Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-01-27

lying the men bOaE tho IUSuUCLiOI
Would Take Effect Friday Men
Quit Without Finishing Their
Turn--The Situation Bad.
Yesterday it was announced exclu-
sively in the Register that a strike
OF the Benwood plate mill employees
was likely, as they had threatened to
quit the previous day on account of
the wage reductions Last evening
the evening paper stated that the Reg
lister was endeavoring to create a
false impression, but yesterday clearly
proved the force and reliability of the
Registers prediction. Not only was
it true that strike at ,he plate mill
was likely, but the men made their
word good by refusing to accept the
reduction and going out on a strike.
AS mentioned in the Register, the
new scale was to have gone into eff
feet Tuesday, but when the men
threatened to quit work Immediately
the manager told them to return to
work and that they would be paid their
old wages until the men could confer
with President Hubbard The men
accepted this and have since been try
ing to have the desired conference
with the President. They were unable
to secure a meeting with him either
Tuesday or yesterday, after receiving
the assurance that he would meet
them and undertake to arrive at an
amicable settlement. They were on
the lookout fer him yesterday, but he
did not appear at the mill. In the
evening, however, he went to the plant
and held a conference in the Office
with the manager. A short time after
wards, between five and six o'clock,
notices were posted in the plate mill,
announcing that the reduced scale,
which changes the helpers and day
men to the tonnage list, would go into
effect on Friday at noon. and those
who did not wish to accept this could
call at the Office and get their pay.
The notices produced a bomb-like eff
feet. The men were expecting a
friendly conference. but instead of get
ting this, were notified that they could
take what was offered or quit
III Il lew ulu Iucy Su
about the prosperity notices in
groups, discussing the matter excited
ly. A meeting of the men was held i'm
mediately in the mill, and after several
speeches had been made, denouncing
the company in the strongest terms,
the helpers who are the ones directly
affected, decided to quit Just as soon
as that heat was finished. This was
the third heat and was finished shortly
after seven o'clock. Then the helpers
put on their coats and went home.
The action Of the helpers compelled
the heaters and the balance of the
day men to quit also. 1t caused the
entire mill to close down and will put
about 125 or 140 men out Of employ
ment.
The helpers expect the heaters and
all the other employees of the mill to
act with them. and it is very likely
that a consolidation will be effected,
as their interests are mutual. The
heaters, who are the highest paid
hands. will ver- likely join hands
with the day men, as they seem to I'M
derstand that the change in the scale
was a shot really aimed at them. One
of them stated that he expected, pro-
viding the company got the day men
on a tonnage basis, working six heats
to a turn, instead CT Ave as formerly,
that the next move the company would
make would be to ask them to work
the six heats for the price OF five.
The reduction of the plate mill men.
following ct the heels of the heavy
reduction at the steel works, as men
toned in the Register several days
ago. has aroused the employees of the
Wheeling Iron and Steel Company to
the highest tension. There are over
900 employees at the cOmpany's Ben
wood plant and they do not take any
stock in the Mckinley Hanna, pros
perity" delusion after they have gone
through the experience of two heavy
reductions within considerably less
than q year. AS previously announced,
the steel workers will hold a meeting
next Sunday afternoon and will de-
eide what action they will take. Their
reduction VII not go into effect until
February 21st, yet thew already openly
declare that they will not stand the
cut.
1t is clear that the company, by
their action yesterday, did not regard
the prospects of the plate mill men
striking as unlikely. but believe that
the places Of the strikers can be speed
lily filed. 1t remains to be seen wheth-
al the rest of the plate mill employees
will unite with the helpers and
whether the company succeeds in run
ming the mill without them.