Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-06
THE WEEK WINNOWED
Seven Days in the Industrial and
Labor World Tersely Treated.
NO CHANGE In IRON AND STEEL.
How United Mine Workers Stand Regard
ing the Standard Strike.
CAPITAL YET TO HAVE A TILT AT LABOR

Bessemer pig moved rather slowly during
the week, and small lots were readily sold
at S1S 25.. Gray forge and mill iron main
tain their position in the market steadily
and continue in good demand at S15 %.
Steel billets, blooms and slabs, are in great
request and scarcely obtainable for Septem-
Der delivery. The same remark applies
to future deliveries and supplies.
Prices remain as last quoted;
S31 to S31 80. Muck bar holds its own,
with probability of its doing so for time
to come. Several large sales were made at
$50. Generally speaking the volume Of
business during the week was not large,
sales, as a rule, being small. Pig iron
moved in small quantities, while inquiries
from owners for steel billets were answered
with none to offer" Buyers acted eau
tlously and refrained from investing in any
thing like a speculative way. There is an
expectation that the market will continue
steady, with no probability of prices taking
jump.
Railroad coal operators have nothing to
complain of on the score of prices, but are
hampered very much by the scarcity OF cars.
They cannot get cars to load, and are re-
tarded in their shipments. This will have
an injurious effect on the district, as the
have to buy Ohio coal to make up the def
ciencies.
WHO WILL PROFIT BY IT.
While the Ohio people will profit by this,
Fittsburg shippers can do nothing to pre-
vent the trade from leaving them owing to
the inability of the roads to provide ade-
quate transportation. Traffic to the North
west and South is congested and the condi-
tion of the railroad men with regard to their
lake shipments and supplies, and their argu-
ment in favor of the Erie canal. The river
coal trade does not show any variation from
last week. The lower markets are fairly
stocked, and prices are reported as
stifening somewhat there. Preparations
are generally being made for a renewal of
operations along the river. There are some
craft to load, but until rise comes to relieve
the boats lying along the river no great
amount of coal can be sent out. If no
trouble looms up on the labor horizon
operators look for good seasons business.
Business in coke during the week was
steady with a fair demand. There was a
scarcity of cars, which prevented operators
from shipping as rapidly as their customers
would wished Hence furnace owners in.
creased the amounts OF their orders in the
hope that an adequate supply would reach
them out of the rush. The closing down of
the Standard works OF 907 ovens is not ex-
pected to materially alter the condition of
affairs in the region. Stock has been ac-
cumlating in the yards owing to lack of
N of fur rri1 he
The action of the H. c. Frick
Coke Company in entering a civil and
action against its employees at the
works mentioned, Tor breach OF contract is a
unique feature of the relations which exist
between apital and labor, and the outcome of
which will be watched with the greatest inter-
est. A committee of the men demanded the
of all non-union men employed at
the works on the ground that they, the COM
mittee, "had no control or influence over
them." Notice that strike would ensue if
this demand was not complied with within
six days followed. The company refused to
comply with the demand, and the works
were closed down. In this action the men
seem to be altogether in The wrong. In the
agreement of February G. entered into be.
tween the company and President John B.
Rae, General Secretary Robert Watchorn,
Master Workman kerfoot and four other Of |
icials, acting as a committee representing |
''all the workmen," there is clause which |
reads: SIT Is distinctly understood and |
agreed that the management are to have the |
right to employ any person or persons they |
lesire to employ and no others. and that the |
workmen shall not in any manner or form |
inter ere i'll the matter of hiring or discharg-
rg of any foreman or boss"
WERE THEIR EMPLOYEES,
The men whom the union employees now
wish discharged were in the employment of |
he company when this agreement was
signed, and the present action of the local |
,ficers is directed against the very men who
common with the strikers-repre-
'ented on the Signing Committee by the
officials named above and acting as "com-
nittee representing all the workmen. ''This
committee voluntarily conceded the right to
he company to employ any person or persons
t desired. 1t is difficult to see, in the action
If the local officers, anything but deliber-
tie violation OF faith. President Rae will
lot it is thought, indorse this strike. If
le does, to be consistent he must order
,eneral shutdown of all the mines in this
'egion, if not in the country. There is
rot mine in this district which Is
Ibsolutely union; in all of them the
percentage of non-union to union miners
1aries from 25 to 75 per cent,
md if he sustains the action OF the Stand
Ird men. he must call out every union
miner under his control. He will not do
his, because he has as strong a following
.mong miners who are not union as lie has
.mong the organized men, and he will not
dopt policy of antagoniziug men from
yhom he expects strong support in the near
uture. Besides, he has other fish to fry at
PRESENT.
The window glass trade is in quiescent
ondition and will not experience any
hange, pending the outcome of the ad-
ourned Chicago meeting on the 18th
nst., the day after the houses start up.
Window glass men seem at length to have
determined on fixing some way of maintain
nc uniformity in selling rates. OF the
nany schemes proposed that of central
gency in charge of a committee which
rould regulate prices and sales, handling
he product of each factory and remitting
he value to the owners seems to find most
avor. The greatest opposition to this plan
Tould seem to come from the jobbers who
Till be brought together on a common foot
ng, and will be no longer able to
lake fancy terms with indiyid-
al manufacturers. The difficulty will
rise in getting the outside men
nto the fold, and 1t is not unlikely that a
wv will reiuse to unite in any scheme. pre-
erring to work the market as best they can
n their own account Jobbers will likely
i've such men strong backing from selfish,
ut business motives. Until the meeting on
ne 10th, what arrangements may be per-
1cted are matter Of conjecture.
WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER.
There is reason to believe that the
rongest OF the manufacturers would prefer
n out-and-out consolidation to any minor