Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-05-17
The Carnenters Organize.

The carpenters met last night at
Good Templar's hall, pursuant to
their advertisement printed in the
JOURNAL. About thirty men were
present.
Mr.. Watts, of Portland, called the
meeting to order. He contrasted
the present situation with the first
form of government and the resist
ance to tyranny. The evils of the
present, the people were to blame
for, and if men did not organize to
remedy them, they must bear the
consequences. He was not u speech
maker, but a simple worker. The
Union had appointed him state or
ganizer for carpenters and there was
but limited time to act and he
called oD others for remarks.
Mr.. Grant, of Portland, spoke.
He said this was a matter of great
importance. Every branch of trade
was organized. No branch was
more abused than this. Carpenters
were the poorer paid class in the
states. This was their own fault.
The only remedy was organization.
Carpenters Were not paid as they
should be. They were class of
slaves, made so by their employers.
In the east they had better pay and
shorter hours of labor, giving them
more time for recreation, to spend
with their families. This trade re-
quired more study and knowledge,
and was compelled to carry five
times as many tools as any other
trade. His tools were expensive to
keep in order. Bricklayers got
from 81 to IS a day, carpenters 81 to
So. Plasterers got twice this. The
carpenters We're hard to organize
and preferred to work for whom
they please and for what they please.
None had a right to cut under
anothers wages. The bosses had
organized to grind down the car
penters to pauper wages. We must
organize as body and demand our
wages and get them, and crowd
out ali who will work for less when
we are strong enough.
Mr.. Watts read paper setting
out the purposes of the order, which
was to fight against low prices and
botch work. 1t was Il kind of pro-
tective and mutual benefit society.
1t had already added over 1000, 600
to wages Of carpenters. 1t paid 4
funeral benefit and sick support. II
was a day and age of pools, combln'
ations and trusts. One could not
buy a pound of sugar or coal with
out buying against Il trust and
workingmen were fools if they did
not get their rights.
A number of members arouse IN
response to a reques. for members.
The general initiation fee is 500
to s.. 90 and the Portland carpenters
: talk of raising the fee to Sl5 as sooI
as their strike Is over. The charte
. for here will be whatever it is made
, The secretary read the names a
I all those who had signed the call
and the doors were closed "a Civ
the members Of the new union thei
obligations. All Others retired ~
y. Guiding the reporter.
Prof. 5. A. Starr, Of the Iniver-
", went % Hubbard this mUrniH
to attend quarterly conferen 'e
the NJ. +. church, and take th
place Of Presiding Elder Wire, VIII
- is sick AT his home ia this city.
d Another big line Of g"od- wit o.
J. rive at Calvert = on Monday mrrl
ing. Bought cheap pnd "ill hc sp'
cheaper thnu ever. j-l5-2
:. FLIGHTY TEAM-A runawa
n was had this forenoon by "A teal
L hitched to a load Of lumber AT Il
is Capital mills. They started wit
&c the front wheels Of the wagon, az
after damaging couple Of rigs
frpuf ~ Seritser A pOhle'g and brea