The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-08
LABOR SIDE OF STRIKE
WHAT OFFICIAL ORGAN OF
FEDERATION OF LABOR SAYS.
VIII stand by the Amnlgnmated Assoc
citation of Iron and steel Work.
crs in Present Fight
American Federationist.

American Federationist.
The Iron and Steel Workers Of America
are face 10 face with the giant trust of
our time. Many have been the inquiries
from the outside public as to whether
our affiliated organization, the Amalgam-
ated Association of Iron and Steel and
Tin Workers. could not have avoided this
conflict?
We answer without hesitation. that the
present contest could have been avoided
with but one result, and that. the disso-
luton Of the organization of the workers.
and with it the destruction of the scale
of prices. Then reduction after reduction
of wages would he inevitable until the low
est possible point had been reached.
The facts are that the different branches
of the iron and steel trade formerly had
agreements with their individual employers
providing for a sliding scale OF wages.
Subsequently. a minimum TO that sliding
scale was established. BY reason of new
elements and new transitions in the trade.
a few nonunion plants were In operation:
but at the time OF the establishment OF the
employers combination In the trade. pre-
cedinS the trust, the largest number OF
establishments were union; operated under
a union scale and union rules, agreed upon
in joint conference between the represent
atives of the organized men and the en-
ployers.
THE TRUST METHODS.
The next phase was the formation of the
trust, controlling union and %nonunion
establishments. Last year the trust mag
mates. by methods known to the manage
ment and others, threw every obstacle and
inconvenience in the way of the success of
the union establishments.
To illustrate, while the annual conference
between representatives OF the Amalgam-
ated Association and the management OF
the mills was under way twelve men were
discharged from the union plants for no
other reason than to give TO the union a
demonstration of the trusts power.
The organization decided that negotia-
tions could not be fairly and satisfactorily
conducted while overt, aggressive actions
were being resorted to by one side. If a
conference with q View To agreement was
to be conducted. IL must be while neither
party was attacking the other. After a
forcible protest was made on this point the
twelve men were reinstated, and negotia-
tons resumed.
The point upon which negotiations finally
broke off was that the trust tried to make
1t a condition OF employment that the men
in the %nOnuniOn mills should refrain from
joining any union. The Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION insisted upon their right TO en-
a0NA = ~ a. NA&o1 AAhAlAO ll[ lHlO
the union, and to finally secure for them
the wage scale paid in union mills, these
union mills operated, too, by this same
trust. In other words. the A~malgamated
Association was endeaVoring to protect the
rights OF these men to organize for mutual
protection. whenever they should desire 10
do SO. The trust was attempting 10 AXE
the right from them.
NO FAITH IN TRUST.
Any one who observes current Industrial
events can easily read the purpose of the
trust in its present unfair attitude. 1t is
that it may throw every obstacle within its
| power in the way of the union. even to the
s%toppage of the union mills; thus finally en-
comprising the weakening and probable de-
%struction of the organization.
Then the trust hopes to have absolute
| and undisputed sway to reduce wages az
will. They'will tend toward the deteriora-
ton of the condition Of the workers and
also of their product. but the trust Is too
selfish to look farther than the immediate
profit which it hopes TO secure by reducing
| wages.
The Amalgamated Association has de-
veloped strength along lines entirely unex-
pected by the trust magnates. Many OF
the workers in the %nonuniOn plants are
making common cause and joining issue
with the union men for the purpose OF
maintaining the union rate and to aSser.
their right 10 become members Of the or
ganization of their trade; thus at once de-
molishing the claim of the trust that the
Organization does not represent either the
interest or the desires of the whole trade.
In this struggle our member of the
Amalgamated Association Of Iron ana Stee'
| Workers will receive the cordial sympathy
and support OF all unions. We know TIA
any action they take will be within their
full lawful and moral rights.