Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-02
WILL FIGHT IT OUT.
Carnegie Defies a Great Labor
Organization.
OPEN WAR ON THE AMALGAMATED.

The Gauntlet Thrown Down and q Battle
for Life and Death in Progress-Home-
stead in State of Siege-Armed Pick
cts on Duty to Prevent Nonunion Men
from Coming In-The Torch Threat
ened to Load of Cots-A Critical
Situation.
PITTsBURG, Pa, July 2-"Hereafter the
Homestead Steel works will be operated as
nonunion works. We shall not recog-
nize the Amalgamated Association of Iron
and Steel Workers in our dealings with
the men. The mill will be an open mill
where all men may woik regardless of
their utilization to labor organization"
The above is part of a statement made
yesterday afternoon by the secretary of the
Carnegie Steel company, limited, the new
$25, 100000 organization. at is our pur-
pose," continued Mr.. Lovejoy, ito run
that mill. 1t will be an open mill No
doubt there will be a scale regulating en-
ployes' wages, but there will be no ques-
ton as to whether he belongs to a labor or
ganization. We shall do at Homestead
as we do at Braddock-deal with the men
individually and no distinction will be
made. Such thing as union will not
be recognized and there will be no further
conference with the Amalgamated associ-
alton"
Life and Death Struggle.
The above plain statement leaves no
doubt as to the company's intention with
regard to the fight at Homestead, and
narrows the fight down to life and death
struggle with the Amalgamated associa-
ton, the leading labor organization in the
world. Mr.. Lovejoy also outlined the
policy which will be pursued by the COM
pany in the present struggle 1--WE will
do nothing for the next week or so. That
time will be fully occupied in repairs. AS
matter of fact only 260 men are directly
interested in this fight. The wages of
that number only are in question. Mr..
Frick is directing the policy of the COM
pany in this matter, Mr.. Carnegie know
ing only in a general way what is going
on at Homestead. About July 20 notices
will be served that the old employees may
return to their work at the mills by max.
ing applicat ion at a certain date. New
men will be put in the places of those
who do not thus apply. We can easily get
new men into the company's:: works"
Statement from Manager Frfck.
Manager Prick says that three questions
are involved in the situation at Home
stead:
l. A reduction in the minimum of the
scale from SIS to S23 for AKA Bessemer bill
lets.
2 A change in the date of the expira-
ton of the scale from June so to Dec. 81.
3. A reduction in tonnage rates at those
furnaces and mills where important i'm
provements have been made and new ma
chinery has been added that has greatly
increased their output and consequently
the earnings of the wOrkmen. Where no
such improvements or additions have been
made no reduction in tonnage rates is
asked.
Effect on the Mems Wages
He says that of the $500 employed at
the works only some $50 men are affected
by these tonnage reduction, and the
total number of employees who are affected
both by the reduction in tonnage rates and
in the scale minimum, including the $50.
Is less than 325. Prick also contend that
there has been such an increase in output
as to Justify a reduction and still leave the
earnings of the workmen practically I'M
changed, or in some cases but slightly re-
duced, even at the reduced minimum, and
that in the near future these earnings will
be greatly increased.