The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-22
UNION CARPENTERS FOR NINE HOURS.
Tho Question Discussed In a Public
Meeting Last Evening.
Trouble Feared at squIre's Packing
Establishment in Cambridge.
News of the Labor Movement In
America and Abroad.

A largely attended meeting, called in the
interest of the nine-hour movement, was
held at Congress Hall last evening.
A. F. Mann, president Of the Portland
Carpenters Union, presided, and briefly ex-
planned the object of the meeting.
w. II. Gilpatrick was the first speaker.
When o'clock comes, men are, he said,
tired out and ready to go home. Another
thing there are carpenters enough in Port
land to do all the work there is to do here,
and not work more than nine hours day.
The change asked for need not make the
difference of one cent to the bosses, and the
time has come for the carpenters to strike
blow for themselves. Then we don't want
so long vacation in the winter. This much
is to be understood, when the first of May
comes, the members Of Carpenters' Union.
No. 344, of Portland, will pick up their tools
at o'clock in the afternoon and go home.
In answer to question put by Mr.. Brown,
regarding hours of labor and price, Mr.. Gil
patrick said they proposed to make nine
hours days work at the present ten-hour
rate of wages.
Mr.. Waterhouse, anon-union man, thought
nine hours enough.
Mr.. johnson thought the nine-hour system
would work all right If generally adopted.
Mr.. Verrill said he was the only man out
OF crew OF ten who was ready to demand
nine hours.
Mr., Fitzpatrick said ne was one of 20, but
still he was strongly In favor of making the
demand.
James Kelley thought there was strong
encouragement in the fact that the Fedora
tion OF Labor will back up the carpenters.
In reply to question put by Mr.. Brown,
the President said that the danger of i'm
ported Canadian labor had been considered,
and that the Central Labor Union would CO.
operate in the work of keeping that sort of
labor out Of Portland. An advertisement,
Carpenters wanted in Portland" is run
ming in some Canadian papers, and also
notice to carpenters to keep away from Port
land.
S. d. Lincoln thought if Portland carpen-
ters can live and only work nine hours or
less winters, they can do it summers as well.
u"How do they live winters?' he asked,
A voice-"They eat up what they save
summers"
Mr. Lincoln said he doubted if Portland
carpenter had laid up cent the last five
years.
John w. Lincoln. builder, said that after
the first day of May he should ask his men
to work only nine hours.
Mr. Parker favored the movement.
Mr. Brown asked If the union xed the
price of labor.
Mr.. Gilpatrick said the union didn't say
what man should get, but it did say that he
shouldn't work for less than So. 50 per day,
ana Stlll remain member OF the union. we
havn't undertaken to fix prices.
Mr.. Brown said, "And are still working
for the same bosses ?"
Mr.. Gilpatrick-"Yes."
Mr.. Brown-"Then what Is the union fer?"
Mr.. Gilpatrick repeated his explanation,
and suggested that il Mr.. Brown and 300
other Portland carpenters would only join
the union, 1t would be in position to fix
prices.
Mr.. Gill asked if union and non-union
Ill -. wA~l~N 49,
A voice-"We are strong enough to refuse
to do it now"
Mr.. Kelley-''And the union has so de-
cided The Central Labor Union will stand
by us, and after May 1st we will not work
with non-union men,
@. Il. Howard, contractor, thought it was
hardly right to ask one who hires men to
speak in meeting like this. He thought
the Portland bosses had received due notice
of what the men would demand. He thought
II the nine hour movement failed it would be
Mark Courant, representing the Central
| Labor Union, make strong plea for united
| action at this time.
President Blanchard of the Plasterers'
| Union, said they were still standing out for
| nine hours. He rendered thanks to the Gen.
| trail Labor Union, and other labor organiza-
| tionS for their assistance.
President Mann called for applications of
membership and over 20 of the carpenters
present responded. The president then
called the attention of the members of the
union to the fact that there would be only
two meetings more before the time for ac-
ton.
The meeting then adjourned.