The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-10-23

first week in September. Evidence
will have most weight during the first
week in November.
Does the heart of Steel Trust Per.
kins and his corporate pals really beat
for labor?
Called to the congressional witness
stand for examination, Mr.. Schwab
former president of the trust, said
that the average daily wage of the pig
iron workers in 1902 was $1.S9 and in
1909, 5000; and that in that period
the labor cost OF ton OF pig had
shrunk from 1925 to 80 cents. The
tonnage a man increased from 1.65 to
2.59. In 1902 it cost in w:@as So"
100000 to produce 100000 tons of
iron, and in 1909 it cost less than &c..
100000 to produce almost 100000
tons. There was decrease of ST.
$4,000 in wages and an increase OF
100000 tons in product. The in
creased per capita wage was due to
a decrease of 2,1S0 in the number of
men employed. On the 100000 tons
produced in 1902 the company realized
1926, 900, 900, while it realized 1885,
100000 on the 1921 900 tons produced
in 1909. Here is an increase of $780,
100000, in realized value, though the
increase in tonnage was only $780,
COO. Did the workers in DR.. ROOse-
velt's pet trust get square deal?"
Eut this is not all. The policy OF
this enormous corporation was strong
ly against organized labor At meet
ing held in New York June II, 1901
the executive committee of the steel
trust adopted the following minute:
I'VE are unalterably opposed to any
extension of union labor and advise
subsidiary companies to take firm po-
sition when these questions come up
and say that they are not going to
recognize it, that is, any extension OF
unions in mills where they do not
now exist: that great care should be
used to prevent trouble and that they
promptly report and confer With this
corporation.
American union workers could not
be had on these terms, and SO the
steel trust began to advertise broad
cast for workers, as per the following
sample:
'WANTED-SiXty tin house men.
timers, catchers and helpers, to work
in open shops; Syrans, Poles and Rou
manians preferred; steady employ
mert and good wages to men willing
to work; fare paid and no fees
charged for this work.
AS a result about so per cent of
the workers are foreigners OF this
class. So union labor was driven
from the mills. The United States COM
missioner of labor reported that Il
May, 1910, 20 per cent Of the laborers
in the steel mills worked customarily
seven days week. and 20 per cent
worked eighty-four hours week
and this means twelve-hour working
day every day in the week, including
Sunday.
The committee report says: TAX
ing the ordinary family as unit, the
wages paid, even if the head of the
family is constantly employed, are
barely enough to provide subsistence.
while as 10 general domestic sur
roundings, rome of the details are re-
voting, both as to sanitary and moral
conditions
Rut there are other ways in which
the Perkins steel trust seems to thrive
wonderfully. The company stores are
a great source of profit. In 1908 the
subsidiary company managing them
the Union Supply company-declared
a dividend of $25O,O00 on capital
of $5OO,OOO In 1910 the dividend was
S52O,OOO at will be seen," says the
committee, that this corporation
earned and paid its parent company,
the United States steel corporation, i'll
dividends a total of $3,490,OOO in eight
years on retail supplies sold almost
exclusively to it's own employees"
In the fact of such showing will
the American laboring men be swift
to reach the conclusion that the Unit
ed States steel trust is in politics from