Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-14
AFTER THE BATTLE

AFTER THE BATTLE
Everything Quiet at Hornestead-The Do
struction at the Carnegie Works Re-
paired-Frick's Views of the Case
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July S.-After the
carnage Of Wednesday the town OF
Homestead yesterday was almost as
quiet as sleepy country village and
the sad duty Of decent interment to
three Of the striking workmen who
were instantly killed in the battle that
| ragged fercely along the beautiful banks
of the Monongahela was the chief re-
| minder of the bloody combat
The strikers are masters of the situa-
| ton and the best evidence that they
could produce of their intention to pro-
tect property and not turn the town
into a hell where anarchy and destruc-
| ton rule lies at the scene of Wednes-
day nights battle, where the immense
| plant of the firm of Carnegie, Phipps &
| Co. stands practically uninjured.
! The ruin that was incident to prepar-
alton for warfare has been repaired,
the dismant1ed fence around the works
has been rebuilt, the yard has been
cleared of all debris, and inside the
works the old watchmen of the firm
peacefully perform their customary pa
| troll.
| FRICKS VIEWS OF THE CASE
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July s.-H. c. Prick,
| chairman of the Carnegie Steel Co, was
interviewed as follows by George Il.
! Mccain, the correspondent Of the Phila-
delphia Press:
what was the basis of the differ
ences existing between the Carnegie
company and their men, Mr.. Friclz?''
''There were three points upon which
we differed. The skilled worlz1nen in
| the Amalgamated association work
under what is known as a sliding
scale. AS the price of steel advances the
| earnings of the men advance; as the
prices fall their earnings decrease in
proportion. While there is no limit to
an advance of earning on the scale,
there is a point at which the decline
stops. 1t is known as the minimum and
the figure heretofore has been S25 per
ton for AKA BeSsen1er billets. We be-
lieve that if earning based on the sell
ing price of steel can advance without
limit the wori1men should be willing to
follow the selling price down to reaS-
enable minimum and SO this figure was
finally fixed by the Carnegie company at
the rate of S23 instead of S25. The reason
for asking this upon our part was that
the Carnegie company has spent large
sums in the introduction of new ma
chinery in its Homestead plant by
means of which the vorl1men were en-
abled to increase the daily output,
thereby increasing the amount of their
own earnings. We had originally
asked reduction to S22, but
subsequently agreed to compromise
the rate at s2S. The Amalgamated
association was unwilling to consider a
; reduction below s25 on steel bi1lets,
Notwithstanding the fact that the i'm
proved machinery would enable their
members even at 1913 to earn more than
is paid in other Amalgaraated mills.
This was the first point at issue.
. ''Under the present Amalgamated
system the date of expiration of the
, sliding scale is June 80, annually. We
} ask that this date be changed to De-
cember 81 (same as at Edgar ThoIhp-
l SOM for the reason that the change
| would permit US to take our estimate
upon the wages that we must pay dur
: ing the year beginning on January 1, so
that we would be enabled to make con-
tracts for the year accordingly. This
point the Amalgamated association re-
fused to accede and demanded the old
date
3 ''Why did the Carnegie company call
l upon the Pinkertons for watchnen tic
protect their property?"
eve did not see how else we would
have protection. We only wanted them
for watchmen to protect our property
s and see that workmen we would take
:. tosHomestead-and we have had appli-
2 cations from many men to go to work
: were not interfered with"
e did you doubt the ability of the
4 sheriff to enforce order at Homestead
: and protect your property?"
Yes, sir. with local deputies
), ''Why?'
o For the reason that three years age
S our concern had an experience similar
L to this. We felt the necessity of a
}, change at the works; that a scale should
d be adopted based on the sliding price OF
: billets and we asked the county author
n tiles for protection. The worl1men be
r gan tactics similar to those employed il
IS the present troubles. The sheriff
K assured the member of the firm
that there would be no difficulty
: that he would give them ample
n protection and see that men wht
were willing to work were not inter
l. fered with. What was the result? TIL,
|, posse taken up by the sheriff-some
q thing over 100 men-were not permit
e ted to land on our property; were driver
n off with threats of bodily harm and i
u looked as if there was going to be grea
r destruction of life and property. Tha
l. frightened our people and an agree
y ment was made and work resumed
We did not propose this time to b.
placed in that position
y The Pinkerton men, as general,
e understood, had been summoned afte
e all arrangements made with them to b
q on hand in case of failure by the sheriff
I, to afford protection. Is that fact o
% not?'
e The facts concerning the engage
ment of the Pinkerton men are these
u From past experience, not only witt
the present sheriff, but with all others
. we have found that he has been una BIZ
to furnish US with sufficient mum
Der Of deputies to guard our propert,
and protect the men who were anXiou
s to work on our terms
Carnepfe Refuses TO Talk.