The National tribune., 1892-07-14
"WELL BRED, SOON WE'D" GIRLS WHO USE
SAPOLIO
ARE QUICKLY MARRIED. TRY 1T IN YOUR NEXT
HOUSEKEEPING.

the company tried to put men in charge OF theii
mills; they were driven away from Homestead
like lot of sheep by the workIngmen, and
many men were hurt. Then a settlement was
arrived at. sliding scale was arranged to run
three years, expiring June 30, 1892.
This scale was rcadjusted at the end OF every
three months 1t was based on the price OF
steel billets which were taken as fair lndI-
Gator of the state of the market. When these
bilets were selling at high price the company
was to share the increased profits with the
workingmen. When the price was falling the
workmen were to share in the decreased prot
its. There was no limit fixed so far as the adj
vance was concerned, but a minimum basis was
agreed upon.
Now the minimum basis was S25 ton. In
other words when steel billets fell in price be-
low sos per ton the workmen were still to be
paid at the rate of $25 q ton. The past three
years demonstrated that this rate was advan-
tageous to the workmen. During long time
the price of steel billets averaged much less
than $25 ton. During the past three months
the price had been fuctuating between $3.50
and $2350. During the first part of the three
years the price was high, and the workmen
made very high wages. The workmen were
not satisfied, however, and they began to muir
the old scale reaffirmed. They also asked for
some increases 10 the pay of the plate workers.
They came near striking over the whole mat
ter last January.
When the Carnegie Steel Company presented
the scale again to run for another period,
beginning July l, it demanded minimum
basis Of $23. The company also stated that it
would hold conferences until June "a. Several
conferences were accordingly held with the
workmen, who are organized as eight lodges OF
the Amagamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers. Both sides maintained their re.
spective positions, and argued over matter OF
81 ton, which, as there was no prospect for
betterment of the steel market for the next
six months was an important one.
Finally the company announced that it would
confer no longer. At the same time it declared
that the AmsIgamated Association would no
longer be recognized at Homestead. It further
declared that the mills would be open mills,
where all men could work, but each man should
work under an individual contract and should
not be regarded as member OF any labor
union.
While only about 300 would be directly
affected by the cut demanded by the company,
yet the men made common cause out OF the
situation, and when the company shut down
the mills on the evening of june %. the ANAL
gamated men had succeeded in inducing sew
eral thousand workers not affected by the scale
to Join their forces As the action of the COM
pany practically caused lockout instead of
strike, the leaders of the workingmen took ad-
vantage of this to arouse them to action.
1t now became their object to keep any out
side workers from entering the works, and to
get control of the works and so of the situation.
The company determined to have men take
charge Of and protect their works, and the
Almagamated Association offered to put men
in, and guarantee the safety of the property
until the matter was settled. This the COM
pany, of course, refused.
At this point the company turned over the
works to the Sheriff of the County, one Nc
Cleary, who in what has followed, has proved
an inefficient man. The company also declared
that if in week the employees had not re-
turned to their works, new men would be
brought and put to work.
The Sheriff issued proclamation to the work
men, declaring their actions in surrounding
the property, and their declaration of prevent
ing anyone from working in it, were unlawful,
and that they were subject to arrest and i'm
prisonment. He ordered them to dispense and
return to their homes, or they would be dealt
with according to the law.
After his bombastic proclamation the Sheriff
and his Deputies marched into Homestead
and were chased ont of the town, and the adj
visory committee of the men, now the rioters,
formally and rather theatrically dissolved, and
informed the Sheriff that it would not be re-
sponsible for any violence done.
And so the men watched and waited and
on the morning of July 6, at o'clock, when
word came that two barge-loads of men were
Homestead, the mon spread the
alarm through the town, and the result was
the combat already detailed.
or course the responsibility for the lives lost
on the first day of conflict at Homestead rested
principally on tho shoulders of whomsoever
brought the Pinkerton men into the situation,
and as ri. C. Frick is the manager of the Car
negie plant it would seem as though he must
bear the burden; but during the whole of the
week he has not appeared at all disturbed, and
has been firm in his determination to secure
of the works Sheriff McCleary
proved unequal to the task of handling the
matter, and Gov. Pattison's orders to him
were very tart, and he gave him to understand
that the State would not interfere until the
local authorities had exhausted every means
in their power. The Sheriff could not get
enough men, and he utterly failed to do any
thing
Finally peace settled down upon Homestead.
On the day after the fight the funerals of the
men who were killed took place, and the
shadow of death hung over the city. Rumors
Of all sorts as to moves being made by the
company, the militia having been ordered out,
armed workmen or more Pinkertons approach
ing, and the like, passed through the town
from time to time, but proved baseless.
Ever since thursday now, the town mas
been quiet but the strikers are on guard. On
Monday Gov. Pattison did what he should
have done archaeological his plan of non-
ordered out the militia.
What the outcome of this may be is not known.
Eight thousand men of the N.GP. are at the
moment of writing on the way to Homestead.
A mass meeting of over 5000 people was held
in Homestead, and many speeches were made.
One and all of the speakers declared that Gov.
Pattison understood their cause, and that he
did right in ordering out the militia. They
should be properly received, and no resistance
would be made.
At the hour of going to press the military
have not vet arrived, so what the result will
be- cannot be more than surmised.