The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-02
UNION N. 'fRE BARRED.
scabs Employed to fAint the Resi-
dence of Benjamin Harri-
son, President
Insincerity Of His Profession OF
Interest in the Cause Of
Labor.
He winks at violations Of the Eight
Hour Law That Come Under
His Notice.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The labor unions
of the country will be interested to know
that n-union men were engrged in re-
painting thei Executive mansion at Washing
ton to the exclusion of union mon. A great
deal of talk is heard nowadays about the
interest the president was taking in the
labor bills before congress, and he is rep
resented as SO anxious to have them acted
upon and passed that he caused it to be
made known, in semi-official wav that he
may call an extra session should congress
adjourn without acting upon them and
some other bills he also designated. But
while he is trying to make it appear that he
is zealously watching the interests of the
labor organizations and is using his in
fluence to secure them the legislative con-
sideration they require, he is seemingly
blind to another and moro practical phase
of the situation, which certainly does not
tally very we'll with the keen interest which
he is alleged to take in the needs of the
workingman. The White House, in the ab-
sence of the president and his family, re-
ceived fresh coat of paint.
The work was in the hands of con-
tractors, H. G. Holther having charge
of the inside work and F. 8.
Newman of the exterior work. The union
painters of the District of Columbia were
striking for eight hours to constitute a
days work. Contractor Holther acceded to
the demands of his men, but Contractor
Newman declined to do 80 and set to work
to supply their places. He secured five
non-union painters, and continued the job
with this help. Hardly had the substitutes
began work ere they were waited upon by q
committee of the strikers, who requested
them to suspend work in the interest of
labor. No coercion was used, and it is said
their arguments were making converts of
the imported painters, when Contractor
Newman. who saw what would be the re-
suit, appealed to the police, who are sta
toned in and about the White House, to
interfere. This seemed to have been done
with great alacrity, and the strikers we're
ordered off the grounds under threat of
arrest should they fail to obey promptly
the mandate. The committee at once with
drew. As the premises are free to the pub
lie. and the committee of the union men
was quiet and attempted to use no violence,
their expulsion from the ground by the
police seems to have been an arbitrary pro-
ceeding.
The eight hour law of June 25, 1888, pro-
vides that eight hours shall constitute a
days work for all laboring men or mechan-
les working for or in behalf of the govern
ment. While the painting of the executive
mansion is done by contract, the men are
working in behalf of the government, and
the point is made that to compel them to
work over eight hours is violation of the
letter and spirit of the act. This work is
done, and the contracts are let by Colonel
0. H. Ernst. U. S. A., superintendent of
public buildings, who has charge of all the
improvements required at the executive
mansion, and which. of course, are carried
on subject to the presidents approval.
The local Federation of Labor, represent
ing all the trade organizations in the Dis
trict of Columbia, met and after
endorsing the painters strike appointed
committee of three to wait upon
Mayer Ernst. superintendent of public
buildings and grounds, and protest against
the employment of painters on the execu-
tive mansion for over eight hours per day.
Superintendent Ernst told the committee
that he could not interfere in this matter,
as Contractor Newman had full control of
his own men.
The labor men point to this as an illustra-
tion of the lack Of disposition on the part
of government officials to enforce the law
and their position is emphasized by the
fact that in May, Thomas D. Denham, pres
ident of the federation, presented men,
orial to President Harrison citing viola
tions of the eight hour law in this city, and
praying him to use his authority to secure
the enforcement of the law, which the
president to date has failed to do.