People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-07-29


years ago at this same mill we had
trouble of a 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 tariff
bill, reducing the tariff on the very
identical article on which our wages
were based, viz, steel billets, and
raising the tariff on all other articles
of production. 1t was a gigantic
conspiracy to rob the laboring man
of fair days wages for fair
days work.
The Carnegie company hold the
mortgages on their employees property
to considerable extent. There are
employees who have bank deposits; to
what extent [ don't know. Our
people, as a general thing, believing
the Pinkertons to be horde of cut
throats, thugs and lawless invaders,
employed in the submission of hon
est labor into accepting the demands
of capitalists, accounts for their dis
like of the Pinkertons. There would
have been no resistance to a law
fully constituted authority of the
state. There has been, however,
in the coke region, and in many
other parts of the country.
Judge Taylor, here interposed an
objection to any such "sweeping
declarations" as he termed them.
Mr.. Oates Your idea, then, is that
the company, after having obtained
scale Of wages based on the market
value Of the the steel billets, caused
the duty on steel billets to be re-
duced.
Mr.. McLuckie Yes, sir. They
shortly converted the Duquense works
into billet plant, increased the pro-
duction, flooded the country so that
prices may be reduced, and thus
affect our wages, The Duquense
produces large amounts of biIlets.
Judge Taylor understand you
to give it as your opinion as to the
reduction on billets. The reduction
of the duties thereon and the in
creased production by this company.
Mr.. McLuckie-That is the idea
exactly, sir.
Question-How could this COM
pany make more money by selling
their billets cheaper?
Answer Simply because it is a
very small item in the productive
capacity of their mills.
Questlon-Why should the firm
want this reduction when they cer-
tainly lose by it ?
Answer-Because every article
produced is based on that particular
item of steel billets. They can do it
without the tariff, if they had our
scale signed and the wages based on
the prices of these billets; they could
have done much better than they
have done. If they could get the
minimum basis low enough it would
pay them to take all the tariff off.
Question-Do you know the DIFF
ference between here and England in
the price Of billets?
Answer understand 81 differ
ence. There was a conspiracy by
this company to do by Legislation
what they did not succeed in doing
with the deputies three years ago.
Judge Taylor-You think this
conspiracy consisted Of who?
Mr.. McLuckie- think the Pacific
railroad people were connected.
Question who else?
Answer-H. G. Frlck and the
Carnegie interests. l think there
was large circle if you care to
gather them up.
Question-Any members of Con-
gress?
Answer bill was passed.
Question-Then majority of
congress must have been in it?
Answer did not say SO. L am
not here for the purpose of insulting
this committee.
From the testimony of Mr.. Nc
Luckie it appears that Mr.. Carnegie
having first persuaded the workman
to agree to sliding scale Of wages
based upon a single product (steel
billets) he next persuaded a corrupt
and venal congress to reduce the
tariff on billets while increasing it on
other numerous products of his ex-
tensive mills. Not content with this
immense advantage over labor he
further proceeds to rapidly increase
the output of steel billets for the
deliberate purpose of reducing the
price and thereby reduce the wages
of every laborer in his mills. If Mr..
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