St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-08
Points Of Difference Chilly
Stated From the Com
pany's Standpoint,
And Incidentally Mr.. Frick
Kills One Of McKinley's
Pet Fallacies.

"There were three points upon which
we differed. The skilled workmen in
the AmaIgamated association work uu-
der what is known as sliding scale.
AS the price of steel advances, the earn-
ings OF the men advance: as the prices
fall, their earnings decrease in proper
ton. While there is no limit to an ad-
vance OF earnings On the scale, there is
point at which the decline stops. 1t
is known as the minimum, and the fig
ure her etofore has been S25 per ton for
A Bessemer billets.
We believe that if earnings based OH
the selling price of steel can advance
without limit, the workman should be
willing to follow the selling price down
to a reasonable minimum, and so this
figure was finally fixed by theCarnegie
company at the rate of S23, instead of
$50. The reason for asking this upon
our part was thatthe Carnegie company
has spent large sums of money in the
introduction of new machinery in the
Homestead plant, by means of which
the workmen were enabled to
Increase the Daily Output.
thereby Increasing the amount of their
OWN earnings. We had originally asked
a reduction to S22, but subsequently
agreed to compromise the rate at S23.
The amalgamated associations was I'M
willing to consider reduction below
S24 on steel billets. Notwithstanding the
fact that the improved machinery would
enable their members, even at S23, to
earn more than is paid Ill other amaIga.
mated mills. This was the first point at
issue.
Under the present Amalgamated sys-
tenn the date Of the expiration of the
sliding scale is June 80. annually. We
asked that this date be changed to Dec.
81 Same as at Edgar ThOmson), for the
reason that the change would permit us
to make our estimate upon the wages
that we must pay during the year. be-
ginning Jan. 1, so that we would be
enabled to make contracts for the year
accordingly. This point the Amalga-
mated association refused TO accede. and
demanded the old date. The third
proposition was tine
Reduction in Tonnage Rates
in those departments in the mills where
the improvements have spoken of have
been made aud which enable the work
ingmen to increase the output and COLI
SeQuentiy their earnings. Where no
such improvements had been made
there was no request upon our part for
a reduction in tonnage rates. In other
words, we asked no reduction in any
department in which the output had not
been greatly increased by reason of our
expensive improvements since the scale
of 1889 went into effect. We are pre-
pared to show that III nearly every de-
partmeDt, under our proposed reduction
in the tonnage rates, the skilled work
men would make more money than they
did when the scale of 1889 went into
effect"
AS rule the men making the largest
wages in the Homestead mill we're the
ones who most bitterly opposed the pro-
posed revision of the scale, for out of
partment, only 325 were directly af-
fected by this reduction. Finding that
it was Impossible to arrive at airy agree
ment with the Amalgamated officials
we decided to close our works at Home
stead"
His Fear Was BOundIess.
upon the PinkertOnS for watchnlen to
protect their property?"
I'VE did not see how else we would
have protection. We only wanted them
for watchmen to protect our property
and see that w0rkmen we would take to
Homestead-and we have had applica-
tionS from many men. to go to work
were not interfered with"
did you doubt the ability of the
sheriff to enforce order at Homestead
and protect your propertyT'
''YeS, sir, with local deputies"
"Why?"
For the reason that two years ago
our concern had an experience similar
to this. We felt the necessity of a
change at the works; that a Scale should
be adopted based on the sliding price of
biilets, and we asked the county au-
thorities for protection. The workmen
began tactics similar to those employed
in the present troubles. The sheriff as
sured the members of the firm that
there would be no difficulty, that he
would give them ample protection, and
see that men who were willing to work
were not interfered with. What was the
result? The posse taken up by the
Sheriff-something over 100 men-were
not permitted to land on our property,
were driven off with threats of bodily
harm, and it looked as if there was
property. That frightened our people
and an agreement was made and work
resumed. We did not propose this
time to be placed in that position"
Had toTake the Scum.
"The Pinkerton men, as generally I'M
derstood, had been summoned and all
arrangements made with them to be on
hand in case of failure by the sheriff to
afford protection. Is that fact or not?"
Tine facts concerning the engage
ment of the Pinkerton men are these:
From past experience, not only with
the present sheriff, but with all others,
we have found that he has been unable
to furnish us with sufficient number
of deputies to guard our property and
protect the men who were anxious to
work on our terms. AS the Amalgam-
ated men. from the LIST of July, had SUR
rounded our works, placed guards at all
the entrances, and at all avenues or
roads leading to our establishment, and
for miles distant therefrom, we felt that
for the safety of our property. and in
order to protect our workmen. it was
necessary for US to secure our own
watchmen to assist tie sheriff, and we
knew of no other source from which to
obtain them than from PinkertOn agen-
cies. and to them we applied"
What of the future of this diff
culty?"
SIT is in the hands of the authorities
of Allegheny county. If they are un-
able to cope with it, it certainly is the
duty of the governor of the state to see
that we are permitted to operate our es-
tablishment unmolested."
Ready for Investigators.
"You doubtless are aware, AIr. Frick,
that the troubles at the Homestead mill
have invited widespread attention, and
as result congress proposes to investi-
gate the trouble, as well as the employ
ment of Pinkerton detectives?"
II am aware of the fact, sir. While
~lxy ho Of