Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-03
Manager Ralph Bagaley Talks on the
Position of his Company.
ITS ATTITUDE is UNALTERABLE.
Applications for Work Pouring in From ALI
Over the Country
TO FILL THE SHOPS IN THREE MONTHS


branches. that an inquiry was set on foot
yesterday to put the matter beyond any
further doubt.
At the machine company's offices, on
Twenty-ffth street, Manager Ralph Baga-
ley was found within, having returned on
Monday from vacation trip. he very
obligingly submitted to queries on the SUBJ
ject, and afforded the representative of The
DISPATCH full opportunity of seeing for
himself that the statements made were true.
Mr.. Bagaley wished this, and obligingly
conducted the visitor through the shops,
and placed the letters Of application under
his inspection.
Asked regarding the position which the
company had assumed, Mr.. Bagaley said:
81 attended, about two weeks ago, the only
conference that has been held, or that will
be held regarding the strike. returned
from Bradford expressly to attend it. 1t
was held in Mr. Westinghouse private
office, in his presence, and was a conference
OF the managers of the various Westing-
house companies. II was the opinion of
all present.
WHAT WAS DECIDED.
First-That we were now paying the high
est average wages of anyone engaged in our
business in this country, and therefore I
presume, in the world. In addition to the
higher wages, our men had many comforts
and conveniences which were not provided
in other shops.
Secondly-That we were necessarily forced
to meet the competition OF our competitors
in all parts of the country, who paid lower
wages than we have been paying. In so
far as the Westinghouse Machine Com
pany is concerned (whose business consists
exclusively of building steam engines), we
must meet the competition of practically
every village, town and city In the United
States.
Thirdly-That, rather than concede the
foolish demand for ten hours pay for nine
hours work, it would be more profitable to
retire from business altogether, or certainly
to move one or two OF the establishments to
Eastern cities, where an abundance Of bet
ter average skilled labor is to be had, at
much lower wages thanlprevail in Pittsburg.
Fourthly-That no further conferences or
consultations would be necessary, inasmuch
as we all decided on the policy herein out
lined as fnality.
Continuing, MIR. Bagaley said: "Happily,
no such course as that of moving any of the
establishments Eastward now seems to be
necessary. This company's normal force
consists of $50 men About 180 of these
(apparently in the belief that we were so
overwhelmed with orders that we could not
afford to shut DOWN struck, and were
promptly paid off and discharged by the
company. After running for a week or ten
DAYS, our superintendent put the foundry
fnro half hot fha nHr1nt AL
that department would not accumulate more
rapidly than the machine shop department.
could take care of it.
BRIGHT MEN AND BOYS.
''Of the 18O men who struck in the ma
chine shop department, a very large proper
tion are not machinists at all, and have
never served their apprenticeship. They
were simply bright men and boys, whom we
educated for our special work, and paid
them about double the wages which the
same men and boys are competent to earn in
other establishments. This fact they will
soon learn to their SORROW"
"How many men are at work?"
"We have at work to-day, in this depart
ment, IS good men. We have 20 Others
whose applications have been investigated,
who have been found satisfactory and have
been accepted, and will consequently be put
to work. We have on file applications for
far more men than we need. Doubtless,
however, many Of these men are not skilled
In our particular kind of work. No doubt
many others are unsuitable for employment
in any establishment. We cannot employ
a man on his own say so alone; hence, each
application receives careful investigation by
us. Every mail brings us a large number
of new applications, and it is nv honest
conviction that in 80 days time we can fill
three such establishments as ours and the
electric company's with acceptable work.
men,"
''What about the old hands?"
Gas regards our old workmen, I will re-
peat to you what said yesterday, that IS:
Some of them, namely, the mischief
breeders, will never again find employment
in our works. Those who simply made a
mistake. and were foolish enough to believe
that any one could afford to grant demand
which is wrong In principle, such as ten
hours pay for nine hours work (assuming
that they are otherwise acceptable and un-
Objectionable men) may be taken back at
the old wages and at the old hours of labor,
providing their positions are not filled by
other applicants.
SOME COULD COME BACK.
"Already more than one-half of our old
lost their positions permanently, and those
who do not apply at once will unquestion-
ably lose theirs before October 1. We, of
course, would rather have some of our old
boys back at their places, for many reasons,
than to educate an entire new force as we
have educated our old workmen in the past.
But our old hands must not be foolish
enough to think that they will be allowed
to bring this company's business to a stand |
still. If our old men, who are unobiection-
able. apply at once I have no doubt our
will reinstate them, but if |
they do not apply promptly they must not |
henceforth feel badly when they see their |
good places filled by new men who are |
willing to work. Of cousre, when we once |
put man to work and he proves satisfac- |
tory we intend to maintain him at all !
hazards, and it is then too late for one Of |
our old workmen to ask to be reinstated in |
that position, and he must therefore count |
himself out"
"What can yo1 tell me regarding the |
situation of affairs at the Westinghouse |
Electric Company's works?"
''It would not be proper for me to give |
you any information on that subject. You |
should applyto the officers of that company.
I will say, however, that we have already |
turned over a number of applications to |
them from mea who seemed more suitable |
for their work than for our own; and as soon |
as our own ioree has been completed, we |
intend thereafter to turn over the applica- |
tions which are pouring in on us from every
part of the country, which with their own,
will certainly soon enable them to complete |
their force"
"It has been published that machinists |
have been notified in all parts ofthe country |
not to accept employment at your estab- |
lishment."
SIMPLY SURPRISE.