The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
CARNEGIE TAKES A HAND
WILL TRY TO SETTLE A LABOR
FIGHT In AN ENGLISH TOWN.
jected All PIeas-Cause of the
Difficulty.

OilcSponocuCc VI luc luuldLdpOllS uIhd
LONDON, July 3O.-Andrew Carnegie is
the latest to take a hand in a strange con-
fict that has been raging off and on for sew
eral years between a rich and powerful peer
and a little townful of men, women and
children who have been dependent on him
for their bread and butter.
1t was just an ordinary little labor dis
pute to begin with, but as it went on it de-
veloped queer manifestations of human
nature, led to cruel fights and boycotts, laid
waste a prosperous village and finally be-
came a big party question in Parliament
and the cause of a speech by the strongest
man on the Opposition side, moving in be-
half of the Liberal party a vote of censure
on the government for not trying to put a
stop to so disastrous a struggle. The gov
ernment's answer was that the noble peer
wouldn't have paid any attention to them
If they had tried to interfere-and they
saved themselves on the strength of that
plea.
All the trouble arose over a famous blue
slate quarry in Wales, which had nour-
ished the happy little town of Bethesda.
The mighty Lord Penrhyn, second baron Of
that name and descendant of a fine line of
WIN kl( AaNA
as his father had before him.. The queerest
thing about it all was that the noble lord
had-and still has outside Of Bethesda-the
reputation of a philanthropist and model
employer of labor. He gave fair wages,
built churches and schools for his people and
interested himself in many ways in their
welfare. A large proportion of his $500
men had worked in the quarries all their
lives, and the fathers of many of them had
done the same. they had built their own
houses on land leased from the Penrhyn
lords, and were fairly happy, contented and
prosperous. They had been so long in their
places that they came to look on them
selves as there by right of inheritance.
MOSTLY A NATTER OF PRIDE.
Apparently there never was any serious
dispute about wages. All the trouble arose
over a committee appointed by the men to
protect their rights and keep an eye out
for any new rights that might be handy.
The first Lord Penryhn had got on well
enough with the committee, and perhaps
they had grown a little aggressive in con-
sequence. Anyway, the present lord did not
take a liking to the committeeman when
he came into power. The men said it was
because he wanted to deprive them of the
right of combination. The noble lord said
it was because the committee didn't actual
ly represent the workmen, but had become
to some extent a hired body of labor agi-
tators.
Wherever the merits of the dispute lay,
the only point of interest in this connection
is that the whole affair arose chiefly from
a bit of pride on both sides. The quarrel
grew until the men went out on strike in
1897. Eventually some sort Of compromise
was reached, but it didn't work long, and
| the men went out again in 1900 and have
present of getting back, except as indi-
viduals.
The appeals of men who nave settled
| great Industrial troubles in the past have
been as ~fruitless as the attempt to get the
government to interfere in the dispute.
Lord Penrhyn has openly declared that,
| even if he never realizes another penny out
of the Bethesda quarries, he will not dis
| cuss the subject of the trouble with any
one except the men themselves. He insists
that he and the workmen would have set
| tied their grievances long ago if it had not
been for the interference and agitation Of
| persons whom he chooses to describe as
busybodies.
REFUSED THE KING AND QUEEN.
The sufferings Of the wives and children
of the men were brought to the notice Of
Queen Alexandra about twelve months ago.
| and she suggested that Lord Roseberry and
Sir Thomas Upton should be asked to try
to arbitrate. Both gentlemen, knowing how
| determined the lord of Bethesda was, re-
| fused to act or approach him in any way.
| Before the trouble became the subject of
| discussion in the houses of Parliament the
| King himself tried indirectly to smooth
| over. the difficulties that had arisen. He
| sent for the mems advisers and made sug-
| g~estions which it was thought would meet
with the approval Of Lord Penrhyn, but all
was in vain
"If / am not capable of managing my
| own AFFAIRS" says Lord penrhyn to such
| offers, II nave no right to be in business at
| all, and as soon as I am convinced Of my
| incapacity 1 will leave Bethesda forever
Heaven only knows the full tale Of misery
! and hatred brought about by this absurd