Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-06-29
A PROTECTED INDUSTRY
DOES McKINLEY'S BILL. HELP
TNE wORKMEN:
Carnegie, of Carnegie Castle in
Scotland, Preparing His Works
Near PittsburS for IA Long Seige
Against Men who Want Fair

wear A~itSDuTS lOT d A.OHS serge
Against Men who Want Fair
wages.
PnTsBURG, June 27,-Capital and la
Dor will lock horns i'll d life or death
struggle tomorrow. The battle will be
fought at Homestead, Pa, eight miles
from this city.
The contestants will be the great COM
bination of interests of which Andrew
Carnegie is the head and the Amalga-
mated association of iron and steel
workers of the United States, an organi-
zation which boasts Of more than 3d.
600 membcrs and cash capital OF over
$25O,O00.
The questions involved in this conflict
are many in number and complex in
character. Broadly speaking, the main
issue will involve the right Of the com
pany to dictate terms to its men.
Against a Reduction.
From specific point OF view the strug-
gle will be one of the skilled laborers of
the works against proposed reduction
in wages of thirty per cent. and an at
tempt on the part of the Carnegie steel
company Omitted to make such work
ing terms it deems applicable to the pres
ent condition of the steel business and
the mechanical Improvements effected in
the process of manufacture.
The condition of affairs which exists
at present arises out of the expiration
of three years sliding scale of wages in
operation at the homestead works of the
company, and the action of the latter in
substituting another with marked re-
duction in rates.
For months the leaders of both sides
have beenendeavoring, by consultation
and argument, to arrive at some amica-
bic and harmonious agreement on the
issue. Sad to relate. they have failed,
and hence the approaching strike.
Mr.. Carnegie's lieutenants have made
elaborate preparations in anticipation
of the present revolt. In 1889, in dis
agreement somewhat similar in char
uSlSlB llS oIloDSSSl anu lhOSl poWSllui
| enemies with which the company had to
deal were the old or skilled hands. The
result of the conflict was not altogether
satisfactory to either side, but the Car
negie people have resolved they will not
again be taken by surprise. With this
end i'll view they have encircled the entire
plant, one of the largest in the world,
with palisading of hardwood planking
nine feet high and crowned with three
strands of barbcd wire. These will be
charged with electricity to prevent the
possibility of any raid made by the
strikers. Within the confines of this
deadly fence are being erected great
towers in which are placed strong elec-
trio lamps, by which those on the inside
will be i'll a position to watch the
manTuvres of anv attacking force
Stout BarriCides.
Where the workmcn and laborers en-
tered heretofore from the railroad tracks
and other points, stout barricades bar
the way and bridges provide access from
J one portion of the works to the other.
Halt way between City Farm and
Munhall station new station has been
built for the accommodates OF the com.
pany. This will enable a train OF pinkcr-
ton men, watchmen and workers to be
unloaded into the middle of the works
without interference.
A big barrack like structure was re-
Gently erected ,or the purpose of guaran-
teeing the guardians of the place and
new men lodging and a refuge.
The river front is unprotected by any
fence, but | am crediably informed that
steam launch has been purchased and
equipped with guns and ammunition to
serve as a river patrol at this point.
The four thousand workers are well
aware of these preparations. 1t is GER
tain they have determined to resist the
reduction proposed by Carnegie and will
make bitter fight. Many of them own
more or less property in the borough
and so large a number could not find
employment elsewhere and they have
resolved to fight.
IL is deadly fight between two well
matched antagonists and no man can
with safety predict the result, but the
odds are slightly in favor of the manu-
featuring or Carnegie elcment.-N. Y
Herald.