Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-15

oil the n. \. j. s. W.-Where the Min
fmum Becomes Useful-Benefits Of .sGet-
ting Together"-Three Subjects Diseased
by Carroll ID. Wright-Other Matters
Considered by the Chicago Congress.
CHICAGO, Nov. 10 The Industrial Con-
gress closed last night after two days of
earnest argument and discussion of the
way to eliminate the strike. The audi
ences yesterday were notable at all the
sessions, including Rev. Thomas &. HALL,
William j. Onahan, Professor Small; Mr.
Calvin, president Painters union; Mrs
Duncanson, president of Municipal Order
League; Samuel Greeley, Mr.. Keen; Miss
Sweet, president Chicago Woman's club;
Mrs. Carnova, Madison; J. c. Stirling
president Illinois Steel company: Mrs
Henry .. Rogers, Evanston; Judge Scott.
jacksonville, and Judge Moses. 1t was
the general opinion of the delegates to the
convention that the congress has been
emincntly successful, but that the visible
results will depend largely upon the ac-
ton taken by the executive committee.
What Will BE Done with 1t.
What to do with the mass of matter on
the subjects considered is n question the
committee had already tackled without
n conclusion. The real results of the con
gress, it was commended, should be gath
cred together, and in some way lie laid
before the next national congress-with
or without recommendations its con
sidcrution. The argument was advanced
that unless some such plan were agreed
upon the work of the congress would be
ineffective. On the other hand it was
claimed that the trend OF public opinion
as reflected by the deliberations of the
congress would surely be impressed upon
the lawmakers of the country and would,
perhaps, bear fruit in directing any legis-
latioa that may be attempted in the near
future.
Weeks Comes to the Point.
Miss Adams presided at the morning
meeting, and the principal address was
that of NJ. NJ. Garland, of the A A. l. 5.
W. Before he took the floor, however, J.
ID. Weeks gave an address that took in
the earth until the chairman notified
him that he had but ten minutes more
time and then he drove home his point
quickly. He closed as follows: "Any eff
fort TO insert in laws statute that will
interfere with the principle of laisseZ faire
will he the greatest detriment to support
crs of both sides of this question. The
things to he settled lin these vast indus
trial conflicts are not the strikes or the
lockouts. They lie back of those troubles.
and they arise from three things: First.
difficulties to future contracts between
employees and employers; second, disputes
as to existing contracts; third, quarrcls in
matters of sentiment. Under the latter
heading comes the sympathetic strike and
kindred disorders
Garland Explains Sliding Scales.
Garland then proceeded to explain Slid
ing scales. He reviewed other systems
such as employment without any agree,
ment about anything: fixed wages for a
! certain period, etc, and set them all aside
as not being any way near what was
wanted. None of them gave share OF
property to those who create the wealth
of the land" He then said: sliding
scales. rs they have been termed. are in
our estimation IA step in advance of any
system now in general use. The wages OF
the iron and steel worker have been based
on and determined by this plan for
| twenty-eight years, and in fact the iron
| and steel workers claim to be the pioneers
of the sliding scale system. As a test
| of its efficiency, when fair employers are
] concerned, we recall to mind some of the
most successful firms in the iron and
steel trade. who have been treating with
labor in this way during all that period of
time and who participated in drawing up
the conditions of the first sliding scale
~ der the latest improvement of the
| system OF sliding scale a rate of wage il
agreed upon for each position. to be gov
crncd by the scale, and a selling price for
the material is selected as being fail
minimum price while that particular rate
of wage is paid; percentage of advance
in the selling price of material is Their
listed as requiring slight percentage OF
advance in the wages of the men in the
several positions. The ratio of advance in
wages is thus listed with the advance OF
material until the probable highest figure
the material will sell at has been reached
A corresponding reduction in wage is
agreed to as the material recedes in price
But minimum price is agreed upon as
representing stopping point in the de-
cline in wages, and although the employer
is free to sell his material lower than the
minimum he is not permitted further re
duction in wage.