The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-02
"UNIONIsT" REPLIES.

Inc meeting adjourned until Saturday
night.
"UNIONIST" REPLIES
He Renews His Suggestion to the Ex-
change.
To the Editor of The INDEPENDENT: NV
article of Saturday seems to have stirred
up couple of members of the Helena
Manufacturers and Builders Exchange,
and confirms what inferred in my article
that that organization is composed OF
two classes, one opposed and the other
friendly to labor organizations. Any one
reading both articles can readily ses that
"A Member is not a friend to organized
labor, speaking of US as pirates, etc., while
Exchange being friendly but entertain
ing different views as to the best methods
of arriving at the same end, treats us in
gentlemanly manner. will take the COM
munications as they appear in this morn
ing's INDEPENDENT, and try and convince
the members of the Exchange that the po-
sition have taken in this matter is more
than the policy it has partly adopted and
which presume they will fully adopt at
to-night's meeting.
IA Member in his communication says
if would take the trouble to inform my
self in regard to the constitution of the
Exchange would see the "folly of ente,-
ing into silly TRADE against some Of the
members thereof etc. If said anything
that could by any possible means be con-
strued into "tirade'' against any
of the members of that body
am not aware of it and nothing
could be further from my intentions.
My assertion that the membership of tho
~ u Of ,uh
are not friendly to organized labor is proven
by "A Member" himself when he refers to
US as being imitators of Kidd and says "if
such things are allowed in this free country
we shall certainly have reign of terror"
"a Member cannot understand by what
to dictate to another in regard to his own
business. ! agree with him in that particu-
lar, and defy him or any one else to point
to single instance where any labor orcani-
cation has attempted to dictate to IN en-
ployer as to how he should conduct his bu-
what terms its members can accept en-
ployment, and if the terms do not suit the
employer there is no law compelling him to
employ organized labor. This is certainly
no attempt at dictation. If our terms do
not suit you, you need not employ US. We
and the workman. We will not al
low an employer to take undue ad-
vantage of a workman's necessities.
l presume "A Member has reference to
the matter of union workmen refusing to
work with non-union men. The unions
do not say who the employer shall employ.
They simply say that union men shall not
work with non union men; that is. they
state the terms upon which its members
will accept employment. Is there anything
wrong in that? Before closing with IA
Member will state that am not eligible
TO membership in the Exchange or I would
certainly join and do all could to promote
its interests and the interests of labor or
CARNATIONS.
Now, as to the communication signed
Exchange" can say but little in addition
to what / said in yesterdays INDEPENDENT,
simply that the preamble, constitution and
bylaws of the Helena manufacturers and
builders exchange gives the trades unions
"taffy" and nothing more. 1t is7true the
constitution provides for board of COM
missioners to confer with representatives
of labor organizations as to hours of labor,
rate of wages, etc., but that commission. SO
far az the constitution gives it authority,
can only hear what the union representa-.
| tives have to offer and report back to the
exchange. But the question arises right
here, suppose your members do not employ
union labor, what effect will n conference
between your commissioners and the trades
unions have?
About three weeks ago sent a commune
cation to the trades assembly calling atten-
| ton to the fact of the preliminary organ
| ization of the Manufacturer and Build
ers' exchange, and pointing out the advan
tages to be derived by the cooperation. o
the trades unions with the exchange. Tit
communication was favorably acted upo1
and 4 committee appointed to wait upol
the committee of the exchange that wa
appointed to draft constitution and by
laws. In this mornings INDEPENDENT
see the report of the trades assembly com
mittee to the effect that "they saw nothin
in the constitution of the plan of the organ
ration to render it advisable for this OF
oanization to ally itself Herewith, the OF
sential point being omitted, namely, tina
none but union members should be employ
ed where obtainable." 1t is presumed thu
committee thoroughly investigated the pro
rived at the above conclusion. This const
tuition was adopted at last Friday night
meeting, and as there was nothing SAID as
the time it was to go into effect, tne pre-
sumption is that it went into effect at tn
time of its adoption. Now if there
why are some of the members OF the 9,
, change boycotting organized labor?
We assume that you need our assistan!
in more ways than one, the principal on
being to refuse to handle imported hi
terial when it can be obtained at reasol
able price from home manufacturers. Tha
believe, the unions would be willing
, do provided you showed your appreciate
! of their services. You are aware there a
several firms who import all their buildil
material from the east, and also some
, their labor. Now, We will assume TIN
I these firms desire to continue IN
I porting their material. but find
difficult to do business without Il
7 assistance of organized labor. They a
. shrewd business men and can readily 8
:, and take advantage of opportunities VIII
= presented. Is it not probable that tn
= would make just such proposition to t
y unions as the unions now make to the 9
. change? If they agree to employ none b
union labor, and the exchange refuses
make such agreement, in whose interet
1t will the unions work?
: desire it distinctly understood that
20 heartily in sympathy with the objects
l. the exchange and wish it every success.
,e also desire to see it work in harmony WI
the labor organizations of the city, and 81
II as its worthy secretary said at the 81
B. meeting. that it will employ only organic
er labor, and hope that its promoters will y
81 see the necessity of inserting such clat
a. in its constitution as was outlined IN I
article in yesterdays lNDEPEkDENT.
10 UNIoNIsr
TO Helena, Dec. /. 1890.
,e Take it before breakfast"
II