The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-08-24
THE HOMESTEAD LOOKOUT.

BGeA0 w fKmen, Jay dOuluS toI9
graph lines and the associated press
representatives Of the interests oi
plutocracy in America, have been
busy in spoligizing for Mr.. Frick and
the Carnegie outfit, and in maligning
the locked-out workmen. These men
have been first represented as strik-
ers, when in fact there has been no
strike. They have next been repre-
sented as receiving munifcent wages,
ranging from 81 to SIS day. The
special mouthpiece OF plutOcrscy in
Kansas has been telling it's readers
how they were loaning money upon
Kansas real estate, and all the little
fellows have echoed the libel. Every
thing has been said and done that
hireling press could do to excite
prejudice in the minds Of the people
against the workmen, and to create
sympathy for the millionaire manu-
faCturers.
The executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, at its recent
session at Homestead, made full In
vestigation of the facts, and issued
the following address to the Ameri-
can people, which shows the ma
licious representations that have been
scattered broadcast over the country:
"seldom in the history of our country have we
Witnessed lines Of battle so clearly drawn upon
the field Of labor as is now witnessed at Home
stead. The Carnegie Steel company, one Of the
most gigantic monOplies of the age, has under
taken to reduce the wages Of employees from
10 to 40 per cent. In their desperation and
avarlce, they have brought 800 armed Pinkerton
detectives to Homestead to invade the homes of
men who erected the millions that the OarnegieS
now possess Under cover of the Plnkertons,
the company endeavOred to introduce pauper-
lzed and degraded set Of labOrers to Supplant
our fellow American workmen. So many false
statements have been published as to he cause
for which the men are so nObly contending,
their conduct during the struggle, the present
situation and their prospects OF victory, that We
feel called upon to issue this statement to the
American public. It Is not true the men are re-
ceiying the high wages generally supposed, nor
do q large number own their homes. We have
made . careful Investigation, and find just before
the lockout there were 3,24l men employed In
the mills. OF this number there were thirteen
whose wages averaged $3.50 per day; fOrty-Six
averaged between So and 81 per day; flity-fOur
averaged from "a to s. per day; 1,i77 averaged
from Sl.69 to $3.50 per day, and 1925 received IA
cents per hour or less; and further we find to
10 per cent. own their homes, and about 10 per
cent more have their homes under mortgage,
the remainder pay rent and number Of them
have been eYlcted by the Carnegies. 1t Is not
true the men are only defending the wages OF
the hlgh-prlced workmen, 1t is In defense Of the
l4-cents-per-hour men as much rs any other that
the Homestead workmen are making their gal
liant fight. Notwithstanding the military forces
have been under arms at Homestead for nearly
Ave weeks, and the entire country has been
ran8acked TO find beings so low IS to hire them
selves to the company, there are less than GOO
persons In the mills, and less than dozen
skilled workmen who can perform the work re-
qulred. The situation 10 such that We con-
fldently assert that at no time during the
struggle were the prospects of victory as bright
% they are now"
In conclusion the statement says:
"Whae the men In this contest need is your
substantial support, as well a. your sympathy.
We assure you every dollar contributed Will be
devoted to the men engaged in this contest. An
effective system Of relief has been organized
with proper safeguards. Send all contributions
to william weihe, president Of the Amalgamated
association, Pittsburg, Pa"
The statement is signed by Samuel
Gompers, president, and other execu-