Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-07-16
ANSWERING FRIcK.
A Statement From tho Advisory Board OF
the Homestead W0rlSmen-St statement of
the Carnegie Company Denied.

lowing statement issued by the advis'
DRY committee of the worl1men explains
the position of the men:
Homestead Employees Answer 70 tho Carnegie
Company:
| The differences existing between the Carne
| gle COMPANY and their employees ut Homestead
have drawn from II. G. Frick u statement OF
the points In dispute which makes necessary a
reply in order that wrong impressions OF the
! conditions may not be received by the public.
| II is asserted that the employees combined
| with others Of their trnde 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 TO enter objection To
any conditions offered BY the employers Tho
worliinCmen ~ Homestead or any other OF tho
hundreds OF mills organized into tho Amalga-
mated association have no desire to dictate the
wages they shall receive. but they soc no reason
why they should not exercise the privilege OF
engaging with their employer In the contro-
versy through which tho rate OF compensation
for their labor IL fixed.
The worlimen are now, Us 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 o settlement. II cannot he said that this
WAS tho fault Of the workingmcn
The scale under which the men AT Homestead
were working was arranged In July OF 1880
The rate OF wages was fixed according 10 the
selling price OF AKA Bessemcr steel billets. the
wages advancing and declining with the selling
price OF the articles but II was provided the
minimum should be soj Complaint is made
that no minimum should have been insisted
upon. 1t Is the experience OF the iron and
steel workers shat some prevention Is neccS-
sAry TO protect themselves from being reduced
to sr extremely low rate Of paw by the accept
ance ny manufacturers OF scales below current
rates; Us the workingmen do not sell the prod.
uct, there must be point where reduction In
wages bv reason Of low figure scales shall cease.
1, is alleged that labor organizations are injuri'
ious alike to this toilers and those by whom they
are employed, in substantiAtion OF which II Is
cited by the firm that there Is no organization
among their employees ut Braddock nor Duquesne
steel works; that the mon there aro satisfied,
that they get good wages and that no strike
has occurred since the institution OF that ar
rargement
II may be said that the satisfaction OF which
Mr. Frick speaks as existing at the above
works Is forced rather than voluntary, as may
be proved by the many efforts OF tho men IN
These mills to organize themselves in secresy
knowledge OF such intentions coming to tho
ears Of the company would be and was followed
by discharge The wages enjoyed by tho men
At Braddock and Duquesne are the direct result
Of the rate OF compensation sustained by the
organized iron and steel workers While they
are not organized in these mills the rate Of pay
for tho class OF work done by them fixed by
their organized fellow tradesmen determines
the pay that commands their services.
II Is the custom OF the employers OF non.union
men in the iron and steel trade 10 pay the rates
Ornvi1ai hw fha M IUuf tod caaln In Or1nr ~
secure the services OF men OF that trade II Ia
found, however. 10 be invariably tho case that
with these employers while they pay the rates
provided by the Amalgamated association. the
men ore required TO accept conditions which
are tantamount TO q reduced ratio although not
appearing on tho face. We have reason to be-
lievc that the non-union plants OF Braddock and
Dequesne can be proved 10 be no exception 10
this rule. Tho introduction Of machinery 10
which reference is made by the company has dis
placed men that were necessary before the in.
PRODUCTION OF such machinery, and in this man
ner repays the cost OF the investment The
output OF mill is always considered when ar
ranging scales and II increase Of output with.
gu increase OF labor Is brought about bv i'm
proyement there Is every opportunity offered
BY the worlSmen to arrive through conference
at an equitable rate: but when the employer
refuses TO engage in discussion with the en-
p!oye on the matter all hope OF just settle
ment Is lost
An attempt is made to lead the public into
the belief that the number of men affected BIZ
the reduction Is few. Here again II becomes
10 impress on the public mind the
fact there are three distinct propositions con-
tanned in the dispute, namely: a reduction in
the minimum, another reduction In the propOr-
tionate rate OF pay (thus making double re-
duction) and that scale terminate December |
81. 1891 instead OF June 80 1894 1t
must be understood that while oil OF
these propositions do not affect the |
whole OF the Homestead worllmen, few o.
the $500 employees Of that place escape |
without being affected by one or more OF its |
provisions. What does not AFFECT the one does |
AFFECT the other. and II might be said that in. |
stead OF the company's proposal altering the |
condition OF employment OF 325, the change Is |
general and the whole are involved II IS |
stated by the company with much force that II |
Is not their desire 10 reduce their workmen be- !
low 0thers The cost Of production to the |
Carnegie company AZ Homestead is decidedly |
In favor Of the company as compared with mills !
of that character II can now be shown that |
they cannot establish . complaint in that dircc-
ton
In arranging scales Of wages to govern iron |
and steel workers, there are innumerable things |
which must receive attention II justice must |
prevail The intricacies reforred TO are such |
Is 10 render liable erroneous views TO DO drawn |
By those not familiar with the trade from their
discussion in the public press. There can be no
legitimate reason why the Carnegie company
should deny to their Homestead workmen
conference where the things OF which they COM
plain could be analysed and, II found unjust,
made right The men mako no further PROPOSE
ton than this for the simple reason that none
iairer n possible II argument and honest
were substituted for the reserve and
coldneas Of manner ~ seen In the company's
attitude there cen DO reason 20 expect On end
Of this state OF affairs Does Il not seem strange
that the Carnegie company looks with distrust
apon tho organization Of its Homestead en-
ployes, while at several Of Its large mills they
have for several years encouraged the orgauiza-
ton Of the men, and at this moment are getting
along satisfactorily together'
Surely IL will not be charged that the men OF
are less intelligent, or less entitled
10 those rights which are the principles Of or
lab ID II fnaaunrahla frOun