Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-14


the affair into politics. If the protec
tive laws Of this country.can in any way
be drawn in question by this unfortun.
ate riot, 1t will demonstrate the truth
Of the fundamental theory OF the
republican party that the reduction Of
the tariff will inevitably result Ia
reducing the wages of the laborer, fol
on every article manufactured by the
Carnegie works at Homestead the
the tariff was rednced and the lowering
Of the tariff is evltably followed by q
reduction OF American wages.
We do not know who was to blame
In not effecting an amicable settlement
Of the dispute. The difference between
the employer and the employed appears
at this distance TO have been insignia
cant. The undisputed facts appear tC
be these; The skilled workmen, about
1926 out Of $500 men, were working
under what is known as the sliding
scale, AS the price Of steel advances
the earnings Of the men advance, and
as the prices fall their earnings de
crease In proportion. While there Ia
no limit to the advance Of earnings on
the scale, there Is point at which the
decline stops. It is known as the
minimum, and the figure was $25 per
ton for iX4 Bessemer steel billets.
The managers demanded of the work
men new contract which should fix
the minimum Mt $22. The workmen
came down to $2i and the managers
up to $23, aud neither would give
another cent and here they parted. AT
no time during the past year while the
workmeu were getting the minimum
price of $25 per ton, was the price Of
the same in the market above S25, 30
that for this particular kind Of work
the company had received less in the
market than they were paying these
skilled workmen for its manufacture.
The difference therefore upon which
the two great bodies the Carnegie Iron
Works company and the Amalgamated
Iron and Steel association, split was ~
upon the price Of manufacturing n ton
of steel billets.
The general public cannot be ex-
pected to investigate the merits Of the
demands of either side In this contro-
versy. The public Is interested how
ever in the methods adopted to settle
their differences. The action of the
managers of the Carnegie company in
in engaging Plnkerton mercenaries,
armed with deadly weapons, to invade
the already excited village Of Home
stead cannot be too severely condemned.
The great state of Pennsylvania was
there to protect the Carnegie company
in the completest enjoyment of its
property, The enormous plant at
Homestead represented millions of
dollars in value and the company has
absolute right TO the control of its own
But the introduction of this
hired band of foreign mercenaries
could only serve to exasperate the
strikers beyond measure. Hot headed
and injudicious leaders ON both sides
led their forces on to battle, and twenty
lives were lost aud sixty men wounded
either side accomplishing o
single thing toward setting in motion
of dollars worth Of idle ma.
or furnishing employment for
thousands Of idle workmen. 1t is true
that the Plnkertons were defeated and
The workmen took possession Of the
works Of the Carnegie company. But
The possession was useless TO them. At
this writing 5000 of Pennsylvania
militia are at Homestead and have
ilspossessed the workmen and restored
Ihe property to its rightful owners.
Whether the strikers will return TO
heir work under the new scale of wages
Or the old, 1t is certain that nothing has
been OF will be gained by either of the
by reason of the lockout
and the strike.
These workmen had strong claims
upon the consideration Of their employ
srs. Their united efforts together with
Mr.. Carnegle's money had built up
ihese works and created the wealth
hey represent. These men out of the
wages they received from this protected
industry had erected their homes and
planted their families around the viii
age, In the dispute over wages these
men were entitled TO the fairest consid-
grafton and treatment. This they
they did not get. They refused
The wages offered, the managers refused
70 advance their offer and closed their
mills, This ended their relations.
The company own the steel works
md they have the undoubted right to
lold possession of them and operate
hem with any labor they care obtain
lpon the terms offered, The company
rad the unquestlonable right to hold
md protect It's own property pending
my contention with Tao lAborers.
AS matter of expedlency, Il was
'ery poor judgment for the steel works
o employ men from the Plnkerton
'gency to recover its property and to |