The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-07-22
ANSWERING FRICK.

the Homestead workmen-statem of
the Carnegie Company Denied
HOMESTEAD, Pa. July l2-The fol-
lowing statement issued by the advis-
ory committee of the workmen explains
the position of the men:
Homestead Employees Answer to the Carnegie
Company:
The differences existing between the Carne-
| gle company and their employees at Homestead
have drawn from H c. Frick o statement OF
the points in dispute which makes necessary a
reply In order that wrong impressions of the
| conditions may not be received by the public
1t is asserted that the employees combined
with others Of their trade forming the Anal
gamated association. with absolute control over
the Homestead works. This charge can only be
supported TO the satisfaction of those who deny
the right of the employees TO enter objection 70
any conditions offered by the employers The
worl1ingmen OF Homes tead or any other OF the
| hundreds Of mills organized into the Amalga-
mated associa tion have no desire to dictate the
1 wages they shall receive, but they see no reason
why they should not exercise the privilege OF
engaging with their employer In the contro-
versy through which the rate Of compensation
| for their labor is fixed
The workmen are now, as they always have
| been, prepared 10 meet the represe. .attves OF
| the company and discuss the provistons con-
tanned in the scale submitted by them II the
/ conferences already held have failed 30 bring
! about settlement, IL cannot be said that this
/ was the fault Of the workingmen
/ The scale under which the men at Homestead
! were working was arranged In July OF lssa
/ The rate OF wages was fixed according to the
/ selling price Of Aka Bessemer steel billets. the
J wages advancing and declining with the selling
| price OF the articles but it was provided the
minimum should be as. ComplaiU' is made
! that no minimum should have been insisted
( upon. 1t is the experience of the Lon and
/ steel workers that some prevention is neces-
/ sary TO protect themselves from being reduced
/ TO an extremely low rate Of pay by the accept
\ ance by manufacturers of scales below current
| rates; as the workinCInen do not sell the prod
/ uct, there must be q point where a reduction in
! wages b. reason OF low figure scales shall cease.
1t is alleged that labor organizations are injuri-
ious alike 10 the tollers and those by whom they
I are employed, in substantiation of which it is
. cited by the firm that there is no organization
among their employ at Braddock nor Duquesne
| steel works; that the men there are satisfied,
| that they get good wages and that no strike
: has occurred since the institution OF that ar
! rangement ....
/ It may be said that the satisfaction OF which
| Mr. Fricl1 speaks as existing at the above
I works is forced rather than voluntary, as may
/ be proved by the many efforts Of the men in
these mills to organize themselves in secresy.
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 Braddocll and Duuuesnea are the direct result
I of the rate Of compensation sustained BY the
| organized iron and steel workers While they
are not organized in these mills the rate Of pay
! for tho class Of work done by them fixed by
their orgsAized fellow tradcsmen determines
the ply that commands their services.
IL is the custom Of the employers Of non-uCion
men in the iron and steel trade 20 pay the rates
! provided b. the ATnalganatcd scale in order 10
! secure the services of Uen Of that trade II is
| found however to be invariably the case that
with these employers, while they pay the rates
provided by the Amalcanated Association, the
men are required TO accept conditions which
are tantamount TO . reduced rate, although not
appearing on the face VIC have reason to be-
licve that the nou-union plants OF Braddock and
DeqUcSnc can 10 proved to be no exception 10
this rule. The Introduction of machinery TO
which reference is made by the company has dis
placed men that were necessary before the in
PRODUCTION Of such machinery, and in this man
ner rCpays the cost of the investment THE
output OF mill is always considered when ar
ranging scales and If Increase Of output with
ou increase of labor Is brought about by i'm
provement there is every opportunity offered
by the workmen to arrive through Conference
at an equitable rate; but when the employer
refuses TO engage in discussion with the en-
ploye on the matter ali hope Of just settle
Inent is lost
An attempt is made to lead the public into
tie belief that the number Of men affected BY
the reduction is few. Here again IL becomes
necessary TO impress on the public mind the
fact there are three distinct propositions con-
tanned In the dispute, namely: \ reduction in
the minimum, another reduction in the proper
tionate rate of pay (thus making double rc-
duction) and that scale terminate December
81, Is93 instead Of June 80, 1894 II
must be unders TODD that while ali Of
these propositions Go not affect the
whole OF the Homestead workmen, few o.
the $500 employees OF that place escape
without being affected by one or more OF its
provisions What does not affect the one, does
affect the other, and il might be said that in
stead of the companys proposal altering the
condition of employment OF 323, the change Is
general and the whole are involved 1t is
stated by the company with much force that it
is not their desire 70 reduce their workmen be
low others The cost Of production to the
Carnegie company at Homestead is decidedly
il favor of the company as compared with mills
OF that character. 1t can now be shown that
they cannot establish a complaint In that direc-
ton
In arranging scales OF wages to govern iron
and steel workers, there are innumerable things
which must receive attention il justice must
prevail. The intricacies referred TO are such
as TO render liable erroneous views to be drawn
by those not familiar with the trade from their
discussion in the public press. There can be no
| legitimate reason why the Carnegie company
should deny. TO their Homestead workmen d
I conference where the things of which they coEl
| plain could be analysed and, il found unjust,
made right The nsa make 10 further PROPOSE
ton than this for the simple reason that none
| fairer is possible II argument and honest
| reasoning were substituted for the reserve and
| GOODNESS of manner as seen in the company s
attitude there can be reason to expect an eEd
OF this state of affairs. Does it not seem strange
| that the Carnegie company looks with distrust
upon the organization OF its Homestead en-
| ployes while al several of its large mills they
| have for several years encouraged the organizn-
| tion of the men, and at this moment are getting
along satisfactorily together:
Surely it will not be charged that the men OF
Homestead are less intelligent, or less entitled
| to those rights which are the principles of or
| gsnized labor, and which are insep1r3ble from
| their citizenship There are none who regret
| the lamentable occurrences Of the pact few
days more Than those whom the Carnegie com
! pany charges with having been instrumental in
| bringing them about We are willing to allow
| the public TO Judge after the evidence is all in
whether these charges are true We feel that
| the erroneous statements given out relative TO
| our conduct will be removed by impartial in
vestigation in due time Until then we prefer
| to forget our recent sad experience.
Sioux Cfty-street Car Men
Sioux City, Ia, July 12-At a meet
ing of the street-car employees il was
| Jal 81 a1ra fpnrr1 1Sn