Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24

PrTTsBuRG. Nov. 2O.-The great strike at
Carnegie's Homestead steel works has been
declared off. After five months struggle
which, for bitterness, has probably never
been equalled IN this country. the army
OF strikers finally decided to-day to give
up the fight. This action was taken at a
meeting of the lodges of the Amalgamatei
Association at Homestead, this afternoon,
the vote standing lOl in favor Of declaring
the strike off and 81 against it,
Among those present Mt the meeting
We're Vice-president Carney, Secretary Kill
gallon, Treasurer Madden and David
Lynch of the advisory board The officials
addressed the members, and in plain words
told them the strike was lost, and advised
them to take steps to better their condition.
A MAJORITY OF TEN.
The members met with considerable OPP
position, but when the vote was taken it
showed majority of 10 in favor of decar-
ing the strike off.
Those who were in favor of calling the
strike off were jubilant. while those who
were against 1t were badly put out. Most
OF the latter were men who were obstinate,
and many of them We're men who had
either applied for positions in the mill
and had been turned down, or felt sure
that their names were on the company's
black list and couldn't get positions. A
member OF the advisory board said to-day
that he had been trying TO get the strike
declared off for weeks, as he knew it was
lost and it would have been better for the
men, as great many of them could have
gotten their places back.
SOME OF THE MEN IN A BAD FIX.
Those who could not get back are in a
bad fix, as the relief funds will be stonpcd,
and many hundreds of them have nothing
to live on. The people in Homestead es-
pecally the business men, are highly
elated over the declaration to call the strike
off, for If it had continued much longer it
would have ruined the town. Many bust
mess houses have fallen into the hands of
the sheriff since the strike has been on.
Business is expected to resume its normal
condition soon.
HOW THE TROUBLE BEGAN.
The Homestead strike has proved one of
the most disastrous in the history OF the
country. 1t originated from a reduction
in the departments where members of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers were employed. The hitch
was on what is known As the sliding scale.
1t is q scale which regulates the mems
wages by the market price Of steel billets.
Nearly every mill in this vicinity signed
the scale, including other mills of the Car.
negie Company. At the refusal of the firm
to sign the scale for the Homestead mill a
lockout occurred by the Amalgamated
Association, and they were Joined by the
mechanics and laborers, who struck out Of
duced.
TIE strikers were determined to keer
non-unlon men out of the mills, and
adopted military dicipline. The story OF
the arrival and bloody fight with the Pin.
kertons on July 9TH, the subsequent riotous
proceedings and the calling out of the Ma
tional Guard and its departure after three
months duty is too well known to repeat
For six weeks the mill has been running
almost as well as before the strike but un
til within the last week the strikers hay,
steadfastly Iefused to admit defeat.
THE LAwRENcEvILLE MEN.
The news Of to-day's action was received
with dismsy by the strikers in the two
lawrenceville mills of Carnegie's. These
men were sympathy strikers, and wen
out at the time the men at beaver Fall
and Duquesne struck. The Dueuesne mcr
gave up the fight IN three weeks, and til,
'Beayer Falls strikers decided to 80 back 4
work yesterday. The Lawreneeville men
however, were steadfast, and had no In
tention of giving in. They are now in til
position OF striking for no cause The
are very angry at the Homestead men, AM
Will probably declare the strike of to
morrow.
LOSS IN WAGES.
The strike at one time involved nearl,
10000 men, and the loss in wages viii
reach, IT Is said, in the neighborhood o
.s2,oO5,ooO. Then there is an Immense los
to the firm, which cannot be estimated
but which conservative people put at lea.
double the amount lost BY the men i
wages. To this can be added nearly hal
million dollars paid to the state troop
and the costs to the county Of Aliegher
- for the riot treason and other cases grow
ing ont of the strike.
THE FATALITIES.
Az least So deaths were directly due g
indirectly caused by the strike. Besid,
those killed in the battle Of july 9Th, man
soldiers contracted fever which result,
fatally, one soldier was shot accidental
by a comrade, another was killed bv ii
cars, one striker committed suicide, on
was drowned, one was killed hy the car
several non-union men died from few,
and several were killed in the mill an
one was murdered by another no.
unionist
The attempted assassination of Chat
man Frick Of the Carnegie Company
also indirectly credited to the strike.
A Great Real Estate Deal.