Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-15
THE HOMESTEAD SITUATION.
A Talk With Chairman Oates Of tho Hous
Investigating Committee.

A Talk With Chairman Oates of tho House
Investigating Committee.
The committee Of the House who went to
Homestead to investigate the labor trouble
there have returned and were at the capitol
today. Dnring most of the day they were sur
rounded by their colleagues, who were anxious
to get an opinion as to tho situation at Home
stead.
II think" said Col. Oates, the chairman. to a
STAR reporter, that we got all the facts Of the
case and went down to the bottom Of the mat
ter. 1t will not take long to prepare the re-
port. The greatest delay will be in getting the
stenographer's notes out, there being SO much
testimony.
1--WE examined Mr.. Prick and his superin-
tendent and Mr.. ODonnell and q number of
the workmen, as you have seen.
MR. FRIcK AND THE woRKMEN.
''Frick is a remarkably cunning fellow and is
q great manager. He has one of the brightes.
lawyers have met to advise him. Tho leaders
of the workmen are men of intelligence and
capacity. and take the workmen as a body
they are the best set of workingmen
have ever come across The contention is not
one between ignorance and power. 1t is a con-
fict Of strong men, the workmen being keen,
intelligent and always wide awake.
idea that he is going to find lot Of ragged
half-starved and ignorant strikers will have q
great surprise before him. 1t is a revelation in
the way Of a community Of workingmen. They
are mon of thought and action and of indie
pendence. They have their homes, and the
skilled workmen earn from S65 to S275 per
month. The common laborers get from 81 to
$3.50 per day. 1t is not poverty-stricken
community. Won may imagine. But for this I'M
fortunate disagreement between the workmen
and the employers the situation at Homestead
would be very good
CLAIMS OF BOTH SIDES.
"Mr. Frick insists that the reduction of wages
is made necessary because of the reduction in
the price Of steel billets. &c.
1.-The workmcn declare that the reduction ia I'M
necessary and that the only purpose of il is to
put more money into the pockets of the COM
pGny.
''Mr. Frick declined to tell the committee
what it cost per ton to produce the steel bilets
In this contest neither side is acting on i'm
pulse. They are deliberate and guided by in
telligence and it is the meeting Of two great
forces"
show do you think i. will end?"
LAW AND ORDER MUST BE INDICATED
"You know how these things end generally
Law and order must be indicated in the long
run, even if there is conflict between the
statutes and the equities of the case"
do you think there will be further trouble?"
"Yes. yes; do. think there is bound to be
more bloodshed, and probably great deal Of
it, The workmen know what they are doing,
and are acting upon their calm Judgment
as far as the leadership is concerned,
but they are the most determined men
you ever saw. They do not claim to have the
right of law with them, but insist that they are
morally right and will hold to their position.
l think the Carnegie people intend TO
open their works with non-union men,
They will do this under the protec-
ton Of the militia and will, suppose,
arm their men. As soon as the troops have been
withdrawn the strikers will, believe. attempt
to prevent the mills being run by non-union
men. There will then be fight, believe,
a desperate fight. and great deal of blood
shed. This seems TO me to be inevitable in
view Of the sentiment there"
that the is out Of the reach Of federal legis
lation.