Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-14

left. but had not reokonsd on the thons-
snds who were coming.
Captures ~ sAs kAssss-
"Ihey came fIom eli AIDES and the
boats we're soon IN possesslon al the
rabbse- The detectives received most
lnhuman treatment. bat our men dld
every thing they could 70 protect them
Ss can prove"
"Ars the persons affected by the pro-
posed change American OF foreign
bornT''
American
"why ls it working people are 20 gen
orally opposed 10 Pink ertonsY'
lit may have been in this case due 10
the fact that flye men had been shot
dead and many others wounded. They
looked upon Pinkertons - armed IN
saders aud as allies of the capitalists.
Also that II the Pinkertons got posses-
sion that they would aid the firm IN
bringing in noa-un:cn men," Al i:So
p. m. the conference adjourned 10 meet
~ p. m.
Afs~rseoa Session.
At the afternoon session John Nc
Luckie, burgess Of Homestead. Was
sworn. Mciuckle 10 = member of the
Amalgamated ASSOCIATION. lie knew
nothing OF the proposed scale except
through heressy. 81 believe there are
three points involved IN il that differ
from the old scale. The first change 10
IN the minimum, the second 10 the
change IN time OF expiration OF the
scale, and the third, reduction IN wages.
The converting department shut
of the dlsgreemsnt between the
company and It's employee" Mr..
McLuckie had heard there WAS some
| trouble al the mill occasioned by the
attempt 10 land PinkertoDs, but he did
not witness the battle. On invitation
from the committee, Mr.. McLuckie
said ! wish 10 be put on record 10 this
effect:
MeLuckie's Opinios.
| al think IL . gigantic conspiracy on
the part OF this company and lts repfe-
/, sentatives aided aud abetted by VICIOUS
legislation created with a view TO de
| privIng the workmen OF this couutry of
| their most sacred rights under the con-
stitution TO life, liberty aud the pursuit
| of happiness. | think the TACT has
| been pretty clearly demonstTstedsaud
| ii an opportunity were afforded think
| we would have no ificulty IN establish
| ing the truth" THAT opinion 10 based
on observation, and the preparations
| building OF fences and bringing IN of
the Pinkerton guards, and the conse-
| quential management oil that mill.
| Years ago At this same mill we had
trouble of . similar character. After
considerable trouble the firm finally
signed the scale. The capacities of the
| mill were At that time quite limited.
Then came the Mckinley bill reducing
the tariff on this very article on which
| our wages were based. viz. :steel billets;
and raised the tariff on ali other arti-
clcs OF production.
A Gigantic Conspiracy.
at Was . gigantic conspiracy to rob
the laborer of fair day'e wages for q
fair days work. The Carnegie COM
pany holds the mortgages on their en-
ployes' property TO . considerable ex-
tent. There are employees who have
bank deposits, To what extent do not
know. Our people a. . general thing
believe the Pnkertons 20 be . horde of
cuttnroats, thugs and lswiess invaders,
employed IN the submission Of honest
labor into accepting the demands of
capitalists for their dislike OF the Pin
kertons."
Judge Taylor here objected to such
sweeping declarations.
Mr.. Oates-your idea, then, 10 that
the company. after having obtained n
reduction of wages on the market value
OF billets, caused the duty on steel bil-
lets 70 he reduced.
Mr.. McLuckie-Yes, sir. They shortly
converted the Duquesne works into q
billet mill and increased the produc.
ton and flooded the country, so tha,
prices may be reduced and thus affect
our wages. The Dnquesne produces
large amounts of billets.
McLackie Grows Cautioss.
Under cross-examlnatlon by JUDGE
Taylor, Mr.. Mcl.uckie said that his
statements were made from informa.
ton received. He had carefully read
the Mckinley bill and denied that the
bill called for decreased on all Other
articles also.
Judge Taylor--"You think the Iess
the tariff the less the wagesg''
| Mr.. McLuckie-"lou are a lawyer
and a Judge; I do not care 10 commil
myself on that subject. On being ask ed
whom he thought were the parties "a
the conspiracy. the witness rather dub
ously admitted that ne thought the,
we're Mr.. Frick and others.
Judge Tayior-"The higher the tariff
the better wages, them"
Mr.. McLuckie-"Not always. .sir: sim
ply because our wages were regulated
by the selling prices of bllets, th'
value OF which Was reduced"
Judge Taylor--"I understand yot
TO give your opinion AZ TO the csuse o
reduction on the selling price of biIless
the reduction OF the duties thereon
and the increased production by tbi
company"
McLuckie-"Thst 10 the idea exactly
cir.
s,sister porpe.e OF sbe Company.
How could this company maxi
more money by selline lie billet
| cheaper"
simply because II 10 Q very anal
item IN the productive capacity o
their mlils.'
"why should the firm want this re
ducion when they certainly lose by ~
Because every article produced )
based on that particular item OF stee
! billets. They could do il without tn
tsrlf Il they had our scale signed ant
J our wages based on the prices OF thee
hiliets. They could have done rBuol
} better than they have done II the
could get the minimum basSs los
enough Il woHld pay them 20 take sl
fx