The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-07-27
WAGES or IRON WORKERS.

News OF impending strikes IN the Iron
Industry. Waste Their sympathy.
The free trade newspapers of New
York and the country at large have
been getting a good deal of amusement
for themselves lately out of the fact
that, according to several usually we'll
informed iron journals, struggle is
impending between the Pennsylvania
iron manufacturers and their working
men who belong to the Amalgamated
Association of Iron Workers, about the
adjustment of the wage-scale. We
would inform the tariff editors of these
free trade newspapers that their hypo-
critical sympathy for these poor, OPP
pressed iron workers is entirely mis-
placed, and that their attempt to throw
discredit on the iron and steel schedule
of the Mckinley bill, as having been
framed by the manufacturers in their
own interests, will not avail them to
conceal their dishonesty. Every one
knows that the model used in the franz
ing of the Mckinley tariff bill was the
bill constructed by Nelson w. Aldrich
in the United State senate in $780, to
take the place of the Mills bill passed
by the house. The hearings before the
bill will throw some light on the con-
struction OF the iron and steel schedule
of the new tariff law On page 1917 of
volume III of those hearings there ap-
pears circular from the National
Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers of the United States. In
this circular, after several protests
against specific changes in existing
duties made by the Mills bill and vari-
Gus other recommendations, we find the
following, which is specially worthy of
mention:
We could elaborate on this subject still more,
but we feel that we are encroaching on your
valuable time. What is herein given we can
substantate. Our people are no theorists in
their line. They are men who by dint OF hard
physical labor labor that has made il possible
to encrcle this country with a complete net
work OF iron and stceD, energy experience,
suffering and hardship, have become thoroughly
practical. Our condition, as workingmen is
such that requires legislation for our better
ment not for our detriment which the legisla-
ton of the Mills bill will make possible. Some
will argue that our employers will reduce our
wages anyway, even though the tariff remain as
il is W. ask you 10 lear: Ndtt0 no, and We will
endeasor 10 take care Of ourselves IA is custom
arg in al branches of business, ne hare our hHte
family qudrreis bm tcs dislike outsiders 10 inter
fsre in tie settlement Mr|N.
We mean no disrcspect.to any one when we
say that we lock upon this yearly agitation OF
the tariff as II menace to our business, though
perhaps unattended.
As an organization we have strcnuously and
persistently opposed any concerted political
action We never have and do not now owe
allegiance to any political party. We know
neither republicans democrats greenbackers,
prohibitionists, union labor or any other known
Iplitieal party in the United States In the
OPENING ceremony in our lodge meetings we for
Nd the introduction Of any subject OF political
nature. We simply quote this to show that we
ave never dabbled in politics as an organiza-
Non.
1--WE have never contributed one dollar or one
cent toward electing or defeating any party or
n 4man and we ask congress not 10 force us
/ ottthat position by passing bill that will I'M
,<ao&b <edlys jeolArdize ourwages. While every
member in our organization is free to and does
cNerelSt MS DDHlltM preference, Ut uT' pFO-
fecii0nists, and hare unanimously dsctdrsd our
setg's such az an organization at almost eosry re-
curing annual convention.
All parties dire city or indirectly interested in
or az inst prote were refused hearings be-
fore the ways and means committee, and we
have no method OF reaching the ears OF the
members of congress only in this way We
therefore submit this statement through you,
and ask for ii u respectful hearing, to the end
that we may be SLOWED through the medium OF
protection against foreign competition to main
tain decent living wages.
1t will be seen from this eloquent ap-
peal of the iron-worllers themselves
that the sympathy of the free trade
press is entirely wasted upon them. AS
sensible men, they know that although
they may have their little family quar-.
rels," it is the tariff and nothing but the
tariff which enables them to earn ''de
cent living wages at all
Weavers' Wages in Bradford. England. =
Mr.. w. III. Drew, president of the
Bradford and District Labor Union, in
the course of testimony given by hin
before the royal commission, asserted
| that the average wages of weavers il
| the Bradford trade did not exceed nine
shillings 50. 16) per week. The Bradford
| chamber of commerce called this il
question. and committee, consisting
of seven members of the chamber ant
an equal number of representatives o
| the working classes, was formed fol
the purpose of taking authentic infor
nation. Replies to the circular of in
quiry were received from 100 firms
representing 11,7T9 weavers, as to the
year 1890, and in rs cases, representing
,625 weavers, regarding 1891. Tn,
whole number of weavers employed il
the Bradford trade may be safely state,
as not less than 10000 1t is estimated
by the president of the Bradford aht
District Labor Union, who has excep
tional facilities for obtaining accurat,
information on the subject, as $4,000
Basing their calculations upon the allow
returns, the average weekly earning
per weaver for 1890 was shown to be /;
shillings 5.SS pence (about 1924, ant
the average estimated percentage o
broken time to be 1895 per cent. Fo
1891 they reported the average weekly
earnings to be Is shillings s.s4 penc'
tabout 81. OS), and the average estimated
percentage of broken time 9.Sl6 pc
cent A thorough and impartial inves
tigation of the subject, says Unite'
States Consul Tibbitts in his report Oh
the matter, will, it is believed, SHOW
that the actual average wages ar
somewhere between the extremes tina
have been named-viz., 0 shillings an,
Is shillings SIS pence.
THEEE has been during the twenty
| an,.o., .ronrs sincn 1SRa subject To tom