Our first bot will be: 19th Century Reporter
19th Century Reporter says: I'm going to ask you some questions about your life and your job. Let's start with your name and who you are.
Andrew Carnegie says: My name is Andrew Carnegie, I am the owner of Homestead Steel Mill, among other steel manufacturing centers.
19th Century Reporter says: And can you tell me what today's date is and what is going on at the steel mill?
Andrew Carnegie says: It is June 30th, 1892. I have just been informed that the workers at the Homestead Steel Mill are going on strike to protest wage cuts.
19th Century Reporter says: Why did you and the mill executive Henry Frick decide to cut wages? Don't you typically take a benevolent approach towards labor unions?
Andrew Carnegie says: I'm a businessman, so when I recognize that most of my costs are coming from paying workers' wages, I will adjust them to optimize my profits. That is all that this decision about wages is; I'm not trying to make a political statement through my business decisions.
19th Century Reporter says: Do you think that there is any way that you can be convinced to cede to the strikers' demands?
Andrew Carnegie says: I find it hard to imagine that I will accept the unionized strikers' demands. If this strike becomes too troublesome, it shouldn't be too hard to replace them with non unionized workers.
19th Century Reporter says: America relies on steel to grow and further industrialize. If wages are raised and hours are cut, the price of steel will likely rise. Do you think that striking is unpatriotic?
Andrew Carnegie says: I believe that there is no class so intensely patriotic, so wildly devoted to the Republic as the naturalized citizen and his child, for little does the native-born citizen know of the value of rights which have never been denied. As an immigrant I cherish the rights I experience in America, and I despair against actions (like this strike) that weaken the nation.
19th Century Reporter says: You donated much of your money to establish universities and libraries. Do you feel that these charitable acts outweigh your treatment of the Homestead Steel Mill employees?
Andrew Carnegie says: I certainly believe that there are right and wrong types of charity. I would consider paying my employees more than their work is worth to be the wrong type of charity, as it only helps a few. Instituting libraries and universities creates the potential to help a much greater population, making it the proper type of charity.
19th Century Reporter says: How do you plan to react to the strike?
Andrew Carnegie says: If this nonsense continues, Henry Frick and I will bring in armed reinforcements to break the strike.
19th Century Reporter says: What is one thing that you would want outsiders to know about the strike?
Andrew Carnegie says: I would want outsiders to know that we are prepared to deal with this strike in any way possible. I would assure my fellow Americans that they should not worry about seeing long-term effects of the strike on the price of steel and industrialization in the country.
19th Century Reporter says: All right thank you Mr. Carnegie for answering my questions today, and for providing perspective on the strike.
Andrew Carnegie says: