Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-07
PREPARING TO FIGHT
The Builders Exchange Joins the
National Association
TO KILL OUTSIDE COMPETITION.
The St. Paul Convention to Devote . Day
to Discussing Eight Hours.
THE OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR ELECTED

The Builders Exchange of Pittsburg has
not heretofore being affiliated with the
National Association of Builders, but at its
me citing yesterday it decided to take this
step, with the object OF being better able to
Withstand and cope with the demands of the
worklngmen for an eight-hour day, when
the demand shall be made.
From the interviews and express
sions of opinion from the master
builders of the city, which
have already appeared in these columns, it
will have been seen that the disposition,
general among them, is to fight the eight
hour movement; and they hope by joining
the national body of their trade to find
strength when the tussle comes.
FOR THE TUG OF WAR.
It is more than probable that Pittsburg
will see the hardest fighting, for the double
reason that contractors have more to fear
from outside competition here than in cities
of similar magnitude and because it
is the greatest stronghold of organ
lied labor in the country. Master
builders have for long suffered from the en-
croachments Of their fellows from nearby
cities and towns who successfully compete
with them on the score of cheaper labor and
material. Lately house furnishings in the
shape of finished doors, and sashes frame
work and joinery work, ready smoothed
and primed, have been delivered here at
prices at which similar material could be
obtained in this city, but owing to the long
er hours and lesser wages paid at the point
of manufacture, contractors have been able
to make larger profit by buying from the
outside source.
RURAL ADVANTAGES.
A strong reason why the local master
builders have Joined the National Associa-
tion is with the view of fighting the outside
towns. As far as they are concerned the
towns such as Butler, which pays 81 per
day for ten hours work in planning mills, for
example, and Pittsburg, which pays 81 20
for nine hours work.
1t is estimated that the country has an
advantage over the city equal to 10 per cent
in labor and 15 per cent in time, and when
insurance, taxes, etc., are reckoned that the
country has the best Of the city by fully 80
per cent at the existing rates OF time work,
and that should eight hours be introduced,
that it will amount to 40 per cent.
LABOR IN SMALL CITIES.
It has before this been found that labor
organizations of any strength cannot be sue
cessfully established in small localities, and
with this fact again the Pittsburg contrac-
tor is obliged to count from having to COM
pete against the smaller wages and longer
hours which follows on the TACT.
The officers for the Builders Exchange for
the year are: W. B. Luton, President; H.
B. Barnes, First. and A. Alston, Second
Vice Presidents; E. A. Knox, Secretary; T.
J. Hamilton, Treasurer.
The old Board of Directors were re-
elected.
PITTSBURG DELEGATES TO GO.
The National Association will meet in
st. Paul, Mimi, on the 9th, 28th, 29th
instant. At least one day will be devoted
to the discussion of the eight-hour question.
All the principal cities in the Union are in
the association, and 80 per cent Of the build
ing trades will be represented, beside the 80
recognized Exchanges. Pittsburg will send
three members, who will be selected
from the following: Reece Lindsay, T. j.
Hamilton, A. Rasner, Samuel Francis and
II. B. Barnes. Each member of the Ex-
change contributed 81 TO the national body,
so that the affiIlation will cost local build
ers about $500.
It was said yesterday that as counter
move to the first eight-hour movement of
the Federation of Labor the master
builders would cease all building work, not
obligatory or then under contract, by the 1st
of April.