Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-15
FACTS OF THE CASE
The Joint Conference Of Work.
ingmen
ISSUE A PUBLIC ADDRESS
Showing the True Condition Of AHai1s ~
Homessead-The Wages, and
Mems Necessitiea.

PIrrsBuRG. Pa, Aug. 1.-THE con-
ference between the Amalgsmated as
sociation and the executive council vt
the American federation ended last
evening. President Gompers and the
others of the federation have gone
east. Before their departure the con-
ferehce issued the following statement;
Seldom in the history of our country
have We witnessed the lines Of battle 80
clearly drawn upon the field of labor
as 10 now witnessed At Homestead.
The Carnegie Steel company. one OF
the most gigantic monopolies OF the
age, has undertaken TO reduce the
wages of their employees from 10 to 40
per cent. In their desperation and
svarice they bred ana brought 800
armed mercelaries, Pinkerton detec-
tives, TO Homestead to invade the
homes of the men who created the
millions that the Csrnegies now poe
seas. Under cover Of the Pinkertons
the company enceavorcd to introduce
pauperized and degraded set of
laborers to supplant our fellow work
men. The contest with the Pinkertons
and Its results are we'll known.
Statement Of Wages Paid.
So many erroneous and false state
ments have been published as to the
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 ID not true that the men are re-
ceivlng the high wages generally sup
posed, nor do large number own
their homes. We have made careful
investigation and find that just before
the lockout there we're 3.42l employed
in the mills; of this number there were
thirteen whose wages averaged $3.50
per day. Forty-six averaged between
| IS and s. per day; forty-four averaged
from 81 to IS per day; LIT averaged
from $l.6S to $3.50 per day. and 1926
received fourteen cents per hour or
less. And further, we find to 10 per
cent own their homes, and about Is
per cent more have their homes under
mortgage; the remainder pay rent, aud
a number of these have been evicted
by the Carnegies.
1t 10 not true that the men are only
defending the wages of the higher
priced wOrkmen. II is IN defense OF
the IA cents per hour men as much a.
any other that the Homestead work
men are making their gallant fight.
| What the Men Need.
| What the men in this contest need is
/ your substantial support as well n
your sympathy. The poorer paid mer
in Homestead and other Carnegie mills
where the men are now out to helI
their brothers at Homestead, are the
ones who need your immediate help
and money is required to maintain
their manhood, honor and interests.
Every worker and liberty-loving citi
zen should contribute to the financia
support of the brave men who today
occupy the position of the advance
guard of the labor movement Of Amer
ica.
The struggle at Homestead represent
the issue between freedom and slavery
progress and reaction. and must b.
maintained until the workmen hav'
some fair measure Of recognition from
the Carnegies. We assure you tina
every dollar contributed will be devo
ted to the men engaged 10 this contest
An effective system OF relief has beeI
organized with proper safeguards, anc
every cent will he economically ex
pended and rlgidly accounted for. W.
also advise all workingmen not to come
to Homestead or Pittsburg for employ
mont until the pending dispute wit
the Carnegie Steel company Is settled
Send all contributions to william
Weihe, president of the Amalgamate
ASSOCIATION Of Steel workers. 5l2 Smith
field street, Plttsburg, Pa, and Motif
Thomas J. Crawford, box 196, Home
stead, Pa.