The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-15
BOYCOTTs AND STRIKES.
Some Comments on the Builders AZ
Manufacturer Exchange.

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Some Comments on the Builders and
Manufacturers Exchange.
To The INDEPENDENT: After reading the
article under the head of "Boycotts and
Strikes" + beg to state relating to
the committee from tho Builders and
Manufacturers Exchange and the Car
%penter's Union, that I think the failure
to come to an understanding is more the
fault of the former h of the latter COM
mittee. Two or three of said committee
from the Builders and Manufacturers Elk
change have the reputation of being notori-
ously opposed to labor organizations and
who probably never entertained a PROPOSE
ton from Il labor organization except to
oppose them; who would not have any
thing to do with a member of such organi-
cation if they could, get men who did not
belong to an organization. At this meet
ing these same men did not
seem disposed to break their record.
The disposition on the part of some men,
bers of the committee was that all members
of the Carpenters union should sign away
all rights they had (even those granted
them by tho constitution of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners OF
America) excepting to work by the day,
and in return they (the Builders and Man
ufacturers' e%xchange) offered actually moth.
ing-would allow same age and same
nouf4 AZ were alloWeu tle pasb seasou. No
member of the union was to be allowed to
rustic a job for himself. and l believe it to
be a fact that since the date of the last
meeting the building contractors OF the
Builders and Manufacturers exchange
have not had an average of ten men per day
constantly employed.
Now under the arrangements which they
demanded l am sure 50 per cent. more
union men would have been idle during the
past two months. They also demanded of
the union to refuse to work any eastern
manufactured material, and were informed,
as this would necessitate a boycott on Wal
lace d Thornburg, that the union would
not do 80. for Wallace & Thornburg had
more work than all the contract
ors together who belonged to The
Builders q Manufacturers exchange.
l begin to think the predictions of several
months ago are materializing into facts,
viz: that the Builders and Manufacturers
exchange was organized to down the trades
unions, and now such proves to be the
case. The Builders md Manufacturers
exchange are responsible for the stagnation
of business which is sought to be credited
to labor organizations. As to boyootts, il
l am rightly informed, there are several
members of the Carpenters Union now
boycotted by the Builders and Manufac-
turers' exchange, but the members of tho
exchange being monied men and employ
ers, it is perfectly right and proper Co..
As for the work that is being retarded or
abandoned, as it is claimed. / will say that
if the people who desire to build will con-
descend to investigate. they will find plenty
OF men in trades unions who are just as
competent to estimate the cost of any
building in Helena. and to erect the same
as the contractors in the Builders and
Manufacturers exchange. and if work
should be awarded to such members of
trades unions, the public can be
assured that there will be
no delays, boycotts or strikes;
for such men are imhued with union prin-
ciples, and will employ TINT class of men.
There is 40 one in Helena who can point
to any work which has been conducted
strictly under union principles where there
has been any trouble, and on the other
hand, the trouble which has been brought
done where the employer WAS opposed to
the unions.
The first section of the resolutions set
forth in the article referred to is the grand
est kind of principles. If an employer has
one. ten or fifty men in his employ, and
should persist in placing a stencil under
the nostrils of said employees, or place any
other serious objection in their presence,
they certainly, under tho same principles,
ns Amorican c%itiaena. have tho right ito
work or not to work"
/ am pleased toy read under the head of
NOW Telegraph company OF tine ACtlon
contemplated by tho order of Railway
Photographers at ST. Louis, and l will ssy
right here that IL $500 laboring men of
Helena will organize n cooperative associ.
alton und work together as they can do. by
sticking to theae principles these same men
can in ten years fiom to-day " Main
street from Sixth avenue to the electric
barn and tho present owners DO paid in
cash the value of their property.
ONE VINO WAS THERE.