Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-11-24
THE STRIKE is OVER.
HOMESTEAD MEN BEATEN AFTER
A LONG FIGHT.

Not More Than Third of the yanquished
Workmen VIII BE Able to Get Work mt
the Carnegie Mills-Angry Words at
the Meeting.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, Nov. 22.-The great
Homestead strike or lockout was brought
to an end Sunday at meeting held in the
rink, which was presided over by Richard
Hotchkiss the new chairman of the strik-
Frs advisory board. Secretary Killgallon,
Vice President Carney and Treasurer Mad
den, national officers of the Amalgamated
association, were present. The lockout had
reached its 144th day Its history is known
the world over. The vote that opened the
Homestead Steel works to Amalgamated
men stood 10l to 81. The meeting was
redhot one all the way through, and at one
time it looked as if Burgess Hollingshead
would have to assert his official authority to
prevent a serious conflict. Charges and
countercharges were the order of the day,
and it is said that those wishing to declare
the mill open barely succeeded in carrying
their point.
Many Men VIII Remain Idle.
Now that the agony is over these men are
not backward about expressing their opin-
ion of the men who have posed as leaders.
According to Superintendent Wood, of the
Homestead works, not more than 800 or 900
of the total number of old employees will
be able to secure employment. Before the
break of last Thursday there were left in
Homestead about 800 of the original $500
men who were locked out on June 25. OF
these $500 men 2,20O were mechanics and
1nI,a a,,l A IL -.
men. Up to date / 100 men have applied
for work, and it is estimated that not more
than $50 men have been supplied with en-
ployment.
The men stand about in groups discuss
ing the plight they find themselves in.
With winter upon them they see nothing
in store now but struggle for existence,
which may assume the proportions of a
famine. The oft repeated declarations of
the Carnegie officials that the nonunion
men will not be displaced to give employ
ment to the strikers renders absolutely no
hope in Homestead for 1900 of the de-
feated steel workers.
Assistant Superintendent Wood says
"The company held out no inducement
whatever for the men to return. At no
time have there been over 1900 men in the
works since the start was made in July
strike, the total will not exceed $500. In
prosperous times we have employed $500
men. The nominal number is 3200 All
contracts, made by the company within a
month prior to the strike were made with
the provisions that there might be trouble
We have lost nothing in contracts which
were made prior to the strike, but we
failed to obtain orders which we otherwise
could have secured" "
What the Big Strike Cost.
The pecuniary loss to the state, Allie
ghany county, Carnegie Steel company and
the workingmen is estimated at between
$4,000, 900 and S5,000,000.
The lockout went into effect June 80
owing to the inability of the officials
of the Carnegie company and the officials
of the Amalgamated association to arrive
at an amicabe basis for the new scale of
wages due to go into effect on July 81.
The building of fences laying of steam
pipes about the Homestead front and the
stringing of electric barb wires about the
plant so enraged the men that when, on
July 6, the two barges loaded with Pink
erton detectives attempted to make land
ing the serious trouble began, in which
the loss of a score or more lives, the maim-
ing of as many more men, the burning of
the barges and the calling out of the entire
national guard of Pennsylvania are now
matters of history.
The cost put upon Allegheny county by
the strike is fixed at s200O00 The loss to
the Carnegie Steel company is varously
estimated at from 81, 100000 to s., 800, 000
The loss to the old employees has averaged
Sl25,00 per month, making the total for
five months $625,000
At least thirty-fve deaths were directly
or indirectly caused by the strike. Besides
those killed in the battle of July many
soldiers contracted fever which resulted
fatally, one soldier was shot accidentally,
another was killed by the cars, one striker
committed suicide, several nonunion men
died from fever, several were killed in the
mill and one was murdered by another
nonunionist. The attempted assassination
of Chairman Frick, of the Carnegie COM
pany, is also indirectly credited to the
strike.