ere no such improvements had been made, no reduction in
tonnage rates was proposed. The company gave as a reason for reducing
the minimum that the market price of steel had gone down below $25.00
per ton, and that it was unfair for the workmen to have the benefits of
a rise in the market above $25.00, and share none of the losses of the
company when the market price fell below that figure. Indeed, the
company contended that there ought to be no minimum as there was no
maximum under the sliding scale. The workmen insisted that there ought
to be a minimum to protect them against unfair dealing between the
company and its buyers, as they had no voice or authority in selling the
products of their labor.

The reason for changing the time for closing the contract was that the
company's business was less active at the end of the calendar year than
in midsummer, and that it was easier to complete new arrangements for
employment at that time. Another reason was that the company often made
sales for an entire year, and consequently contracts for labor could be
more safely made if they began and ended at times corresponding with
contracts made with their customers. The workmen opposed this change in
the duration of the contract on the ground that in midwinter they would
be less able to resist any disposition on the part of the company to cut
down their wages, and that in the event of a strike, it would be more
difficult to maintain their situation than it would be in summer. They
claimed, therefore, that the change in time would be a serious
disadvantage to them in negotiating with their employers. They proposed
to the company, as a counter proposition, that the contract should end
the last of June, as had formerly been the case, and that if any change
was to be demanded, three months' notice must be given them, and that,
if this was not done, the contract, which was to run for three years,
should continue for a year longer; in other words, from June 30, 1895,
until June 30, 1896. This suggestion was rejected by the company. But
the company then proposed to make the minimum $23.00 per ton for steel
billets, and the Association, through its committee, named a price of
$24.00, refusing to concede any more.

While these negotiations were pending, the superintendent of the
Homestead Steel Works had concluded contracts with all the employees,
except three hundred and twenty-five of the highest skill, who were
employed in three of the