The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-09-09

they hired and brought 800 armed
Pinkerton detectives, to
Homestead to invade the homes OF the
men who created the millions that the
Carnegies now possess. Under the
cover of the Pinkertons, the company
endeayored to introduce pauperized
and degraded set Of laborers to sup
plant our fellow American workmen.
The contest with the Pinkertons and
its results are we'll known.
So nal.y 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 to
the American public.
1t is not true that the men are re-
ceiving the nigh wages generally sup
posed, nor do large number own
their homes. We have made care
full investigation, and find that just be-
fore the lockout there were thirteen
whose wages averaged about $3.50 per
day: forty-six averaged between 50
and 81 per day; fifty four averaged
from "a to IS per day; 1877 averaged
from 81 .68 to $3.50 per day, and 1851
received IA cents per hour or less. And
further, we find 8 to 10 per cent own
their homes, and about 10 per cent
more have their homes under mort
gage; the remainder pay rent, and a
number Of these have been eVicted by
the Carnegies.
1t is not true that the men are only
defending the wages of the higher
priced wOrkmen. 1t is in defense OF
the IA cents per hour men as much as
any other tnat the Homestead work.
men are making their gallant fight,
The cunning, calculating company
proposed that the scale should termin-
ate when the cold blasts of winter
penetrate with biting severity. The
company desired to place the men in
the disadvantageous position of nego-
Liating with them on new scale in
January, instead of as formerly in
July.
Notwithstanding the military forces
of the state of Pennsylvania have been
under arms ut Homestead for nearly
five weeks, and the entire country has
been ransacked to find beings so slow
as to hire themselves to the company.
There arc less than 600 persons in the
mills, and less than q dozen skilled
workmen who can perform the work
required. The situation is such, we
confidently assert, that at no time
during the struggle 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 your immediate
help, and money is required to main
tain their manhood, honor and inter
ests.
Every worker and liberty-loving
citizen should contribute to the fnan.
cial support of the brave men who to-
day occupy the position of the advance
guard of the labor movement OF
America.
The struggle at Homestead repres'
ents the issues between freedom and
slavery, progress and reaction. and
must be maintained until the work
men have some fair measure or re-
cognition from the Carnegies.
We assure you that every dollar
contributed will be devoted to the
m,n engaged in this contest. An eff
fective 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 all workingmen not tC
come to Homestead or Pittsburg fol
employment until the pending dispute
with the Carnegie Steel company is
settled.
Send all contributions to William
Woihe, president of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers
No, 512 Smithield street, Pittsburg,
Pa, and notify Thomas l. Crawford
box 1876, Homestead, Pa.
SAMUEL GoMPERs.
CHRIS EVANS,