Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-22
THEIR PLANS UPSET.
Tube Work officials Make a Signiti-
cant Announcement.
PROSPECTS FOR A LONG STRIKE.
Glass Manufacturers to Discuss the Early
Shutdown To-Day
NO CONCESSIONS TO THE fINNERs

ment yesterday by the receipt of letter
from General Manager Converse, containing
a proposition the strikers did not expect
The letter upset all the strikers plans, and
| put the Conference Committee into q
bewildering condition. 1t was expected
that the strike would be settled satisfac-
torily yesterday, but the new move of Gen.
eral Manager Converse makes many OF the
men believe there will be long and pro-
tracted struggle between the firm and their
employees.
A general meeting of the strikers was
held yesterday in Whites Opera House
and the finishing touches put to the new
scale to be presented to the firm. A num-
Der Of slight alterations were made in the
scale and the Conference Committee waited
upon General Manager Converse. The lat
ter received them cordially, but when the
scale was shown him, he objected to several
of the demands. Among the demands in
the new scale were clauses affecting the
grinders and guagers, and the threaders.
ADVANCED THREE WEEKS AGO.
The wages of the former were advanced
three weeks ago and the general manager
claims nearly all the threaders are now at
work. In view of this he does not believe
that the threaders want an advance, or they
would all be out with the strikers. The
axle department was also objected to.
When the committee waited upon Gen
eral Manager Converse the members stated
that they had been instructed to say that
the scale was their ultimatum, and there
could be no more changes made. 1t was
also decided at the meeting not to have any
more general meetings until after the de-
mands were granted. General Manager Con-
verse had expected many more changes
made in the scale, and as the latter was
entirely different from what he had
counted upon. he filed the paper and de-
cided to make q new proposition. He In
formed the committee that it would hear
from him, and after the members had re-
tired Mr.. Converse dictated the following
letter. 1t was sent to the Conference Com
mittee, and the latter called another general
meeting, to be held in the Opera House to-
day. The proposition will then be placed
before the men for action. The following is
O copy of the letter:
MANAGER CoNvERsE's LETTER.
To James Rohan, Thomas mckinley and Other
Employees of the National Tube Works Com
pany:
GENTLEMEN-On May you demanded of us
on behalf Of all employees in pipe departments
10 per centum. On May 10 we met your COM
mittee, and. after fully explaining the com
panys position, filed our written answer refus-
ing the demand as made. At that interview
we notified you that your demand included
men and departments Of men who we're per-
fectly satisfied with their wages and desired to
be left uudisturbed. For more than one week
you maintained your original position. The at
tendance at your meetings was not confined to
our employees, and certain Of our men were not
admitted.
On Monday, May 10. your committee &C.
knowledged the error OF the demand as made,
but claimed lack of authority and the ne
cessity Of action by the meeting before certain
unjust features Of the demand could be elm
(this time by due authority filed q written &C.
Acknowledgement (by the withdrawal Of large
number Of departments) OF the unreasonable
and unwarranted nature Of the demand. A
new and much modified demand was then
made upon us, and again VIC told the commit
tee that men and departments OF men were In
cluded who had no grievance and wanted to be
let alone. On May 2l (to-day) the same scene
was acted over again. and once more the same
answer. for the same reason. is hereby given.
You have now come face to face with the
condition of affairs fully and carefully ex-
planned in our original written answer on the
10th instant We have not altered or receded
from the position then taken. We stood then,
and stand to-day, ready to rectify even the
slightest inequality. or difference, between our
rates and those paid at other mills.
Your present demand / s largely one of sent
nent and reward for those who have suffered
idleness to accomm odate few. We do not
believe it has been your intention to demand
from us what was unreasonable and impossible.
You have done so, but through error, not in
tent. Our works must either be run a basis
of wages to enable us to meet competition, or
not at all. We have again analyzed this whole
question with the greatest Of care, only TO ar
rive at the result explained to you in our orig
inal answer. You cannot expect, justly de-
mand, or hope to receive any line of wages
which is prohibitory to the successful operation
of these works. In order to prove the correct
ness of our position as originally explained, we
offer the following proposition for a settlement
of this question:
First-You to promptly rectify the wrongly you
did this company in striking because we re-
fused demand which you have since admitted
it was impossible for us to grant-to wit, by re-
turning to work forthwith without prejudice to
individuals.
Second-A committee of five persons to be
appointed. such committee to consist of en-
ployes, two of whom shall be chosen by you,
two by us. and the fifth by the four SO chosen
The qualifications of a committee man to be
record of not less than three years service in
good standing.
Third-The committee to take such time as it
may find necessary, according to its own judg-
ment, to thoroughly investigate the wages paid
in those mills against which we have 10 COM
pete in the disposal of our pipe and tubes.
Fourth-We, on our part, agreeing as we
stated in our original answer, to rectify any
inequality or difference between the wages
paid by us and those paid by any OF our
competitors when shown; we further agreeing
that we will not lower the wages of the work.
men to whom we are now paying wages higher
than at other mills.
Fifth Y ou, on your part, to agree to cheer
fully accept the present wages. or such as may
be changed under the conditions named in
Article Fourth upon the return and report of
the committee.
ance with article fourth, to take effect from
the date work is resumed.
Sevenih-We to pay all expenses of the
committee, including wages.
Yours respectfully,
e. Z. CONVERSE,
General Manager.