Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07
HOW IT WAS LOST AND WON,
SOME OF THE INSIDE HISTORY OF THE
ELECTRIC STRIKE.

Promises of Support From Day TO Dav
Which Did Not MateriaIize-The Men
Could Stand IL no Longer, and Therefore
Gave In.
Reports were current in some quarters
that the Chairman of the Electric Comyauy
Employees Committee, Mr. Charles Mason.
had sold the men in ordering them back.
When accosted last night, and spoken to re-
gsrding what had been said, Mr.. Mason
said that he had nothing to say to such
cowardlv attacks. He felt conscious of hay-
ing done. his best by his fellow workers. and
could treat such falshoods with contempt.
Asked for a statement, Mr.. Mason said:
Prom the beginning to the end of the
Electric Company strike-a period of "a
days-in which an army of ], ,15O men and
BOYS, skilled and unskilled workers, were
concerned, Treasurer Parsons had less than
$50 Tor distribution in relief. OF this sum,
Sl4O was received from Mr.. Kirk, as the
representative of the organized bodies; S25
from the timers, and the rest subscribed
among our own men. From this small sum-
the hall rent, necessary expenses and relief
were paid. An account of the disbursements
is open ior inspection by anyone.
PUT OFF BY PROMISES,
Our appeals to Mr. Kirk were freouent
and strong, the invariable answer being tIn
a few days; 1t must take official course: we
are slow, but we are sure From our first
to our last meeting, either Mr.. Kirk or
member OF the committee promised us relief
bat We didn't get it. 1 had stood on the
stage in Lafayette Hall and promised funds
to the men, but without any being fourth
coming. l was forbidden by Mr. Kinks
committee to appeal to organized labor for
assistance. declared my right to make apv
appeals l thought fit, but they continued
their assurances of funds that-like the
letter-never came. The Employees Com
mlttee found one woman eating rye bread.
dry. Her two boys, who we're her sole means
O. support, were among those who were hold
ing out on the promises of Mr.. Kinks COM
mittee.
This example is only one out of MANY.
On Wednesday morning last the picket
coImIttee reported that enough of the men
had gone back to work to break the strike
except IN the detail department. The COM
mittee discussed the report, and it was
unanimously, 1 repeat. unanimously, de-
ciceG to cal the strike off. /. as Chair
man, on perfect understanding with the
committee, issued the order, and In doing
50 ielt that 1 was doing, under the circum-
stances, what any man would do. The
places Of the old hands were being filled by
new aen; break had occurred, and pre-
lerred, like general, to surrender an Or
gained body than defeated fragment.
PREPARED TO EXPLAIN IT.
Let the blame be placed where it belongs. |
Let those men who have been cheerfully |
taxed for three weeks be shown where their |
money has gone and why the electric strike |
was failure. am prepared, and court it,
to meet any BODY OF organized men who sub |
Ecrihcd money in support of the strike and
give detailed statement of the progress
and fual ending of the matter. With
money fight could have been fought; with
out it, no."
The general opinion seemed to be that the