Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-07-25

cODllHtul VI Nulo elC"b Ahet"9tA - ~ hss'
assumed an importance that amply
iustiiies the most critical public
r watehfulness.
Ever since its formation, the people
. have studied its every move, wondering
what success it would have in solving
those problems that have beset the
path OF less pretentious concerns.
Chief among these was bound to be
the labor problem. However indie
pendent the monopoly might be in the
markets with its products and however
arbitrary in the matter of price, it
must first get these products finished,
and this it could not do without the
work of many thousands of wage
earners. To insure success, it was
absolutely necessary that these
laborers should be so treated that they
would remain steadily ct work,
turning out the products with which
the Trust was to invade the markets of
the world.
The Trust fully appreciated this.
Among the economies that it outlined,
the effect of which was to be a
cheapening in the price OF products,
instead OF the apprehended rise, there
were none that related to a reduction
in the wages OF employees. This has
been the policy from the start.
Instead OF inviting a struggle with its
workmen, the Trust has paid them
well Tor their services and relied on
its commanding position in the
markets to make itself whole. Even
now there is no question Of wages
involved. The unions never dealt
with a corporation more willing to
near grievances or more ready to
Tighten the load whenever possible.
The Trust has not cvinced any of those
arbitrary and grasping tendencies
commonly attributed to such monsters.
1t has not boosted of its power or
sought to humiliate the workmen on
whom it depended. 1t has repeatedly
recognized the labor unions-a thing
which many employers do with bad
grace always and frequently decline to
do altogether. 1t has listened with
patience to the paid officials of the |
labor associations and met them in
conference as gentlemen. 1t has made
nearly all the concessions that have |
been made trom the beginning of the
trouble. 1t will not quarrel over
wages or hours, as long as demands |
are anywhere within reason. 1t |
cannot afford to, if it were so disposed
But the one rock on which all hopes
of settlement are dashed is the demand |
of the unions that in signing the scale
already agreed upon the Trust shall
extend its scope to all the mills of the |
three constituent companies involved, |
the Sheet Steel, Steel Hoop and Tin |
Plate companies. whether these mills |
are union or non-union. The Trust |
will not yield this point and the union
officials show no disposition to recede
from it. Hence the strike. The union
men have been called out, which has
resulted in the closing down OF nearly |
ali the mills of these companies. |
About 10000 hands are idle. The loss
in wages and business is estimated at
half a million dollars a day.
Most OF the mills OF these three |
Trust concerns are union, which means
that none but union men need apply |
for work, since the hiring Of non
union men would be resented and lead |
to trouble, and probably a strike.
Some of the mills, however, are open.
so-called, that is, union and nom
union hands work without conflict. |
A few are without any organization
whatever. All the unions are Joined |
together in what is known as the
Amalgamated association. It is with |
this that the Trust is now dealing.
The association wants the Trust to
adopt the union scale for all its works. |
so that it can have a hand in the |
control OF them all, instead of part
only, as at present. 1t would then be
able to organize all the mills and have
its hand on the throat of President
Schwab's concern at all times. The
latter sees the danger it is in and will |
spare none of its resources to defend
itself. 1t is said to have a pool of
$500. 10000 with which to maintain
its securities in the market while the
fight is going on. The Trust
companies involved are only three. |
while several other parts of the
combine are still carrying on their
very profitable business. Though
crippled. the Trust is still very much |