A. I should suppose, probably not more than—you mean in my department—probably one fourth.
Q. Take it in the whole shops—what proportion were at work?
A. Probably one fourth. The others had been intimidated by threats and some had been assaulted before that, because they had continued to work. They had been notified that they should not work.
Q. Had you heard of any discontent among the men, or had there been any discontent or any strike contemplated, so far as you learned, prior to the news of the strike at Pittsburgh reaching here?
A. There had not anything positive. I knew there was a very bad feeling among the men, I knew the men felt sore and uneasy, didn't seem contented or happy. I had not heard any threats of any strike.
Q. What about?
A. About low wages. The companies had been oppressive, and they ought to have more, and there seemed to be a general dissatisfaction and bad feeling.
Q. Had the wages been reduced any last year, during the summer?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. When were they reduced?