The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-02
How to Work tremendously To-
gether, the Burning Question
of the Hour.
The Employers Hold Another
Meeting to Adopt Constitu-
ton and BYLAWS.
The Labor Question Proves the s'"moi'ne
Block-A Plan of Arbitration that
Is Worth Consideration.

met at the Board OF IiHae io ~
of about thirty branches OF
industry were present. The constitution
cd hr-,avsvere taken up for considera-
.;on and adoption. The constitution was
ratified and the bylaws considered and
.dontad section by section. Some very
discussion was INDUCED in on
i. -;,;a, matters, All was plain sailing until
the clause relating to labor was reached,
and it proved a snaS.
This exchange is being organized for the
rrotection of the employers. Now that
nearly every branch of labor in the city is
oroanized, the employers have concluded
that they should organize. Several mem
hers of the exchange are firm Ill tnelf pur-
nose to stand aloof and independent OF Ia
hor. while the more conservative feel that
+ha hast results can be attained by concert
of action.
John Stedman presided at the meeting.
When the labor proposition came up he
said that this was not labor organization:
MI Ketchum suggested the appointment OF
. committee to confer with the trades ana
labor assembly, to devise some plan Tor the
adjustment of difficulties upon an equitable
basis. when difficulties arise.
The constitution adopted provides Tor the
appointment of permanent commlttee on
labor. and a labor COMMISSION, OF propaoly
ten members in all who shall meet toReGner
and decide the course to be pursued. Mr..
Stedman held that he thought 1t was the
intent of the constitution to have this COM
mittee act as an arbitration committee with
a like body from the labor organizations.
To Mr.. Ketchum this labor question was
one of serious import and he helu that thls
organization is not going to be independent
of labor organizations. ,..
Mr.. Workman said the exchange didn't
have to get down and crawl to the labor
organizations even though we are not
entirely independent. 1t is sand by labo!-
ing men in the newspapers that we want to
give them taffy: cannot see where the taffy
comes in. Again they say we are opposed
to them, If there are such men IN this
organization we do not want them. we
want to meet labor upon square ground.
On motion of Mr.. Workman the section
relating to bylaws was reconsidered and
referred back to the committee for amend
ment.
Mr.. Mclaughlin, member of the Trades
and Labor assembly who happened to be
present. was invited to speak. lie briefly
stated the purpose of the assembly and SAID
the committees appointed by them will be
found ready to meet others on legitimate
and square terms. While there are some
hot heads among them there are also level
headed and fair-minded men, who Will be
ready to meet all committees half way and
do what is square.
The members of the exchange have made
a similar claim, and if both are DESTROYS OF
meeting half way Mr.. Stedman said, that
leaves them just where they we're before.
80, b,,,, IS &h,E r,,, ,f AfP
DeNoielle, was inclined to admit that this
organization was not or could not be wholly
independent. He was believer in arbltra-
ton and thought that the following agree
ment between Boston stonecutters and con-
tractors presented grand step forward in
the peaceable settlement of labor troubles,
and he recommended that the committee
on bylaws be instructed to give 1t consld-
Grafton and appoint committee tC confer
With the Trades and Labor assembly to see
how they regarded the plan. Mr.. ketchum
then rea,l the following agreement:
The Freestone Contractors association of
New England, and the Journeymen's Pro-
gressive Stonecutteis' association of the
city of Boston and vicinity, being about to
enter into an agreement for mutual benefit,
do hereby severally and jointly assent to
the following propositions as Il declaration
of principles:
l. It is possible and desirable to unite in
establishing a method by which the inter
ests of workmen and the interests of en-
ployes may each receive just consideration.
and through which the relations of each to
the other may be tremendously adjusted.
2. To secure the establishment of such q
method it is absolutely necessary that there
be associations of employers and associa-
tions of workmen, to act as authoritative
bodies in the premises, in order that the
action taken may represent as fairly rs pos
Dible the collective interests of both par
hes, and in order that the practices recon-
lneEded may through them be more gener-
ally adopted.
3. No association entitled to recognition
Is an authoritative body should either in
Is form of organization, or through its by
avs. rules or practices, attempt to indie
'endently and arbitrarily control or infiu.
'nce the action of others, but recognizing
he rights of others, should adopt measures
hat will lead to joint consideration anC
oint action in all methods of mutual con
ern.
I. Associations on the principles herein OK
pressed should be heartily encouraged. al
persons eligible thereto should be urged to
Join. and every legitimate effort made tc
convince them that it is their duty to unlt'
with their fellows III all honorable methods
FOR the establishment and maintenance Of
Just and proper practices among them
selves and in their relations to others, ant
contractors should decline to employ work
men VINO will not join associations thu
equltably established.
Being OF one mind on the foregoing pro
posltlons, the two organizations do hereb,
enter upon the following agreement:
FOR the purpose of establishing methot
OF peacefully settling all questions of mutu
al concern. we. The Freestone Contractors
association OF New England. and the Jour
neymen's Progressive Stonecutters' associa
ton OF the city of Boston and vicinity
agree that no such question shall be con
cluslvely acted upon by either body indie
pendentiy, but shall be referred for settle
ment TO joint committee, which sha
coneiet OF an equal number of represents
tlyes from each association.
The parties hereto agree to abide nv til
finding of this committee on all matters 9
mutual concern referred to it by eithe
party. II Is understood and agreed by bot
Patties that IN no event Shall strikes {
l0ckOnts be permitted. but all difference
shall be submitted to the Joint committe
and work Shall proceed without stoppage
embarrassment The joint committee abo,
referred 10 Is hereby created and establishe
guidance:
RULES OF JOINT COMMITTEE.
!. TINS committee shall consist of n,
less than SIX members, equally divided b,
tween the association represented. and /
action shall be taken by the COMMITTEES NJ
lees the full number of each delegation /
The members of this committee shs
% appointea by their respective associ
ti0ns not later than the 14th of Decemb
q eacn year. Vacancies occurring in eth
delegation to be filled by remaining mel
bera Of such delegation,
,. The duty of this committee shall be
conaider such matters of mutual Interest
the employers and the workmen as NAV
HlGQlarlY referred to i. h,, oi4hor "a s