Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-14

more Pinkertons here.
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A statement From the Advisory Board OF
the Homestead workmen-statement OF
the Carnegie Company Denied.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July l2-The fol-
lowing statement issued by the advis-
DRY committee Of the workmen explains
the position Of the men:
Homestead Employees Answer 70 the Carnegie |
Company;
Inc differences existing between the Carno- |
gle company and their employees at Homestead |
have drawn from IL c. Frck q statement OF
the points in dispute which makes necessary
reply in order that wrong impressions OF the
conditions may not be received by the public
1t is asserted that the employees combined
with others OF their trade forming the Anal
gamated association. with absolute control over
the Homestead works This charge can only DO
supported.to the satisfaction OF those who deny
the right OF the employees 10 enter oblecuon 70
any conditions offered by the employers. Inc
workingmen at Homestead or any other Of the
hundreds OF mills organized into the Amalga'
mated association have no desire TO dictate the
wages they shall receive, but they see no reason
why they should not exercise the privilege oil
engaging with their employer In the contro-
versy through which the rhte OF compensation
for their labor Is fixed.
The worxmen arc now, as they always have
been, prepared to meet the representatives OF
the company and discuss the provisions con-
tanned IN the scale submitted by them II the
conferences already held have failed TO bring
about q settlement II cannot DO said that THIS
was the fault Of the workingmen
The scale under which the men at Homestead
were working was arranged In July OF 1881
The rate OF wages was nxed according TO the
selling price OF Axi Bessemer steel billets, the
wages advancing and declining with the selling
price OF the articles, but II was provided the
minimum should be SIS. Complaint is made
| that no minimum should have boon insisted
| upon. IL Is the experience OF the iron ana
| steel workers that some prevention Is neces.
sary to protect themselves from being reduced
to an extremely low rate OF pay by the ACCEPT,
ance by manufacturers OF scales below current
rates; us the workingmen do not sell the prod
uct, there must be q point whoro reduction II
wages by reason Of low ngure scales shall cease
1t is alleged that labor organizations are inluri
ious alike TO the toilers and those by whom the,
are employed, in substantiauon OF which II II
cited by the nrm that there IL no organization
among their employees at Braddock nor Duquesn
steel works; that the men there are satisfied
that they get good wages and that no strik
has occurred since the institution OF that ar
rangement
IL may be said that the satisfaction Of whiel
Mr.. Frick speaks as existing at the abovI
works is forced rather than voluntary as ma
| be proved by the many Efforts OF the men Il
these mills TO organize themselves In secresy
knowledge Of such intentions coming TO IN
ears Of the company would be and was tolloWe
by discharge The wages enjoyed by the me
| at Braddock and Duquesne are the direct resul
| Of the rate OF compensation sustained by IN
organized iron and steel workers While the
are not organized In these mills the rate oil pa
for the class OF work done by them hxed
their organized fellow trndesmen determine
the pay that commands their services
It's tho Gus tom Of the employers OF non-unio
| men IN the iron and steel trade TO pay the rate
provided by the Amalgamated scale In order
, secure the services Of men OF that trade "
found, however, to be invariably the case TINS
with these employers, while they pay the rate
4 provided by the Amalgamated association, n
4 men are required TO accept conditions while
are tantamount 10 reduced rate, although ne
appearing on the face We have reason TO b
lieve thnt the nonunion plants OF Braddock an
D Dequesne con be proved 10 be no exception
= this rule. The introduction OF machinery
a which reference Is made by the company has az
placed men that were necessary before the ]
PRODUCTION Of such machinery, and In this ma
h ner repays the cost Of the investment !
U output OF mill is always considered VIXEN a
4 ranging scales and II increase OF output wit
' on increase OF labor is brought about by
. movement there is every opportunity oner
Q BY the worRmen 10 arrive through confeFen
r. AT an equitable rateI but when the employ
SC refuses 10 engage In discussion with the e.
ploye on the matter all hopo OF Just sett
ment ID lost
y An attempt Is made TO lead the public In
D. the belief that tho number OF men affected
10 the reduction Is few. Here again II beeom
M necessary TO impress on the public mind I
~ fact there are three distinct propositions q
&c tanned In the dispute, namely A reduction
le the minimum, another reduction In the prop
Al tionate rate OF pay lthus making a double
A., duotion) and that scale terminate Deceml
10 81. 1903 instead OF June 20, 1894
ST must DO understood that while all
nc these propositions do not anect
10 whole Of the Homestead Workmeni few
the $500 employees Of that place es.'
without being affected by one or more OF
n provisions What does not affect the one d
IT aneet the other, aud II might DO saia thAt
IL stead OF the company's proposal altering
condition OF employment Of ssb, the ehang'
general and the whole are involved II
X stated by the company with much force tina
he is not their desire 70 reduce their workmen
lie low others The cost Of production 10
90 Carnegie company at Homestead II decide
In favor OF the company as compared with m
'e- Of that character. II can now be shown {
60 they cannot establish q complaint In that al
q ton.
en- In arranging scales OF wages 10 govern
- and steel workers, there are lnnumerable TIL
va which must receive attention II Justice n
prevail The intrieacies referred TO are 8
Ily as to rendor liable erroneous views 10 be drl
an by those not familiar with the trade from u
~, discussion In the public press. There can D.
10 legitimate reason why the Carnegie comp
Ill should deny 70 their Homestead workme
be | conference where the things Of which they G
W. plain could be analysed and, II found uni
=. made right The men make no further prof.
10 ton than this for the simple reason that !
all fairer Is possible. II argument and ha
adj reasoning were substituted ioI the reserve
Iii codness OF manner AS seen Ia the eompa
- attitude there can DO reason 70 expect an
-" OF this state Of AFFAIRS Does II notseem stri
me that the Carnegie company looks with dist
on upon the organization Of It's Homestead
.ers ployes, while at several OF It's large mills
a.. have for several years encouraged the orgal
NC ton Of the men, and AZ this moment are gel
om- along satisfactorily togetheri
at Surely II will not be charged that the MT
rrs Homestead arc less intelligent, or less ent
10 those rights which are the principles Of
VI ganized labor, and which are insepsrable
their citizenship There are none who rS
the lamentable occurrences Of the past
, days more than those whom tho Carnegie
the pany charges with having been instrument
by n bringing them about We are willing 70 I
look the public TO judge after the evidence Is
.,or whether these charges Hre true We feel
, the erroneous statements given out rslau
lhS our conduct viii be removed by imparta
Car | vestigatiou In due time. Until then We y
- sA1ast our rssGni so sxpGEie9ee