The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-08-17
A CIRCULAR ISSUED.

RELATION TO THE HOMESTEAD TROUBLE
The Executive Council of the Federation
of Labor, on Saturday night, met at the
Duqucsne Hotel, Pittsburg and issued a
circular in connection with the Homestead
trouble. IL is as follows.
seldom in the history of our country
have we witnessed the lines of battle so
closely drawn upon the field Of labor as il is
witnessed at Homestead. The Carnegie Steel
Company, one of the most gigantic monop-
olcs q; the age, has undertaken to reduce
the wages Of their employees from 10 to 40
per cent. In their desperation and avnrice
they hired and brought 800 armed mercena-
rics Pinktrton detectives, to Homestead to
invade the homes of the men who created
the millions that the Caruegies now possess.
Under cover of the Pmkertonsthe company
cndeavored to introduce u pauperized and
degraded set of labOrers to supplant our
fellow American workmen. The contest
with the Pinkertons and its results are well
known.
at is not true that the men are receiving
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, 42l en-
ployed in the mills. OF this number there
were l3 whose wages averaged about 81 30
per day; 46 averaged between 50 and 81 per
day; "a averaged from 81 to IS per day; / ,17S
averaged from 81 6S to 80 80 per day, and
l,625 received II cents per hour or less, and
further we find so many erroneous and false
statements have been published as to the
causes for which the men are noblv con-
tending, their conduct during the struggle.
the present situation and the prospect of
victory that We feel called upon to issue this
statement to the American public
FROM To 10 per cent own their own
homes and about 10 per cent. more have
homes under mortgage; the remainder paw
rent and number of these have been evict-
tnrnppina II 10 pt t,,,
the men are only defending the wages of
the higher priced workmen II is in defense
of the IL cents per hour men as much as
any other that the Homestead workmen are
making their gallant fight.
The cunning calculating company pro-
posed that the scale should terminate when
the cold blasts of winter penetrate with
biting severity. The company desired 10
place the men in the disadvantageous posi.
ton of negotiating with them upon q new
scale IN January instead of as formerly in
July"
notwithstanding the military forces of
the state of Pennsylvania have been under
arms at Homestead for nearly five weeks,
and the country has been ransacked to find
beings so low as TO hire themselves to the
company, there are less than 600 persons in
the mill, and less than dozen skilled work.
men who can perform the work required,
The situation is such we confidently assert
that at no time during the struggle were
the prospects of vi, Dry as bright MS thew
are now. What the men need in this con-
test Is your substantial support as well as
your sympathy. The poorer paid men in
Homestead and other Carnegie mills where
men are now out TO help their brothers at
Homestead are the ones who need your inn
mediate help and money is required to
maintain their manhood, honor and interest
Every, worker and iberty-loving citizen
should contribute TO the financial 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 represents the
issue between freedom and slavery, progress
ana 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 to the men engaged in the contest.
An effective system of relief has been
organized, with proper safeguards, and
every cent will be economically expended
and rigdly accounted for. We also advise
all workingmen not to come to Homestead
or Pittsbnrg for employment until the
pending dispute with the Carnegie Steel
Company is settled.
The circular concludes by requesting all
contributors to send their money to Presi-
dent Weihe or Acting Chairman Thomas J.
Crawford. The document is signed by
President Samuel J. Gompers, L. J. Nc
Guire, President of the Carpenters Brother
hood; John B. Lennon, Secretary of the
laiiors Union; Secretary Chris Evans as
the Executive Committee of the Federation:
President Weihe, Presdent-elect Garland
and Secretary Madden, for the Amalgamat-
ed Association, and Hugh 0Donnel, Bur
CESS McLuckie, Thomas j, Crawford and
David Lynch, for the Advisory Committee.
LovEJoY ANSWERS GoMPERs
Secretary Lovejoy, OF the Carnegie Steel
Company, said ON SUNDAY:
Gfn ntaN.a aaV.es q l.ut
Company has monopoly of the making of
steel blllets is absurd. Not to speak of the
many big firms in other parts of the coun-
try, such as the Illinois Steel Company
the Pennsylvania Steel Company aud the
Cambria Iron Company right here in Pitts
burg there are many concerns making bill
lets. For instance there are the Linden Steel
Company, Jones Il Laughlins, Spang, Chal-
fant d Co, the Carbon Iron Company,
Smith Bros, owners Of the LaBelle Works
Co., Howe, Brown d Co., the Moorhead-
McCleane Company Park Bros. & Co..
Shoenberger d Co Singer, Nimick ~ Co.,
the Sterling Steel Company, and many 9th.
ers, who all make billets.
The Carnegie Company has about 30 per
cent. of the total production OF steel billeis.
No man gets less than 81 40 day of 10
hours at Homestead. Mr. Gompers's asser-
tion that some get 81 ID to the contrary not
withstanding. The men get II cents an
hour The criticisms on our bringing Pink
ertons TO Homestead has no weight in the
face Of the law, which permits any man to
properly protect his property against tres
passers, and who In the words of Judge
Ewing, may fire first, numerously and ef-
fectively against any mob that attacks his
vra AZ 10 .at1 l.ae d. <...l.