The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-08
A TALK WITH MIR. FRICK.
He Justifies the Position OF the Com.
pany and Courts an inquiry.


PITrsBURG. July III. C. Frick, chair
man of the Carnegie Company, was inter-
viewed this evening as to the basis of the
differences between the company and the
men. He SAID:
The skilled workmen in the Amalgamated
Association work under what is known as q
sliding scale As the prices of steel advanced 10
did the earnings of the men, and vice versa.
While there is no limit to the advance, there is
point at which the decline stops. We believe
if earnings can advance without limit the
woFkmen should be willing to follow the
selling price DOWN to a reasonable mini
mum, and instead of $25 as mini
mum we fixed s23 The reason for
this was that we had spent large sums of money
in the Introduction of new machinery by means
OF which the workmen were enabled TO increase
the daily output, thereby increasing the
amount OF their wages. Another point was tho
date of expiration of the sliding scale, June 80
We asked that the date be changed to December
81, to permit us to take estimates beginning
January /, so that would be enabled to make
contracts for year accordingly. The Amalga,
mated Association declined. The third
matter the proposed reduction in
tonnage rates. We are prepared to
show that in nearly every department under
the proposed reduction skilled workmen would
make more than they did when the scale of 1889
went into effect. AS rule the men making the
largest wages were the ones who most bitterly
denounced the proposed revision, for out of
$500 employed only 325 were directly affected
by the reduction. Finding il i'm possi BILE to ar
rive at an agreement with the Amalgamated
officials, we decided to close the works.
Asked as to the reason for the employ
ment of Pinkerton men, Mr.. Frick said
they did not see how else they could have
protection, doubling the ability of the
sheriff to enforce order at Homestead and
protect the property. Frick said as to
future difficulty that it was in the hands
of the Allegheny county authorities.
Frick's attention being called to
the widespread interest aroused
and the proposed congressional
inquiry. he said they welcomed the pro-
posed investigation and were prepared to
submit facts and figures which would con-
vince unprejudiced men of the equity of
their position. Frick further said regard
ing the political situation: I'VE cannot
afford to run our business and politics at
the same time" He continued:
We did not propose 10 reduce the earnings of
employees below those of other Amalgamated
men in other mills. We put in machinery other
mills do not possess and increased the output
and earnings OF the men. We ak that the
duction be made aH1hat the earnings OF our en-
ployes shal! be on Kfar with other workmen in
other Amagafnated mills
Lovejoy, secretary of the Carnegie Steel
Company, said this morning that the com
pany could do nothing until the sheriff re-
stored to its possession its property. He
added: ''The time for conference with
the men has gone by, but those who
wished it would be given work indiyidu-
ally" Secretary Lovejoy, of the Carnegie
Steel Company, says number of the
strikers will be arrested and charged with
murder lie declares that the last out
break settled one thing, and that is that
hereafter no union men will be employed
by the Carnegie company, and that other
mill-owners will probably follow its ex-
plp