The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-05

Tho Master Builders Association
held r,eeting last night in their room
in the Thomas Building. A fair at
tendance was out and much interest
( was manifested.
=. U. Shockey, the president, was in
the chair, and Mr.. Wolff filled his DO.
clifton as secretary.
: A TIMES reporter called after the
meeting opened and was invited in.
They said their meeting was not secret
on this occasion.
F1tteen men wero reported as having
quit working for tho members of the as
ISOLATION on account of the strike. These
were all union men and list was fur.
nished each member of the association.
capt. L. q. Oakley was called upon to
express his views of the situation,
winch he did in a clear and direct talk,
lie said: 81 address you as master
puilocrs because tho name is applicable.
ALI of us have passed through tho fol-
low.craft's degree and are now masters.
Tho demand recently made by tho
carpenters and JONES' is unjust we
have refused them and now they are
opposing us at every turn. They have
dictated their terms to us and are now
trying to compel us to accede whether
we are ready or not. ] worked fifty
men all last winter nine hours day
and paid them for ten. This was be.
cause it was not light enough to work.
captain Oakley said he went to one of
his buildings yesterday and found ono
Oh his toremen setting down. He was
on strike for nine hours. He cold hin,
TO Strike out. Ito then tried to explain
matters, and said ho was forced into il
ny the union. lie did not want to strike,
as he was getting good wages. but
wanted TO hold over Il day or two to find
out how matters went. lie was maid Off
however, and told him he could got no
more work there.
captain Oakley said he had applica-
lions from plenty of non-union men.
and the strike had not affected them in
the least.
MIR. Mahoney made a motion that tho
members of the association purchase no
material from any planning mill in the
city that works nine hours or furnishes
LUMBER to firms that work but nine
hours.
Mr.. Mahony said his reason for max
rs WIG hioIioh WIS IHdJ CDc carpenters
Union had refused to put up work COM
ing from mills that worked ten hours.
The motion prevailed.
MIR. Pollard said the strike had not
affected building opcrat lions in the
least.
Captain Oakley said it had affected it
in one way. gentleman rom Staun.
ton was on the point OF putting up a fine
building in Roanoke, but bearing of tho
proposed strike, he had refused to let
the contract.
Mr. Shockcy said the question of nine
hours had been agitatcd for sollo time.
lie was opposed to IL because tho stu
ton and condition of work in the city
made 1T a drawback to the best interests
OF the community. He was not in favor
OF taxing any measure to oppose those
who had struck. Many of them had
families, and were citizens and he was
sure most of them had been led into the
strike by an undue agitation of the
labor question.
The association did not need the mon
who had struck because there were
plenty OF other men who were ready To
MI their places, but he dislillcd to see
the st..nd on account of it's working in
jury to tho community.
Mr.. n. Clark said he worked men
nine hours last winter and paid them
for ten.
Mr.. Groves said he had never vet seen
the day he could pass 90 cents for a
dollar.
Mr.. Volt, Mr.. Pollard and Mr.. Nav
spoke in favor Of the ten hour system
and thought it should be encouraged.
A'motion was then made add carried
recognizing ten hours as days work.
The firms who were present reported
the number of men employed as follows:
e. Il j. Mahoney, 7; j. w. Volt &
Co., 7; c. ID. Keifer, Is; II. c. Oakley. %:
Shockey & Gladden. 30; j. Il. Pollard.
8; Dooley & Barber, It; W. III. Groves,
IA; j. q. Harris, j. w. Shields, :;
Frank May, 4; Il. A. lIoal, 3; C. NJ
Thomson, :; T.. y. Tuggle &. Total,
l6l. This does not include a. l.. Mar
shall, John Barbour, j. NJ Mays and
two or three other firms who where not
present. They employ about fifty men,
which swells the list to something
over 200.