Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20
WILL DECIDE TODAY
Another Amalgamated Meet.
ing Gale to Act on the
Homestead Mill.
ACTION WILL BE FINAL.
If the Works Are Not Opened the
Men Threaten to Desert.
THE FIRMS READY BOOK OF FATE.
The Record Of Every Workman Kept Com
plete in Detail.
ACTION WILL BE FINAL.
THE FIRMS READY BOOK OF FATE.
OLD MEN PROMISED THE VACANCIES


will meet at Homestead to decide finally
whether it will open the Carnegie Com
pany's mill to its members or not There
have been great many meetings of the asso-
citation and more discussion about the mat
ter, bat the time has at last come when the
members want the question settled. If any
good can be attained by calling off the strike
1t will be done, Notwithstanding the
wishes of a NUMBER who still hold to the
cry of victory or death. As it is now, men,
bers of the association are applying for
their positions with lmpunity. In fact
some of the most prominent leaders accom-
pany the men to within a reasonable dis
tance of the Office. 1t is expected that an
almost general break will be made Monday,
whether the AmalgamRted Association
sanctions it or not, as the men realize that
every hour is placing them farther and
farther away from the possibility of obtain
ing their former positions or anything
above a Iaborer's work
The sole topic for speculation in Home
stead is concerning the names which are
upon the book of fate Many arc fearful
that they are upon the company's black
list, and recall each little indiscretion, no
matt er however small, and reason whether
it would be a just cause to deprive them of
their privilege of working in the mill.
There are great number of the locked
out men who are positive that their names
are on the little list and will never apply
for work
The Compauy's Book of Fate.
Few know what an amount of work the
Carnegie Company has gone to in prepar-
.ng the blacklist. The book of fate is
comprehensive one. Not only mas the COM
psny looked up the records of the various
men as wOrkmen, but they have also ex-
amined into their character and have pretty
well determined Just what part each one has
taken in the dongs in Homestead and the
directing o. the strike. So after one name
may be seen "no good, then bad" again
very bad but the men who have had the
credit of directing the strike have just the
words which designate their authority
Advisory Board'-after their names.
Notwithstan ding Supt Schwab's notice
OF Friday that he would receive no more
applications till Monday morning, quite a
crowd OF workmen awaited his coming yes
terdav morning. So anxious were they to |
have their applications filed that they could |
not wait. Superintendent Schwab seeing |
their condition concluded to receive some |
OF them during the day. All day long little |
crowds of men came to the managers Office |
and had their names registered The
book of fate was called into requisition
frequently, and many were turned away.
Perhaps the most notable instance was that
Of a man who, although he was generally
known as one of the most active and ag-
Cressive rioters in the fight of July 6, came
10 the Office for his position. The company
told him they had no use for him, and he
went away.
The Strong Ones Following.
Among those who applied during the day |
we're some o: the most prominent members
OF the Amalgamated Association. One full /
turn of the plate mill crew applied in a |
body. but were told they would have to /
stand turn until some vacancies occurred.
The Carnegie Company Will eventually |
he able TO give employment to about one
half OF the men who were locked out. The |
question then arises and it is a serious one
what will become of the !, 800 men and bows
who will never obtain work in the mill? |
At best those who will be employed will
have to wait long time for their turn, as
no discharges will be made for the purpose
OF permitting the old men to come back
Living in a state of uncertainty is not at all
pleasant, but when this is combined with an
absence of means of obtaining livelihood,
the condition is deplorabIe indeed.
What will these men do? This is
the question that is agitatinC the
minds OF the people of Homestead. 1t
seems as though the only course for them
10 pursue is to leave the town and seek en-
plovment in other places. Some suggest /
Tie opening of the coal mines will give a
great number employment. The majority
OF the high-priced men are in a position
where their not being able to obtain work
for six months or q year would not drive |
them to starvation. But it is different with /
the low-priced men. Their position is such
that, now as the benefits have been with
drawn, thev must obtain work or starve.
Not onlv is the question agitating the peo-
pie OF Homestead, but it is uppermost in
the minds of the labor leaders. One who
Is we'll fixed in this worlds goods said it
was not himself he was thinking of now,
but the number of poor who are now abso-
lutelv poverless TO help themselves if they
don't get work in the mill
They Can Fill Vacancies.
The Carnegie Company will give the old
men the preference whenever vacancies
occur There have been number OF new
men applying during the last few days at
the Office, but the company would not con-
slider them. The company realizes the posi-
ton the workmen are in and will do what
il can for them.
IT has been suggested that the proposed
enlargement of the works would give en-
nlovmr.t 20 some. his is rather poor con-
ISOLATION, as the time it would take to make
such improvements could not be bridged over
Lv the men. But the fact is that no such
move is contemplated The works are en-
uloviIC now, when each position is filled
less men than 1t did before the strike; some
Of the mills being only on double turn, the
market not warranting a greater produe-
tion. The new hands in the mill, that is,
t,ls men hired since the strike. have
sAovn wonderful aptitude. There has been
p good deal of dead wood gathered in,
and there is good deal still in the
mill. but it will only take time to have
matters tight themselves. Nick Rattigan
said if he had all the men who ever worked
I'm the mill before him to choose from, it
would be impossible for him to select
better crew, with the exception of four
men, than he is now working.
Has Been a Great Opening.
The Homestead strike has been q great
ooeuinc for manv men who never before
made successes in business. Some of the
men have shown themselves to be wonder
fully devoid of any knowledge of mechanics
One man who had worked in the Bessemer
departnent said: 'ME Blank, have been
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