St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-14
The Labor Conference Issues
a Statement of Affairs at
Homestead.
Lines of Battle Are Clearly
Drawn, and the Fight Is
to a Finish.
Authoritative Wage Figures
and Some Facts About
Ownership Of Homes.
Money Is Urgently Needed to
Relieve the Poorer Class
Of Workers.

PITTSBURG, Aug. 13.-The conference
between the Amalgamated association
and the executive council of the Ameri-
can federation ended this evening.
President Gompers and the others of
the federation have gone East. Before
their departure the conference issued
the following statement:
To the American People: Seldom in
the history of our country have we wit
messed the lines of battle so clearly
drawn upon the field of labor as is now
witnessed at Homestead. The Carnegie
Steel company, one OF the most gigan-
tic mOnopolies of the age, has under
taken TO reduce the wages OF their en-
plOyeS from 10 to 40 per cent.
In their desperation and avarice they
hired and brought 500 armed Pinkerton
detectives to Homestead to invade the
homes OF the men who created the mill
ions that the CarnegieS now possess.
Under cover OF the Pinkertons the COM
pany endeaYored to Introduce a pauper-
lied and degraded set of wOrkmen to
supplant our fellow American work
men. The contest with the Pinkertons
and its results are well known.
So many erroneous and false state
ments have been published as to the
cause for which the men are so nobly
contending, their conduct during the
struggle. the present situation and their
prospects OF victory, that we feel called
upon to issue this statement 10 the
American public.
The Fabulous Wages.
1t is not true that the men are receiv-
ing the high wages generally supposed.
nor do a large number own their homes.
We have made careful investigation,
and find that just before the lockout
there were 3,421 employed in the
mills. OF this numbe there
were Is whose wages averaged
about $50 per day, 46 averaged be-
from 81 TO s. per day, LIT averaged
from Sl.6S to $3.50 per day, and 1.625 re-
ceived Il cents per hour. or less.
And further. we md s to 10 per cent
own their homes. and about 10 per cent
more have their homes under mortgage;
the remainder pay rent. and number
OF them have been evicted by the Car
negies. 1t is not true that the men are
only defending the wages of the higher
priced workmen. 1t is in defense of
the fOurteen-centS-per men as
much as any other that the Homestead
Workmen are making their gallant fight.
The cunning, calculating company
proposed that the scale should termin-
ate when the cold blasts of winter pen
citrate with biting severity. The COM
pany desired to place the men in the
dlsadvautageOuS position of negotiating
with them upon new scale in January,
instead OF as formerly, in July.
Black Legs Scarce,
Notwithstanding the military forces
of the state of Pennsylvania have been
under arms at Homestead for nearly
i've weeks and the entire country has
been ransacked to find beings so low as
to hire themselves to the company, there
are less than 500 persons in the mills
and less than a dozen skilled workmen
who can perform the work required.
The situation is such. we confidently
assert, that at no time during the strug-
gle were the prospects of victory as
bright as they are now
What the men in this contest need is
your substantial support as well as your
sympathy. The poorer paid men in
Homestead and other Carnegie mills
where the men are now out to help their
brothers at Homestead. are the ones
who need our immediate help. and
money is required to maintain their
manhood. honor and interest. Every
worker and liberty loving citizen should
contribute 10 the financial support of
the brave men, who today occupy the
position OF the advance guard of the
labor movement of America.
Must BE Maintained.
The struggle at Homestead represents
the issue between freedom and slavery.
progress and reaction, and must be
maintained until the workmen have
some fair measure of recognition from
the Carnegies. We assure you that
every dollar contributed will be devoted
10 the men engaged in this contest. An
effective system of relief has been or
ganiZed with proper safeguards, and
every cent will be economically eX-
pended and rigidly accounted for. We
also advise ali workingmen not to come
to Homestead or Pittsburg for employ
ment until the pending dispute with
the Carnegie Steel company is settled.
Send all contributions to William
Weihe, president of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers.
512 Smithfeld street, Pittsburg, Pa. and
notify Thomas j. Crawford, Box 1856,
Homestead. Pa. Fraternally yours,
SAMUEL GOMPERS.
?. j. MCGUIRE,