The morning call., 1892-08-22
1t Is Investigated by a New York
Special Correspondent.
HOW THE GREAT LOCKOUT WAS CAUSED.
Thousands Of Men Locked Out Because the Stalt
Was SOt satisfactory TO the LaborerS
Earning High Wages.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-When the Home
stead troubles began the Tribune sent a
correspondent TO the scene, with instTuc-
tions to obtain material as to the
wages, cost of living. etc. He has
made his report. which the Tribune
published to the extent of nearly nine
columns. His identity while making the
investigation was not disclosed. He says !:
From the first the men have admitted that
they have no fault to find with the new
scale. 1t was one of the leading members
OF the advisory committee who had this TO
say: We are aware that the new
scale does not involve material re-
duction of wages in any of the de-
partments of the mills, and that of
all the mills it affects only three
Even in these three reduction Is not con-
templated. The scale is merely changed to
prevent too much Of an increase of wages
in departments where the introduction Of
improved machinery is likely to large
ly increase the tonnage handled by
the higher-priced men. Out OF a
total of $500 men now employed
in the Carnegie mills at Homestead only
325 men areaffectedIby the proposed changes.
The trouble is just this way: We
Interpreted the action of the Car
negie Company in insisting upon
terminating the agreement in midwinter
as the first blow at our organi zation, for it
would naturally follow il a strike should
occur 10 the winter and fail, that the
organization would be seriously crippled.
This view was confirmed by the refusal OF
the company to recognize the Amalgamated
Association IN any future scale agreement
Instead of waiting for q strike TO occur and
fail tile company took the bull by the horns
by refusing 10 recognize any Of the old
men IN its employ again unless they fore
sw0Te Allegiance 10 the association.
THE company now has on deposit from
the earnings of the men, or did have on July
!, the sum of SlS0000, which drew interest
al the rate OF per cent until the company
notified its locked-out men to withdraw their
deposits. There was outstanding on mort
cages on July l, Sl42. coo divided among 476
employees, several OF whom had paid off all
but small part of the amount loaned by
the company. The company has never
fOreclosed a mortgage. When an en-
plOye has died or left the service the amount
paid on the mortgage has been returned
in full, less such an amount of interest as
might be due at the time. The company
has then assumed the mortgage, transfer
ring IL IN some instances TO another man
who had enough money saved TO warrant
him in assuming the responsibility.
Only 325 men are in any way affected by
the new scale, and those 32j do not express
dissatisfaction with the wages offered,
but $500 men are locked out be-
| cause 325 are men who have made high
wages have bought and paid for fine houses
and have lived exceedingly well. They
| have saved money and can afford
to remain idle for several months. They are
not the men who do the fighting. They are
takers, advisers, men who direct the move
meDts of their less fortunate fellows. Prob
ably 5000 of the ioeked-out men would be
glad 10 return to work al the
terms offered. but they are held
back by the influence of hIgh-priced
workmen. Many of them have become des-
perate seeing their places gradually being
filled by non-union men, and, as might be
expected their feeling is one of bitterness
for their successors In the mills. This is
encouraged by the 225 for very definite
purpose.
One by one the non-union men will be
driven out of town by violence; others will
become frightened and go away voluntarily.
1t will be almost impossible for the COM
paDy to keep full complement of imported
men at the works in Is mammoth plant.
The local officers OF law being union men,
will. as they have already done. close their
eyes to violators of the law. This is the
programme of the union.
Non-uBion men cannot always be housed
and fed within the mill inclosure. Ii is too
much like imprisonment. By-and-by they
will come out into the town of Homestead
and then there Will be no militia there to
protect them.
The story of the Tribune correspondent
brings out clearly the fact that it was not
about starvation wages. actual or threat
ened, that the controversy arose, but re-
garding the recognition of the organization
of the workers.
The wages received for the lowest un-
skilled labor were 81 30 per day for 10
hours work, while skilled workers re-
ceived from 81 to SO per day
or even much more. At least thirty
eight classes OF workers are enumerated in
the statements from the men themselves,
embracing about $50 persons, who received
over S4 each in June, month Of small pro-
ductlOn.
A multitude of comfortable homes earned
and maintainef 10y the workers, and their
large deposits with the Steel Company, bear
witness to a sufficieney of WAGES, and, with
the increase OF wages through the use of
improved machinery. establish condition
Of things which illustrates the results Of