The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08
3S4, 1856 and SSS River Street,
1S, i, II and 10 Fourth Street,

munity can give, but it is never true that
he is justified in violence and none can
ever be permitted"
The history of the trouble and the
reasons why the Carnegie Company
wished to reduce the wages of their en-
ployes is given as follows:
PITTsRURG, July 6th.-The events
leading up to the present trouble at
Homestead is as follows: Three years
ago the Carnegie Steel Company at
Homestead had some trouble with en-
ployes in fixing the rate of wages, but
finally settled upon sliding scale to run
until June 30th last. The scale was
based upon the price of steel billets, and
was readiusted every three months. The
minimum, basis was S25 per ton, and
when the price fell below this the work
men were still paid at that rate. On
this basis the workmen have had the ad-
vantage of the Company greater part
of the time, as the price tiuctuated be-
tween S22. so and $3.50.
The workmen wished the old scale
continued and wanted the pay of the
Armour plate workers increased. AS
there seemed to be no prospect of a bet
ter steel market, the Carnegie Company
wanted the scale arranged on S23
basis, Anumber of conferences between
employers and employed were held, but
no agreement being reached. the Com,
pany discontinued them and SAID that
each man would have to sign an indlvid-
ual contract. The Company officials
claim that 700 of its workmen, who
signed contracts early last week, are pre-
vented from working by intimidation
and threats of violence.
OF the 5000 men employed at the Home
stead works the change in regard to
machinery effects only about $50, while
the change in the scale effects only
enough more to make 321 in all, and as
to this number the reduction of pay is
not large in itself nor such as to make
the total small. But the Amalgamated
association makes an issue OF the matter
and the result is strike which promises
to be one of the most serious labor wars
ever known in this country
Ten minutes after the capitulation and
for good two hours after that it seemed
az If the Pinkerton men had simply ex-
changed death inside the barges for
death outside of them. A thousand
people. men, women and children, sprang
| at the first man who stepped ashore, and
kicks. curses, blows and stones were
showered upon each of the exhausted
men as they emerged. AT last with diff
Guilty a line was formed, and forty stal'
wart young fellows, with rifles on thell
shoulders and the flag flying before them
marched through the works and dowI
Eight avenue with the first squad Of
prisoners before and behind them
| Then the others came stringlng behind
and what sight were the crew OF tht
captured fotilla as they hled down the
dusty street with bleeding faces and halt
inc iimhs and stones and clods of eartf
flying after them.
Carrying their rusty grlpsacks, anc
wearing in few instances their mated uni
forms, they stumbled, some trembling
some laughing Historically, some lmplor
ing mercy on their gray. heirs, and some
even weaping, down the long street tC
the borough "Opera House, which was
to be their prison until blood outlines
should be fastened on those who bore the
arms which had slain the rioters.
Their woeful march lay past the head
quarters of the association and most OF
them as they approached 1t did SO, ac
cording to their captors' Instructions
with barred heads. From the heads o.
those who did not the jeering crowd tore
| the DaUUer6O QdUS anu IhOW OAOLh IL 'H'
dust. Woe to the man who broke from
his tormentors and strove to run. A
yolley of stones followed him, and no
once but many times, one OF the poo
wretches rolled in the dust from the wei
aimed fight of cobble.
Commenting on these scenes, an ex
change says: IA mob started by strlker
is like any other mob; it quickly attact
all lawless characters within reach an'
becomes a terribly destructive thing
Mob work is defiance of government;
thing never to be tolerated for an instant
It is the clear duty of government-local
state and national-to promptly suppres
everything of the kind, and Presiden
Harrison's prompt action in calling'ou
troops in the case in hand is entlrel
communicable. Any one who knows hoV
mobs grow and act will see the want
wisdom shown in sending a handful o
officers to meet the disorderly strikers a
the start. There should have been fore
enough so put resistance plainly out o
the question, and then very likely orde
woufd have been restored without maj
hurt. As it is now there has been blood,
hattie. and nobody can tell what will fol
low. And the event is especially unioI
tunate for the workingmen interested
II may happen that only few OF then
are directly concerned and that the grea
mass of the rioters are men who neVe
did an honest days work in their lives
but still the strikers will get all tn