Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-01
M StOnecutters.

OMAHA, March 3l.-To the Editor of the
BEE: In your evening edition of the 3lst
appeared an article headed 'Stonecutters
Out on Monday" For the information Of
the readers Of the BEE and the public in gen
eral, we would distinctly state that such is
not the case, for the stonecutters ceased to
work when the article appeared in the press
and withdrew from work in disgust for we
were under the impression that we had
gentlemen and men of honor whose veraclty
and fairness was beyond reproach, but to the
contrary we were deceived and extremely so
and ever remember the gentlemen hereafter,
and more especially one who has been flying
high in this controversy who DOTTED the robe
of society-stonecutters but a short time ago
and who is making strong efforts to don n
contractors garb and has proved a bitter
enemy to his late comrades.
On the 18th inst. a circular was being dis
tributed about the city and posted in conspic-
uous places in the stone yards, the purport
OF which was an attempt on their part to
annihilate our organization, which, thank
God, we have the privilege to contest with
them on that point.
Now, sir, we ask you conscientiously
whether you think we would be justified in
remaining, at work in the presence of those
Objectionable circulars or not. Don't you
think it would have been prudence on the
part of the contractors to withhold those CIR
culars until April l, and not insult u.s. But
1t has been clearly demonstrated to us that it
is in accord with the principle displayed by
these gentlemen throughout this controversy,
and to illustrate this fact to you we will give
you Il true statement of affairs.
On the 10th day of January, and not in
February as is stated in the issue of the Both
inst. the contractors received notice that on
and after April | we expected 80 cents per
hour and eight hours to constitute q days
work. The contractors shortly after re-
quested a conference and their desire was
ntIGfnl nnI thu nnf.r ,,1-
and peaceful throughout, and the only con-
tention was they demanded sixty days to
complete their contracts under way, eight
hours and 30 cents per hour was satisfactory
to them, perfectly 50. The result of the pro
ceedlngS in the conference was reported to
our association and an extension of six weeks
was granted, making it the middle of MAY
before our demand would take effect. Now.
sir, the contractors plea for an extension of
time was based on the assumption that stone
could not be secured from the quarries to
proceed with the work. But his time
last season they could command stone
enough to employ fifty to sixty stonccutters
without trouble. If the two weeks differ
ence in extension Of time and the assertion
that they could not secure the stone required
Tor one particular job was the only difficulty
why did they not proceed and take advantage
of the extension of time with work they nave
secured at our demands this spring, which
would certainly counterbalance all loss sus-
tanned on one job for which they cannot Sc
cure the stone. But no, that is not the desire
on Their part, they acquaint us with the fact
that they, the contractors, iourneyed to Kan
sas City to organize, and on the strength of
that they return to eXterminate the stonecut-
ters' association for satisfaction, but it is one
thing TO say and another to do.
t]ra aoGshef is Rt Sey d Ti'A not the %rec sGn,
Official notice of the extension of time. Now,
sir, the contractors were notified officially Of
a desire on our part to confer with them at
any time they may appoint, but they did not
respond, but treated the notice with indiffer-
ence. And on the 23rd of March two of the
conference committee waited on Mr. Foil IN
person, and were informed by that gentle
man that he had no objections whatever to
the eight hours, SOC per hour or the extention
OF six weeks. In fact he expressed himself
as perfectly satisfied as far as he was CON
cerned, and would try and collect his col
leagues together that afternoon to settle the
matter up, but during the afternoon wished
to have the meeting deferred until the follow
ing Wednesday, which was done, with the
result as above stated. Now, sir, at our
meeting last evening we unanimously decided
TO adhere 10 our decision of the 10th day of Jan
uary that eight hours shall constitute a days
labor, and 30 cents per hour or a per day,
TO take effect April /. The conclusion re.
suited from the way we have been misrepre-
sented through the press and the underhand
way in which the employers have tried 20
handle us. We would also intimate, here,
that we have represented the matter in its
true light, and will, on our part, refrain from
any further controversy through the press.
SToNECuTTERs' ASSOCIATION OF OMAHA.