The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-07-13
HISTORY OF TIE TROUBLE.
The Causes Which Have Led up to
the Present Conflict.

I bank of S250,OO0 and hundreds of th0us-
ands more in reserve, and on the other the
prestige, power and wealth OF the Carnegie
Steel Company Limited, the new title Of
the associated interests Of the Carnegie firms.
with capital Of SIS 000,o00.
The actual point at issue is the right OF la
Dor 10 dictate to capital the terms on which
it will consent TO be employed or TO permit
anybody to be employed. Ostensibly it is a
struggle against reduction in wages of 80
per cent. of 256 workers, and an attempt on
the part OF the Carnegie Steel Company to
make such working terms as II deems appii-
cable to the present condition of the steel
business, and the mechanical Improvements
effected in the process OF manufacture.
SOURCE or THE TROUBLE
The condition of affairs has arisen out of
the expiration Of a three years sliding scale
of wages in operation at the Homestead
Works of the company and the action Of
the company in substituting another with
marked reductions in rates.
The Homestead employees have been paid
| by the tonnage. Settlements during the
last three years have been based on the sell
ing price of steel billets, the minimum basis
being SO per ton; tnat is, no matter how
much the market price ran below $25, pay
ments were TO be made on the basis Of that
figure. If the market price was higher, pay
ments we're to be made accordingly. As
matter of fact. billets have been selling for
several months at SD and $3.50, while set
Elements with the men have been made al
SIS, and, of course, at loss of the differ
ence 70 the company.
THE SEw SCALE or WAGES.
In anticipation of the expiration of the
three years scale on June 80. the Carnegie
Steel Company formulated a schedule Of
rates to operate from July 1 TO January l,
1891. The minimum basis was changed
from SIS to So. and reductions which aver
age thirty per cent. were made on the rates
for the various kinds of employment.
The workers on the other side presented
the company with a scale which differed
slightly from the old one. On conference
both sides made concessions, but parted
without a settlement. The company had
previously fixed June 81 as the last day
open to the workers for accepting the scale
as an organized body.
After that date the men were to be treated
with only as individuals. That day passed
without approaches from either side, and
both parties began forthwith to prepare for
the struggle that was bound TO follow. The
Amalgamsted men were prepared to strike
on July /, when the old sliding scale Of wa
ges had expired. But this course was an
ticipsted by the firm, which discharged all
its employees at midnight, and notified them
to report for their pay at theoffice on Satur-
day last. By this action the Carnegies fore
stalled the men, aud, by making it lock-
out instead off strike, placed them on the
defensive.
PREPARING FOR THE STRUGGLE.
The discharged employees, through their
advisory committee, began at once arrange
ments for the protection of their interests
during the coming struggle. Their oreani-
zation was thorough, consisting Of sub-com-
mitiees on the preservation of order, the
regulation of the sale of liquor in saloons
and the protection of outside labor. Head
quarters were fitted in elaborate style, with
incandescent electric lights and a private
telegraph wire, which puts the Amalgamat-
ed Association in direct communication with
every city, town and hamlet in the country.
Guards were established around the Home
stead Works to prevent the introduction of
workingmen from a distance, and the No
nongahela was patrolled day and night,
while twenty members Of the association
were placed on duty as special officers, os-
tensibly charged with the duty Of preserv-
ing the peace.
Immediately after the locke the Secre-
tary of the Carnegie Steel Company made
the announcement that the mills at Home
stead had been closed for repairs, and would
remain closed for two or three weeks. About
the 18th or 10th of July. he further stated, it
wonld be announced that any of the en-
ployes Of the company could return to work,
but must make application by certain day
as individuals, all who did not apply by that
time being considered as not desiring work,
and running the risk of finding their places
filed by new men. The Secretary further
stated that only 25G of the $500 men en-
ployed in the Homestead mills were affected
by the proposed new scale.
PRICK CALLS FOR HELP.
Matters at Homestead progressed with
comparative quiet until Tuesday, when
Henry C. Frick, the president Of the Carne-
gle Steel Company, applied to Sheriff Nc
Cleary, of Allegheny county, for help in
guarding the property of the company, and
protection for those men who were willing
and anxious 10 go to work, but stood in fear
Of bodily harm from the strikers The
Sheriff paid visit to the works under
guard furnished By the Amslgamated ASso-
citation, and later in the day dispatched eley-
en- Deputies to Homestead, under command
Of ex-Sheriff CIuny, by whom an attempt
was made to enter the mills. They were in
tercepted, however, by hundreds of the
strikers, who maintained a firm and IN
flinehing front when commanded to stand
aside.
Their spokesman stepped forward, and,
declaring that the mill property was not in
danger, and that the admission of the depu-
ties would be against their interests, an
nounced that they would not be permitted
to enter, but would be safely escorted out of
the town. The dozen deputies accepted this
oder and were escorted to a point on the
river quarter Of a mile distant, where they
were taken on board the steam yacht Edna
which is in the service of the Amalgamated
Association, and carried down the river TO
point where they were within easy reach of
the electric cars running to Pittsburg After
this fiasco, Sheriff McCleary issued procla-
nation calling upon the people of Home
stead to preserve the peace and not inolest
the cOmpany's property.
THE CARNEGIE PLANT.
The works Of the Carnegie Steel Company
are located in Homestead, a town eight
miles southeast of Pittsburg. 1t is situated
pictursquely on the banks Of the Monon-
gehals river, overlooking one of The most
placid waterbeds in the State of Pennsylva-
nia. Across the river is a row of winding
hills, now verdant with the bloom of sum-
mer. Towering bluffs and wooded noun