Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-24

UNIONS EXPERIENCE WITH
THEM HAS BEEN VERY Salts
FACTORY AND THAT THEY ARE
AGREEABLE 80 DEAL WITH
THINKS THERE WILL BE NO
MORE STRIKES AFTER THE
TRUSTS ARE REGULATED BY
CONGRESSIONAL E~NACTMENTS.
WASHINGTON, September %
Theodore Schaffer, of P~ittsburg, presi-
dent of the Amalgamated Association Of
Iron and Steel Workers, was the first
witness before the industrial commission
to-day. He said that about 70 per cent.
of the iron, steel and tin workers were
organized. After 1892 the iron workers
suffered 80 per cent. reduction OF
and the tin workers % per cent, bat
since the recent prosperity began the
wages have been almost levelled up by
advances. The trade was now more
prosperous than it had ever been, but
the wages were not quite as high as in
1892. The workers in iron, steel and
tin were not getting the advantage I'M
der the sliding scale of the recent in
crease in prices. This was due to the
fact that mills were filling contracts
made six months ago, and in some cases
a year ago. But with the flling'of con-
tracts based on present prices, the adj
vances would come.
Many of the mills were non-union
owing to personal difficulties which
arose between employers and employed
rather than direct hostility of the en-
ployer toward organized labor or the
union scale. Mr.. Schaffer said his as
ISOLATION had never called upon State
boards of arbitration in case of strikes.
He thought the incorporation of labor
organizations would be advantageous.
The obstacle to incorporation at pres
ent was that the workers were not yet
educated up to to and prepared for it.
He was opposed TO compulsory arbitra-
tfohs L 1NAI OAA6I Liz WI hC1S NOQAQ
not get justice from State or govern
ment boards. This opinion was based
upon the Interpretation placed by the
courts upon laws passed in the interest
OF labor. He protested against the en-
ployment of women in mills, declaring
it to be injurious morally and physic-
ally. He also expressed the opinion
that the sanitary condition in the mills
were not good. He explained the cam
paign against Sunday work, and said
much progress had been made in the
steel mills, tin mills and finishing mills.
He favored a restrictions of immigration.
The Huns, Polanders, Russians and
Italians were the most Objectionable.
Asked about trusts, Mr.. Schaeffer
said he had SO much respect for them
he would not call them trusts" Their
effect thus far had been beneficial to
the iron, steel and tin workers. AS a
general rule, he said he believed the
members OF his organization would pre-
fer to deal with combinations and large
corporations than with smaller indie
pendent mills. He believed if the big
combinations could be regulated by
Congressional enactment strikes could
be avoided. In his experience he had
always had fair treatment in negotiat-
ing with these combinations. He did
not believe they prevented competi-
ton.
is not a labor organization as much
OF a trust as IN of these combinations
of capital?" asked Mr.. Kennedy.
Il would delegate the answer to that
question to the late civic federation at
Chicago" replied Mr.. Schaffer. After
reading the proceedings there, l don't
know what | believe"
DO you not attempt to control the
labor market"
NO" he replied. THAT may ultim-
ately be the result. We ask only for a
fair share of that which we create. [
have never known of a case where the
price of the commodity was raised as
a result of our demands"
In concluding his statement. Mr..
Schaffer said that the Amalgamated
Association proposed to start a news
paper devoted to the education Of its
members and to teaching them that en-
ployers have interests in common with
them which entitle them to as much
respect as investors of capital as they
are entitled to as investors of skill and
muscle.
Mr.. E. B. Norris, of Sodus. N. Y,
master of the State Grange. of New
York, was the other witness to-day. He
thought the condition ca the farm la
borer, physically and morally, was
much better than in the old days. He
had privileges. He was better
educated and informed and he obtained
wages high enough to enable him to lay
aside something if he was sober and
industrious. There was plenty Of work
eight or ten months in the year and
those so disposed could obtain work
the year around. Improved machinery
had opened up new emu Of indus
try. The established rule was ten
hours for a working day on a New York
farm. From five to ten years ago.
there was a general exodus from the
farms to the cities. but during the pasC
two or three years he had noticed a
tendency TO return to the farm. Pro-
greSsive farmers nowadays, he said.
kept close track Of the expenses Of each
crop and at the end of the year could
tell exactly what crop was profitable
and what was not. He spoke highly of
the foreign element in his section Of the
State. They were mainly Germans and
Hollanders. ITO tell you the truth.
gentlemen" said Mr.. Norris, "the Ger
mars control a majority OF the farms
in Wayne county. They are born a2rs-
cu~lturalists. They 90 on a Yankees
farm and soone- or later they own the
farm. The trouble with the Yankees Is
fIasw 11r5ra m -noc4rfofa Thov 1901