The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-07-03
Reported Strike at the Home.
stead Steel Works Has Not
Yet MaterialiZed,
But There Are Plenty Of Threats.
Twenty.four Men Have Been
Discharged
For the Reason That They Be.
,onged to the Amalgamated
Association.

P1rrsBuRG. July 3.-The reported
strike at the Homestead Steel works of
the Carnegie company has not taken
place as yet. but the men are much
worked up over the discharge Of the
members of the Amalgamated commit
tee who waited upon Superintendent
Corey and demanded the return Of the
Is men discharged for joining the asso'
citation. Threats of a strike were heard
on all sides. but the plant is in full op-
Grafton and all are at work save the "a
who were discharged. A meeting Of
the Homestead workers wa in session
until an early morning hour and a con-
ference was held with Superintendent
Corey at 9 o'clock. but the closest secrecy
wa maintained by both sides. A short
time later. Superintendent Corey left
the works for Pittsburg. to consult
with the officials Of the company. At
the offices in this city nothing could be
learned, as the officials preserved their
customary silence upon all matters
concerning their affairs. When Super.
intendent Corey was seen the following
took place:
Have 1900 Of your men quit?"
They have not" was the answer.
What reply did you give the com.
mittee::"
II prefer not to talk for publica-
ton
well, then. is the story true:'
ar ,r-..1l ~..c.. <1.< -. Nf.
Lovejoy on the matter"
Can we say authoritatively that
there is no strike and that the men did
not quit:'
You can"
An effort was made to communicate
with Mr.. Lovejoy, but he was mac.
cessible.
President Schwab of the Carnegie
company. when asked for a statement
about the proposed strike. refused to
discuss the matter at all. He would
not admit the truth Of any conference
between himself and Mr.. Corey on one
side and the committee of nine on the
other.
Do Not Want Union Men.
There are 1000 men employed in the
big works. The company claims that
only about $50 or 200 of the men are
skilled workmen in the sense that the
term used to be accepted. 1t is true the
laborers predominant numerically, but
the Amalgamated people claim to have
received every promise of aid and sup.
port from them. The company has not
made any attempt to conceal the reason
tor the dismissals. 1t was solely
for the reason that the workmen went
into a labor organization when they had
been forbidden. The question of wages
does not enter n the controversy. the
men being as we'll as paid. in many
cases better, than in union mills, rec
ognizing what is known as the ''scale
rate The Amalgamated association
has been working with the Carnegie
employees for some time. 1t was intend.
ed to make the plans of the organiza.
ton public several weeks ago, and de.
clare an open fight. A secret ballot wa.
taken, and it was decided to keep the
secret. awaiting developments. The
officials of the company, by some
means, came to know that some of their
employees We're members of the union.
Discharges Immediately followed with
the plain statement by the officials tina,
they did not want union men in their
employ.
One by n men were discharged as
their utilization with the labor organi.
cation became known. That there has
been much quiet work done among the
men during the last five years is known
among the officials of the organization.
The opening meetings We're held a.
Homestead some time ago for the pur.
pose Of gaining a foothold. The meet.
ings were we'll attended, but the men
We're afraid to show their colors. MANY
OF them We're discharged for their at.
tendance at these gatherings. The
open plan was then abandoned and Sc.
cret work begun.
SfOn0H tho CT