Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-20
WORKERS In WOOD.
They Demand q Price I'm Keep
Ing With the Times.

The prospects are that the coming
building season will be busy one, be
ing the trst, as it 10, following on the
footsteps OF the boom. We are credibly
iniornied enough contracts have already
beea let to keep builders busy during
the season. Such being the case, the
attitude OF the carpenters Is oil no little
interest. We have already mentioned
the formation Of an association, and
have given the officers thereof This
association ~ but one 81 the many
formed or in course Of formation all
over the country, and the question Is
natural, why are they iormedi simply
this:
A comparison 'Oi wages has been
made in which Il was claimed that jour
neymen carpenters get less compensa-
ton than any other skilled workmen,
and considering the outlay they are ne
cessilated to make for tools, less than
common laborers II was stated that =
Jour could at present get but 81 % per
day, while il would take q years saw
ings to buy u kit vi tools. And. again,
theirs Is about the only branch OF me
chanics which has not received share
Of the material benefits to the workman
iIom the recent boom.
The association met in Crangle's block
last night. and as the rumor hal gotten
out that u general strike WAS 30 be in
auguraird on April LIST, representative
OF the RKGIsTER called upon several Of
the men a. the meeting broke mp. lie
found them all to he intelligent aud iaIr
minded, and well prepared 10 reason
out their situation. lie ut once relieved
his mind Of the weight upon IL.
lis there any truth In the rumOr that
YOU intend 10 strlke on April lst?'
Not bit. We want an increase ia
wages, but We rely On the souudncss ol
our views aud fair minds Of the bosses
to obtain il.
What is your grievance"
That we are receiving less than is
paid for any other class Of skilled labor.
And not that alone. We are getting less
than the absolute cost oi living. Every
thing has risen IN price. We
pay more rent, more ior
clothing, much more Tor tools
hut we are making actually less than We
did three years agp. What We want l. a
FAIR price and u regular system VI pay.
What do you make now
The average wages are Sl,IJ day,
though many more make less than more
than that. There are some choice men
who are paid more, but very lew. Now
u proper outfit Tor good carpenter cOsIs
$500 or $500, aud he Is compelled 10 pay
for everything, even files for sharpening
his tools. Aud then there Is no regular
price. One shop pays one price and
some another. II a jour goes from one
shop To another they have To ask him
what he has been getting. Aud then wc
want protection from wood butchers.
What are they
"Oh, they arr men who hack aud saw
at wood without knowing anything
about the trade"
Then you have u uui0u2'
well, We don't call il by that name.
It's an association. We've got to have
some kind Of an organization, 50 that
We can rate men, or give them a stand
ing. We have NO fear al strangers CON.
ing in aud taking our places, none at all
Here was strange carpenter come here
the other day, and the first thing lac
asked for was union. And there
wasn't any
"Ilow 10 carpenters generally regard
your association
Every iavOrably. They are gradually
coming into line. We take in new mem
beers all the time took ia two tonight,
"What DO you propose To- do?'
con the first Of April We notify con
tractors that on certain day We will
ask for an increase o. raise the average
wages to $50 day"
Suppose they refuse, what will you
dor
We hadn't thought Of that, but We
don't believe they will. They cant, in
reason. Our views are too sound and
everything is in our favor
Have YOU talked any with cOntar.
tors
ooh, yes, with several OF thCm. liaucs
Il Wilson will pay the price and So will
klieyes, Kraft 4 Co. Mr.. liaucs told
Us ho guessed he'd have to. OF course
We don't blame him or any ont iur pay
ing lust what they can got good work
done for. but il the carpenters move in
"a body, they will all pay the price
But suppose they refuse, persisted
the reporter, what will you dor
well, we don't know haven't
thought OF such contingency. But,
you sce, humanity aul reason are ON
our side, and We don see how they can
r.F.aa