St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-25
BITTER FIGHT AHEAD,
The Eight-Hour Rule Will Be
Fought to the Last Ex-
tpemity
By the Master Builders in the
Big Convention Next
Week.
Local Board Arrangements
for the Reception of the
Delegates.
What the Cut Stone Contr act
ors Will Do in National
Session.

As the time for the convention of the
Master Builders National association
approaches the excitement about the
elght-hour day movement increases. II
is very evident that the employers are
determined to take decided stand in
the matter. The statement is now off,
cially made that the master builders at
their meeting in st. Paul next week
propose to devote most of their time to
an exchange of views on the subject.
They apprehend the American Fedora
tion of Labor Will send out the building
trades organizations to inaugurate an
aggressive contest for the eight-hOuT
rule.
President John J. Tucker, of New
York, and Mr.. Eidlitz, directors of the
association, are now EN- route for st.
Paul. The board of directors will meet
here to-day. The New York branch of
the organization will be fully repre-
sented. The delegates are as follows:
A. j. Campbell. John NJ. Canda, Charles
Cowan, A. S. Dickens, Richard Duras,
Wenly, John j. Roberts, William G..
Smith, Louis Weber.
President Tucker says: "The eight
hour question is most difficult one to
settle. Much can be said for and
against the proposed change, but we in
tend to consider it in all fairness, and
will endeavOr to reach just decision.
( The question has been up for years.
About six years ago the union mechan-
les of New York asked us to adopt the
nine-hour rate. We told them that our
contracts had been made for year, and
the change they asked would injure us
materially. They struck, and building
was about at standstill for tel weeks.
The workingmen suffered great deal,
and so did contractors. We had re-
quested the men to wait for year, but
they would not. However, an agree
ment was afterwards made that has
produced good results. Many people in
everyday walks of life favor the
eight-hour rule. A number Of
New York contractors favor it. I
would like to see it if it could be
shown that it was for the best interests
of the country, and if business could
stand it. l expect that trouble will re-
suit from the eight hour agitation, and
that the marble contractors will suffer,
and will probably be crushed. A hard
fight will be made against its adoption.
L do not think the workingmen are
unit on the subject. The plasterers had
returned to the old rule. If the eight
hour rule should be adopted the burden
would fall on all hands. Landlords
would add the extra cost of building to
their rents, and storekeepers would add
it to the cost of their goods. There is
Que thing l would like to see, and that
is uniform time for beginning and
quitting work on buildings. Some men
work eight hoursa day, some nine and
some ten." Mr.. Tucker thinks the pro-
posed system would pinch men who are
paid by the hour.
A largely attended meeting of the cor
poration of the Master Builders eX-
change has been held at Philadelphia,
The questions that are to be decided at
the national convention were argued at
length, and the delegates instructed
how to vote. In considering the eight
hour law nearly every branch OF the
building industry was represented, and
each trade explained how it would in
Jure their business. The delegates
were Instructed by an unanimous vote
to oppose any and all resolutions that
might be presented at the national con-
ventiOn in favor of the adoption of this
law.
The lien law was then discussed, the
question being whether the national
organization should recommend It's abol-
ltion or not. On motion of William
Gray. an old member OF the body, the
delegates were Instructed to exercise
their influence to retain the lien laws
as they now exist in Pennsylvania.
They were also directed to encourage
manual training in the public schools
and sub-cOntracting in all trades.
The action of the convention is await
ed with deep interest by all persons
directly or indirectly concerned in the
building industry, as it is generally he
lieved that all the attendants at the st.
Paul meeting will make strong and
bitter fight against the eight hour sys-
TEN.