Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-11
The Other Side.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
WASuINGrnN ID q

The Other Side.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
WASHINGTON. ID. c., May 9. 1882
By direction of the organized carpenters of
the city 1 respectfully submit the following,
and ask in justice, not only to organized labor,
but to large majority of the legitimate build
ers and business men of the city as well, that
You give it publication in your columns:
1t has been your custom to give in your Sat-
urdays issue a report of the building opera
tons in progress or in contemplation in various
sections of the city. some of which, regret to
say. are often misleading and erroneous. In
your issue of May the statement is made that
there are but few men connected with the
building trades in this city who are idle;"
also that 1.-THE demand for workmen is so great
that a number have come from other cities
where work Is not so plentiful Now. the truth
is that there is a large majority of the carpen-
tiers idle and anxious to get work, but have
been prevented by reason of the unfavorable
weather, and partly on account of a tendency
on the part of the busters you speak of to
cut wages. Labor all over the country has been
compelled in pure self-defense. to organize in
order to prevent the selfish greed of few
grasping men from taking from them the means
OF support and it has been the prac-
tice OF the press (perhaps unwittingly)
with a few noble exceptions. to aid these men
in their efforts to misrepresent and Cypress
labor, simply because they attempt to defend
their rights and homes. l do not wish to be
misunderstood in this matter. l represent a
body of free American citizens Statements
''about arbitrary and oppressive labor unions
to the contrary Notwithstanding who believe
in free press and free speech, and stand ready
to back the laws which guarantee those rights,
with their lives If necessary, and are opposed
to all lawlessness and riot, and will not for a
moment justify any violation of law and
justice.
Now there is large number of men who
make practice of coming to this city in the
early spring from their country homes and
going to work for anything they can get in the
way of wages. These men are not mechanics,
and think their fortunes are made if they get
from S1.50 to -. per day. They are employed
principally by these ''hustlers," and the work
they do is ''bustled" with a vengeance. Let any
good mechanic be questioned on this subject
and he will testify to the truth of this assertion
and let any man who is a competent Judge of
work inspect most of these hustled" and
doomed" rows you speak of, and he will
quickly tell you that he would be ashamed to
acknowledge having worked on them. / say
most of them, because there are a few land
very few exceptions. The tendency is to get
these rows upas cheap as possible. regardless
of stability. and already some who have been
''sold" by buying these houses are beginning to
complain of the work falling to pieces before
they are paid for.
These houses are given out by what is known
as ''piece work, and even if the men who take
them happen to be good workmen they are
compelled to put their prices down to such a
figure that i'll order to get even low wages out
of their ''sub-contracts' they will slight the
work and ''hustle" it in every way possible,
and a large majority of the legitimate builders
will bear me out in my assertion. l have
been told that some of our own members are
concerned in this 'piece work" business. /
will say here that the member of either of our
organizations who does ''piece work" is recre-
ant to his obligation and no longer worthy to
be called a ''union man.
have conversed with large number of the
master builders, and they agree with me that
the men who are at the head of this "husting'
and blooming" are taking their legitimate
business out of their hand and driving good
workmen to the wall. 1 appeal to the business
men of our city to consider this matter when
they read the slurs and insults cast at organized
labor. would like for them to remember that
large number OF these men who work for less
than the established rate of wages are men who
have no interest whatever in the prosperity of
our city, but come here in the spring when
work begins and take the places of residents,
work in most cases for low wages, send, as
have 1t from their own mouths. about two
thirds OF their wages to their homes reserving
only enough to maintain themselves in cheap
boarding houses, spending nothing here which
can be avoided, and in the fall return them
selves to their farms and live in comfort from
their Savings" and the products of their crops,
while the men who live in the city spend their
money here, pay rent. &c. are left to fight
through the winter in idleness enforced, and in
many cases go in debt for what they eat, and
Off they find hustler" lenient enough) also
for house rent as well.
No doubt some will say this is a narrow view,
and instigated by jealousy and prejudice; but
/ know whereof / speak, and my assertions
will be abundantly substantiated by not only
journeymen but bosses" as well. Now, Mr..
Editor, while we would not object to a publica-
ton which will show the growth and prosperity
| OF our beautiful city, yet we do most emphati-
cally protest against it being put in the shape
| of an advertisement, for the influx of lot of
men, such as mention, who are led to believe
that men are scarce and in demand, when the
truth Is there are too many here already. 1t
viii be time enough to call men from abroad
when those already here are employed, and
this same rule will apply to foreign emigra-
| ton as well. 1t has been part OF my duty, as
| the representative Of the organized carpenters
| to interview the builders and owners, and am
| happy to say that a large number Of them con-
| cede the justice OF my arguments and agree
with me that if a check is not put to the class
Of work speak of, they the builders) as well as
| the journeymen will ultimately be driven from
the market and the 'hustlers" will hold full
! sway
| 1 will say further, that in all my experience
| as the business agent for the carpenters, can
\ not recall a single instance where a builder
| who has served his apprenticeship and UNDER
| stands carpentry, has advocated low wages,
| but to the contrary number of them tell me
that they will not employ a man who works for
less than the regular wages, no matter how
| good workman he may profess to be, and it is
only these "hustlers'' who will give employ
ment to these men who work cheap, because
they know they are not competent workmen as
| a class
Another point When these houses are ready
for occupancy we find that the price is not in
accordance with the low wages paid, and the
low class of work done, but fully up to the
mark of frst-class rent or sale as the case may
be, and the money which should have gone
stead into that of the .'hustler."
Very respectfully yours,
| GEORGE KErTHLEY,
Business Agent for Organized Carpenters Of