Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-09
A STRUGGLE AHEAD,
The Contest Between Workmen and
Iron Manufacturers to Be
FOUGHT IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
Feeling Of the Amalgamated Association
Toward a Reduction.
LIVE NEWS FROM THE LABOR WORLD

The Amalgamated Association conyentio
convened at o'clock yesterday, but tb
majority of the delegates did not put in a
appearance until an hour later.
The feature of the morning was the rea6
ing of President Weihe's annual repori
The report was very long and tedious an
some OF the delegates left while the Presi
dent was reading it. During the readin
the President referred to the dealt
OF the late Treasurer John Penny
His voice faltered, and completel,
overcome by emotion he had to 81
down. Vice President W. A. Carne,
came to the rescue and to relieve the ten
sion OF affairs invited all the delegates t.
the association picnic on Saturday at Roci
Point. The invitation was accepted anc
the delegates will assemble at the hall al
So'clock and proceed to the depot, led by
the Cornet Band. This concluded the
morning session and a recess was taken
until 1 o'clock
During the afternoon the Wage Commit
tee made their report, more routine busi-
ness was put through and President Weihe
finished reading his report The conven-
tlon is now ready for business, and it is
expected that some action will be taken
on the Homestead scale to-day.
Employers Will Ask a Reduction.
There is at the present time a gravity in
the condition of the affairs of the iron man
ufacturers and their employees which, it is
to be hoped, will be promptly eradicated by
wise counsels on both sides 1t is matter
of 4,a +l,t. :. =
ployers to ask for a reduction in wages,
ranging from 20 to 80 per cent, as has al
ready been stated exclusively in THE DIS
PATCH. 1t is also time that the Pittsburg
manufacturers desire to transfer the seat of
war from this city to the Sixth district-the
Mahoning and Shenango Valleys.
Out Of this has grown serious state of
things 1t has been intimated that it is de-
sired that the conference between the COM
mittees of the employers and EMPLOYED
should be transferred to the Sixth district,
say, to Youngstown or New Castle, there to
hold all meetings and settle all differences.
This is radical departure from the time
honored custom of holding these meetings
in Pittsburg
hight at this point comes the startling
statement that number of the members of
the Amalgamated Association, and among
them several of the usually conservative
leaders, have gone so far as to declare them
selves utterly opposed to asking for the
usual conference with the manufacturers
They say that the proposition of their en-
ployers is SO sweeping, and the reduction de-
manded so great, that they have lost all
patience, and will try to carry things to a
conclusion in their own way.
Views of Some Conservative Employees,
Some of the leaders have said that it
would be wise to pursue the policy tiled in |
1889, when the association agreed 10 a gen. |
eral reduction of 10 per cent without COM
plant, owing to the condition of trade. |
Later, in 1887, when business revived, this
percentage was asked for bv the men and |
Was given to them. Those who now seek |
peaceful solution of the difficulty say that |
the men are aware that the trade is much |
depressed and that prices are very low,
but they also say that it is ridiculous to
claim that things are so bad as to Justify
20 to 80 per cent of a cut
For some years past there has been grow
ing up anew the old i'll will between the
puddlers and laborers and the men engaged
n the finishing departments Then, too,
here has been more or less feeling between
those who worked in the iron and those
engaged IN the steel mills. To-day all
hese dlssentions have disappeared and
here Is an amount of harmony and apparent |
determination to stick together for all |
purposes, such as has not been |
cen IN the Amalgamated Association and
he knights of Labor for many years.
some OF them say they have looked for an
ttempt to destroy the association for some |
ears and that the fght has now come.
Bitter Feeling Among the workmen.
Never since the large strike of 1882 has
here been the deep, bitter feeling among
III classes OF workers in iron mills as
btalns just now. There are several of
he leaders who have already sought the
pinlons OF the Older, more experienced and
influential of the delegate, to the conyen-
ION on the question OF arranging a scale
'hlch would meet the situation-say by a
eneral reduction of 10 per cent or some
uch ngure-and submit it to the manu-
acturerS as an ultimatum Those who urge
ms policy say such a course would take the
lhu out OF the manufacturers sails, and
btaln the sympathy of the public.
Inc iron manufacturers of the Sixth dis
ret are admittedly more active and CO.
eslve IN struggle against their men than
hose OF the Pittsburg district. They stand
r IalI together, and show more spirit than
lttsburgers do. At the same time they
ave little sympathy with the Pittsburp
istrlet, Tor they say that in the past Pitts
urg has several times left them in the I
lrch. They have separate Organization
nd are IN no way disposed to pull the
lttsburg orders out of the general fire. On
le other hand 1t is understood that the
lttsourg firms say they must have the re-
uctlons indicated, and they believe il
lsest to transfer all the preliminary
ruggle TO their friends, the enemy,