. OIL.
Our committee interviewed the so.
called Knights OF Labor committee, and
two OF them denied that tho company
had any right to attach their names to
any such agreement. One Of them has
BlnCO been 10 the Office aud had his name
erased from said agreement.
Tho above Is % true statement OF the
facts as they exist, other statements TO
the contrary Notwithstanding.
COMMITTEE.
BcnwOod, Feb. 1, 1880.
New OH Territory.
Another oil well was brought In Wed.
rcsday OH the Levi Gardner farm near
Now Cumberland, by the Fisher Oil Com.