Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-06
THEY STRUCK A SNAG.
Retail Grocers Dodge on the First
Clause of the X. of L. Agreement.
THINK 1T INVOLVES CONSPIRACY.
Scottdale Operators Issue an Address to the
Miners.
BIG MEETING OF MASTER BUILDERS

The first clause OF the agreement between
the Retail Grocers' Association and the
various labor organizations of the city
proved stumbling block in the meeting of
the former organization last night, where
the agreement came up for consideration.
The meeting was not largely attended,
but those who were present had their fight
ing clothes on and the agreement was the
subject for lively discussion, which, lasted
until after midnight.
The agreement, which was printed ex-
clusively in The DISPATCH, several weeks
ago, was in printed form, and Mr.. Dalzell,
the originator of it, presented copy to
each member present. The first clause
reads: THAT the said party of the first part
does hereby agree to cease handling any
goods that may be mutually agreed upon as
unworthy, and will not handle such until it
is satisfactory to both parties.
AS soon as the article was read, President
O'Donnell took the floor in opposition to it.
He stated that, in his opinion, if the asso-
citation should adopt the article, it would be
doing an act that would prove detrimental
in the future. He interpreted the clause as
meaning that the grocers should handle
nothing but union-made goods, and its
adoption would be equal to boycott on
some of the wholesale houses.
Some Fears of the Conspiracy Law.
1t looked to him like rendering the asso-
citation liable to prosecution for conspiracy.
If the agreement was in force. labor organiza-
tions would be in q position to name the firms
w hQ hall daoI nd ha
whose business would be crippled by reason OF
the agreement could bring action for conspiracy
and have an excellent chance to win.
MIR. ODonnell concluded: II am heartily in
sympathy with labor organizations and do not
oppose the measure because of any feeling
against any association. oppose it because
we cannot have absolute assurance that the
laboring class will buy the goods agreed upon.
They are too apt to buy the goods they can get
the cheapest. even though they are boycotted.
know of instances where union men bought
prison-made article because they could get it
so cents cheaper than the union-made goods.
am So much opposed to this agreement that
If this association adopts it, it does SO on its
own responsibility, and for my partI will not
have anything to do with the association so long
as it is in force. l am positive also that the
association will lose many faithful members by
taking the STEP"
Mr.. O'Donnelrs bluff did not have the desired
Mr.. Dalzell, who framed and fathered the
agreement from the beginning, next spoke, and
ne was as enthusiastic In favor OIL adopting as
Mr.. O'Donnell was in opposition to ii. He had
no fear of conspiracy suits, and. besides, if they
did come once in while, he thought the in
creased patronage from the labor organizations
would prove an ample compensation for all
their trouble and Inconvenience.
Considered Rather Good Thing.
Mr.. Friday was the next member to speak in
favor of adopting the ageement because, as he
put it, "ft is good thing"
Mr.. Dalzell was asked whether he had had
the paper examined by an attorney. to which
he replied in the negative. but said he had the
opinion of a man well versed on legal matters.
and he thought the document all right.
He thought the only firm that need
be feared on the boycott line
is a local baker, and if he had any intention of
giving the association any difficulty he could
have done so before now. Several others spoke
on the matter, and the first clause was put to a
vote and carried by 80 to 6.
Then an attempt was made to rush the re-
mainder of the paper through. but the mem
bers here began TO get nervous and were SEEM
iugly afraid to pass such motion. After some
discussion it was decided to postpone further
action until the next meeting. 1t is not
likely now that the agreement
will be entered into. The statement
of Mr.. ODonnel, who has been with the asso-
citation since it was organized, will have consid-
cradle weight with the other members, and it
is thought when they come to voting on the
adoption of the paper as whole that it will be
defeated.