Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-08-11
What is the Cause of Strikes i?
MARrINsBuRG, W. VA,
July 3Isf. 1894.

AVA hRllNobOhG, W. A.,
July 3lst. 1894.
In the first place, operators are
often blamable for that which their
operatives do; they import SAWS,
Hungarians, Bohemians and PoIaks
for the purpose of having their work
done at less cost than our workmen
are willing to do it; then, the opera
tives are notified of reduction Of
wages, they will not submit and a
strike ensues. The foreigners have
not been slow in learning they were
duped, and they too join the strik-
ers, and to that element much of the
destruction of property and loss of
life can be traced.
If the strikers, by the chief of as.
ISOLATION, offer to adjust their differ
ences, they are told, haughtily, that
'their can be no adjustment" That
was the case the 9th of July, 1892,
when Carnegie's Steel Company no.
tilted the Amalgamated Associa ton,
$500 workmen, that they must &C.
cept the change of scale of their
agreement, which was $25 to that Of
$22, or their place would be filled by
non-union men or outsiders, although
Mr.. Prick knew that that scale, by
agreement, ought not to be changed
till Dec. 1892.
Mr.. Powderly, then chief of the
association, offered to formulate a
remedial agreement" by which or
der could be restored, and to pro-
tect the company's property until it
was fulfilled. Mr.. Frick would not,
and ordered the $500 men to leave
the premises.
Now, it may be asked and readily
answered "Why did Mr.. Frick speak
so rashly in presence Of such a null
titude of disappointed and exasper-
ated men ?" Because all had been
preconcerted, and he had his eye on
the river, up which barges were be-
ing propelled, filled with Pinkerton
and his detectives, soldiers. arms
and missiles of death, which were to
be hurled at those who dared to in
terpose.
Mr.. Pinkerton, doubling his abili-
ty to quell the strikers, Adjutant-
General Greenland was ordered there
with state troops.
Was the Carnegie Steel Company
prosecuted for the unofficial" act
of equipping barges with soldiers
and arms to fight the strikers No,
but some of the poor strikers were
! necessitated to undergo imprison.
ment by contending for that which
they thought was right.
The State troops quelled the lex
ed-out men. What did Mr.. Carne-
gie's scale of $22 instead of 1926 cost
the State of Pennsylvania ? Exact
ly $325,O00. What return has the
Carnegie Steel Company's made
for protection? Made spurious ar
mor-plating for the government at
an exhorbitant price.
l have made this statement to
prove that whilst the million heirs
and capitalists are upheld in their
nefarious action the poor laborers, the
very men upon whom they must de-
pend, are represented and pushed
remorsely-fguratively speaking
down the declivaty of poverty. Is
it surprising that they sometimes
act beyond the limit of that which is
lawful?
The coal proplietors had boldness
enough to ask Congress for a duty
on their coal. Operating under Mr..
McKinley's tariff, they have now a
duty Of SIS per ton, and yet were
unwilling to add ten cents per ton
for their miners; but deducted it
and strike was the result.
In the present strike at Chicago,
MIR. Debs, president of the Union
Association, wrote polite letter to
Mr.. Pullman, proprietor of the Pull
man Car Factory, requesting him
''to meet in consultation" by which
they might arrange matters so that
the strike should terminate. Mr..
Pullman answered, stating he would
not consult with him. Mr.. Debs
wrote again, requesting him 10 meet,
but with less success as the letter
was returned sealed.
Sunday 18th, after three weeks of
terror, and destruction of life and
property, vice-president Wiekes. of
the Pullman Company, wrote: "Will
meet committee representing the
Pullman strikers, by appointment. :
President Debs, answered: We
have just been informed that Mr..
Wilkes, of the Pullman Company,
has agreed to meet q committee Of
the employees of said company, in
reference to existing troubles. Will
see that proper committee to rep
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