The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-11

PIrTsBuRoH, Pa, July 10.-Shortly
after the return OF the committee which
waited upon Governor Pattison at Har-
risburg, a statement was prepared in
answer to the Carnegie company and
given out last evening by the workers.
This statement was as follows:
HOMESTEAD EMPLOYEES ANSWER TO THE
CARNEGIE COMPANY.
The differences existing between the
Carnegie company and their employees
ut Homestead have drawn from Mr.. II.
Q. Frick statement of the points in
dispute which makes necessary reply
in order that wrong Impressions OF the
conditions may not be received by the
public.
1t is asserted that the employees COM
bined with others OF their trade, form
ing the AmRlgamated Association, with
absolute control over tho Homestead
works. This charge can only be sup
ported to the satisfaction OF those who
deny the right Of the employe to enter
objection to any conditions offered by
the employer. Tho workingmen ut
Homestead, nor any other Of the hun
dreds OF mills organized into the Anal
gamated Association, have no desire to
dictate the wages they shall receive;
but they geo no good reason why they
Should not exercise the privilege OF en-
gaging with their employer in the con.
troversy through which the ratio OF
compensation for their labor is fixed.
PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE SCALE.
The workmen arc now, as they always
have been, prepared to meet the repre-
sentatives Of the company and discuss
the provisions contained in the scale
submitted BIZ them. II the conferences
already having been held failed to bring
about a settlement, il cannot DO said
that this was the iault OF tho working
men.
The scale under which tho men at
Homestead were working was arranged
in July OF 1889. The rate OF wages was
fixed according to the selling price of
AKA Beasemer steel billets, the wages
advancing and declining with the sell
ing price Of that article; it was provided
that tho minimum should be SOS. Com
plant is made that no minimum should
have been insisted upon. It is the ex-
perienco OF the iron and steel workers
that some prevention Is necessary to
protect themselves from being reduced
to an extremely low ratio OF pay by the
acceptance by manufacturers OF sales
below current rates; as the workingmcn
do not sell the product, there must be a
point where reduction in wages by rea-
son OF low-fgured sales shall cease.
1t is alleged that labor organizations
are injurious alike to the toiler and
those by whom they are employed; in
standardization OF which it Is cited by
the firm that there Is no organization
amongat their employees at Braddock
nor Duquesne steel works.. that the
men there are satisfied; that they get
good wages and that no strike has oc-
Cured at those works since the institu-
ton OF that management.
sArlsFAcrIoN AT OTHERS MILLS DISPUTED.
1t may be said that the satisfaction OF
which Mr.. Frick speaks as existing at
tho above works is forced rather than
voluntary, as may be proven by tho
many efforts OF the men in these mills
to organize themselves III secrecy.
knowledge of such intentions coming
to the ears OF the company would be
and was followed by discharge. The
wages enjoyed by the men at Bradlock
and Duquesne are the direct result Of
tho rate Of compensation sustained by
the organized iron and steel workers.
While they are not organized in these
mills, the ratio OF pay for tho class of
work done by them, fixed by their or
ganized fellow tradesmen, determines
the pay that can command their SER
gleeS.
It's tho custom OF the employers of
non.union men in the iron and steel
trade to pay the rates provided by the
Amalgamated scale, in order to secure
the services OF men OF that trade; 1t is
found, however, to DO invariably the
case that these employers while they
pay the rates provided by tho Amalga-
mated association, tho men are re-
onired to accept conditions which arc
tantamount to reduced rate, although
not appearing on tho face. We have
reasons to believe that the non-union
plants OF Brnddock and Duquesne can
be proven to be no exception to this
rule.
ALL OF THE woRKMES AFFECTED.
The introduction Of improved ma
chinery, to which reference is made by
the company, has displaced men that
were necessary before the introduction
OF such machinery, and in this manner
repays tho cost Of the investment. The
output OF mill is always considered
when arranging scales, and II increase
Of output without increase OF labor to
the workmen is brought about by inn
proyement, there is every opportunity
offered by the workmen to arrive
through conference at an equitable rate;
but when the employer refuses to en-
gage in discussion with the employee on
the matter, all hope OF just settlement
is lost.
An attempt is made to lead the pub
lie into the belief that the number OF
men affected by the reduction are few.
Here again it becomes necessary 10 i'm
press on the public mind the fact that
thore are three distinct propositions
contained in tho dispute, namely: A
reduction in the minimum, another re-
duction on the proportionate rate OF
pay (this making double roduction)
and that the scale terminate December
81, 1903, instead of June 80, 1894. It
must be understood that while all of
these propositions do not affect the
whole of Homestead workmen, few of
the {, 800 employees OF that place escape
without being affected by one OF more
OF its provisions.