Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-07
A LOCKOUT AT HOMESTEAD.
Three Thousand Men Thrown Out
of Employment.


Prospects ola Long Fight--Armed Watch
men Guarding the Carnegie Property
The Suspected strike Met Halfway by
an Order of Dis issnl for 5000 Men.
PIlTSBuRd, June 30.-The Homestead
shutdown went into effect to-day. There
were 1900 idle tonnage men on the streets
this morning, and they have invited the
mechanical department, day laborers and
watchmen to Join them tomorrow. They
expect that the men will do so, and If they
do the entire plant will be idle.
The firm discharged all the employees at
midnight, and notified them to report for
their pay at the Office on Saturday. by this
action the Carnegies have fOrstaled the
men, and, by making it a lockout instead
Of strike, have placed them on the de-
fcnsiyc.
The streets are crowded, but everything
is quiet and during the lockout every
means possible will be used to preserve
peace. The Amalgamated Association has
sworn in 20 extra men to do police duty
without pay, and the company has added
Il number Of watchmen to protect their
property. II is thought the latter are well
armed and will keep sharp lookout day
and night.
EXTENT OF THE TROUBLE.
No immediate effects of the differences
between the manufacturers and their men
will be visible for some time. The ma
jority of the mills will shut down for
repairs, and two weeks will elapse before
any attempt at recommending operations
will be made. There is still some hope
that during the interval the iron scale may
have been mutually agreed upon.
OF course signatures to the scale will he
Obtained from time to time from firms in
all the districts which are so circHm-
stanced that il would be inexpedient for
them to continue idle. Up to this evening
the iron scale has been signed by the
National TUBE Works Company of Me-
keesport, Oliver Il Roberts Wire Nail
Company of Pittsburg, Illinois Iron aud
steel Company and the lrondalc Iron Com
pany Of lrondale, MINI. The steel scale
has been signed by the Oliver Steel Com
pany.
These mills will continue in operation.
They employ, in all, about 10000 men.
The AmalgamateGt ASSOCIATION has upwards
OF 100000 members, and strike in this
district would involve nearly $1,000 men.
a general strike would affect at least
$4,000 men.
\ srRIKE IN PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA, July l.-Rolling-mill
employees, numbering, it is said, upwards
Of LOO quit work last evening because of
the refusal Of their employers to sign the
scale of wages that has been in force for
several years past, by which Si.SJ per ton
was the basis for pay for pudding. The
two firms effected are Hughes & Patterson
elG Richmond street, and Gaulbert.
McFadden & Caskey, York and American
streets.
Members of the two firms who were seen
last evening denied having knowledge of
any trouble with their men, and then re.
fused to make any further statement. The
| men were not SO rcticent, however. The
rolling mill employees of this city, it is
said, are nearly ali members Of the Anal
gumatcd Association of Iron and Steel
| Workers, of which there are two lodges in
| Phiadelphia-Quaker City and Fairhill.
| These number in their membership all
| classes of rolling mill workers, including
| iinishers, puddlers, helpers, machinists
and others. This organization has ordered
several strikes in the city the last one,
| about five years ago, having been headed
| by Andrew Lee, then Il vice-prcsident of
the association, and afterwards u member
of the state legislature. 1t was then the
| sliding scale based on SI.S5 per ton for
| pudding was conceded by the manufac,
| turers, who were then organized as the
Philadelphia Rolling Mill Association.
This scale has been signed every year since
each agreement expiring at midnight, juno
| Both.
Three weeks ago, it is said, lTuges &
Patterson posted notice to the effect that
they would not sign the scale this year.
Conferences were held, but were in.
effectual, and finally the association deter
mined to call the men out.