The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1892-07-15
THE GREAT IRON KINGS WAR.
MIR. CARNEGIEs PLANS OF BATTLE.
and Small Navy the Imple-
ments of War Against Labor.

Il
time, as during the fearful scenes
which were witnessed during the
railroad riots of 1877, blood has
been shed, life jeopardized and val
liable property placed in danger.
This time there was no destruc-
ton of property, but the workmen
we're thoroughly organized, well
disciplined, andhad efficient officers
to conduct the operations.
The force embraced all the men
employed in the extensive plants of
the Carnegie Iron and Steel Com
pany, at Homestead, Pa, some s
miles east of Pittsburgh, and a bat
tie, which for bloodthirstiness and
boldness of execution has not been
excelled in actual waFefare, was
waged from 4 o'clock in the morn
ing until 5 o'clock in the afternoon
of the 9th instant and only ceased
when the force of Pinkertons an-
conditionally surrendered, leaving
their arms IN the barges in which
they had been transported to the
works to intimidate wofkmen.
The fight was the elimination
of the following notice which was
posted on the gates of the Carnegie
steel works at midnight the night
previous;
A.: All employees of the several departments ::
| I: will report to the Office on Saturday next, {:
July 2, when they will receive their full pay.
The notice not only declared a
lockout, but also carried with it the
discharge of all employees.
1t WIS the formal Inauguration
of what, in many respects, will be
the most remarkable contest be-
tween capital and labor the coun-
try has ever known. On one side
is4arrayed $25, 100000; on the other
the determination of4, 500 working
men not to accept a reduction. And
they are supported blythe sympathy
of hundreds of thousands of theil
fellows. The reduction of wages
they consider unreasonable, anC
feelit is rendered doubly obnoxious
by the addition of conditions they
hold to be in conflict with theil
rights.
The proposition of the Carnegiel
to their employees in brief was tina
wages should be governed by the
selling price of steel billets; tina
when steel billets sold for 500 pc,
ton or less the minimum rate should
be paid, and that this agreemen
should expire December 81.
, Under the scale which expired
June 80 the minimum rate of wages
was paid when steel;billets sold TO
$25 per ton or less.
The workingmen claim that tn,
proposed change in the basis from
$25 to'$22 per ton would cause a re
duction in wages Of from 20 to g.
per cent, and that the change il
the date of expiration of the seal
would be to their disadvantage il
) that they would not be able tocon
e tend as strongly for their rights il
January as in July
From the time the foregoing wa
announoedas the ultimatum of tn
Carnegies desperate struggle wa
expected, butts inaugurationnon
!, the less caused gloom in Home
q stead, Every person in the tow
q realizes that their prosperity de
o ponds on the continuance of en-
: ployment at the steel works, and,
: glance at the barred gates and tn
a smokeless stacks brought the ser.
: BUSINESS of the situationihometo al
d Tuesday of last week the CGpnt
! gle company announced their inter
e ton to mske repairs, and the off
oio1S oSka1 4ba SbariN ia apnai1