The morning call., 1891-08-26
EMPLOY ERS.
They Hold a Meeting and Effect
an Organization.
Report ef the Proceedings as Furnished by
the Secretary of the Meeting-De-
elaraticu of Principles.


junction of Market and Pine streets was
we'll filled yesterday afternoon with repre-
sentative business men who met there in
response to a circular calling upon them to
assemble for the purpose of perfecting the
organization of employers and manufact-
urerS.
A temporary organization having the
same purpose in view has existed since
March 1St, but confined its work to gather
ing recruits for the permanent body.
Among those who attended the meeting
yesterday We're: Ex-Governor Perkins of
tho firm Of Goodall, Perkins Il Co., j. B.
StetsOn, President of the Calfornia-Street
Cable Company, Henry T. Scott of the
Union Iron Works, James Spiers of the
Fulton Iron Works, j. Il. Carrick of the
firm of Cauick, Williams 81 Wright. box
manufacturers, E. NJ. HerIick, Ship-owner,
Al Roll ms of Flmcr, Rollins Il Co., electro
typers, W. II. Miller, proprietor Of a paa-
ing-mil Albert Denham OF the firm of
Buckingham & Hecht, shoe manufacturers,
G, II. Fuller. furniture manufacturer, j.
Brady, proprietor of a s;One-yard, represen-
tatiyes of Hicks, Judd So Co., the Ban
croft Company; Calm, NlckelSburg Il Co.,
she kron Tanning Company, j. c. Rued Il
Co., tanners, besides several brewing COM
panies by proxies.
PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION.
The meeting was held behind closed doors
and at the conclusion G. c. Williams, the
Secretary, gave ;he following account of its
transactions TO the representatives of the
press:
There were from go to 800 manufacturers
present. G. l.. Davis presided and G. C.
Williams recorded the proceedings. The
Committee on Organization made its report,
which was substantially as 70 lows:
FiTSt-The organization shall extend its
jurisdiction over the whole of the State and
shall ally itself with similar organizations in
other States.
Second-lt shall admit to membership all
classes Of employers because all are alike
assalled by unions.
Third-lt shall deal directly with in
divdual firms, admit them as members and
draw its revenue directly from them.
tOurth-lt shall recognize and treat with
sub-associailons, although not admitting as
members direct delegations from them. The
TvpothetR, for instance, should be per-
nitted to decide upon all questions affecting
The printing trade whenever such a course
is possible. and the association should as
Sist the Iypothete in carrying ii out.
Fifth - EXtra0rd mary powers shall be
vested in a Board of Directors as a general
association would be so large as to be un-
wleidy If it sought to act upon all questions
as body. The Directors shall act in all re-
SNS dS Nl4ou5l IL WAS Tue dSSOCldllOn IL
self, except in dealing with subjects for
which the association will prescribe a rule
OF action.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
These recommendations and the following
declaration of principles were adopted
after brief discussions:
This association Is formed to promote the
manufacturing interest OF the Pacific Coast. Its
policy is not dictated by snIrit CT aggression,
but II shall be Tie earnest endeav0TS of It's men,
ber> 10 prevent frc'o and 10 peacefully settle
al di-pntes mat may arse between employer
and employed.
We, the members OF the association, have no
wish 10 luttileIe with the lndiSputabe right of
labor to organ;z = and believe that ihe organiza-
lion and federation OF labor compel the organiZa-
lion and federation Of employers OF labor, TO the
end that neither lary shdll tempt he other 10
overs eu the bounds OF righr, reason and justice.
We believe that a bitrary spirit shown by The
unions IN lie absence OF any effective restraining
power, and lie frequent strikes aud boycottS,
WHICH nave IN consequence prevailed IN THIS
community, are dangerous to It's industries, ana
thlS assocIa ion Of employers Is formed TO check
these growing evils.
We recognize tile right of labor to organize In
It's own defense, and 10 ameiUGdte It's cOudfiiOn,
and We as employers, VIII noI trespass on that
right BY refusing employment 10 any be-
cause belonging TO such labor organization, but
We reserve 10 ourselves tile right 10 decide whom
We shall OF whom We shall not employ.
The constitution, which was also adopted,
provides That the ASSOCIATION shall be COM
posed of firms, cor orations and individual
employers Of this State, approved by the
member shall be permitted to withdraw
without having given sixty DAYS notice.
The monthly dues shall be 81 so, and the
association shall meet whenever called by
the Directors.
CONCERNING STRIKES.
Concerning strikes and boycotts, the con-
stitution contains The following article:
WHEREAS, strikes and boycotts are inmical TO
tile hest interest OF bOlh employer and employe;
and whereas. this associaii ion Is de>irous of ex,
lduStlug
venting strikes OF boycotts before resortng to
coercion; II Is hereby provided,
That ID case Of a strike or boycott In aDy of
lie dlneTent trades represented In the asSocia-
tion, which cannot be settled by the trade in-
vUlved In such difficulty IL shall be he duty of
tile Board Of Directors 10 investigate the trouble
act as an arbitration committee, recommend
such means or lake Such Steps 10 end the strike
OF boycott as Ii may deem advisable or necessary.
j. q. Mcguire, box manufacturer argued
against clause in the constitution which
provides that candidates for membership
cannot be elected until their names have
been sixty days before the Board of Directors
lie thought Ihat the association was power
ful enough to take in any and all employers.
The section was, however, permitted TO re-
main.
OSCAR LEWIS REMARKS.
Oscar Lewis said that the objects of the
association had been misrepresen ted. 1t
had been said that the association had been
formed To destroy the unions, but such is
not its purpose. 1t is designed solely as
defensive organization. 1t aims to abolish
useless union eXactions which vitaly iniure
the Industries of the Coast. The speaker
gave several illustrations of union require
ments, which lie said hurt business without
doing the unions any good, such as the un-
necessary restriction of apprentices, limit
ing work, requiring the appointment of
union fOremen and requiring employers to
collect dues for the unions. 1t had been
said that the association had been formed
to assist the iron founders in their struggle
with the mOlders, but that he said, was
not the Case. The foundries have taken
care of themselves and the struggle is over.
The association was designed, he declared,
TO create healthy public opinion on the
rights Of employers, and to breed in the
courts habit Of upholding law and pro-
fectng persons and property, and not to
treat offenses committed by union men with
greater leniency than Offenses Committed by
other persons.
OTHERS MADE ADDRESSES.
Add resses were also made by George C.
Perkins, j. Z. Rued and Z. NJ. Herrick.
Herrick, who is ship-owner, had heard of
proposition to lock out n certain percent
age OF the members OF the Federated Trades.
lie could not see how such plan could be
carried out on the waterfront as a ship
must have all the hands or none. Herrick
was Informed that the association did not
contemplate such course of dealing with
the union.
The following were elected Directors OF
the association: E. Nj. Herrick, ship-Owner;
Oscar Lewis, iron manufacturer; A Rol-
Inns, printer; James r. Carrick, box manu-
faclurer; ". w. Miller, planing-mill; Albert
Dernham. shoe manufacturer; g. III. Fuller,
furniture manufacturer; j. B. StetsOn,
President California-street Railroad Com
paDy; Henry bingham, stevedOre; w. L.
Merry, packer. The Directors will meet
this afternoon TO elect officers.
DIDH .NIN DnD DAmuRDc