The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-09
" DOPE" CONDEMNED.
Painters Strike Against the Use
of Bad Materials.
Architects Endorse Their Aetion-Progress Of
the Millmen's Confict-A Break in
the Bosses Association.

A short-lved strike, unique in the con-
flcts of labor and capital on this Coast,
occurred few days ago. 1t will be remem-
bered that when the Master Painters Asso-
citation agreed to adopt the eight-hQur day
It was on condition that the journeymen
painters would refuse to handle adulterated
paint known to the craft as dope"
The journeymen lost no time in proving
that they meant to keep their part of the
agreement. The day after it was signed
fourteen men employed by contractor,
who had Just reduced their hours of labor.
refused to work because he gave them
dope" paint. He was very much sur
prised, and said he thought that the agree
lnent to refuse to handle bad material was
nothing but newspaper talk. Convinced of
his error, he speedily came to terms and
abolished the dope"
There are good reasons Why neither
masters nor jOurneymen should use dope"
The master viii soon lose his reputation for
doing good work If he has one, for dope
speedily reveals itself, and the journeymen
do not like il because unSkilled laborerS can
use it almost as well as mechanics who have
served their time.
The master painters, to drive "dope"
and dopers out of the city, have called
to their assistance the architects, who, at
their meeting last night received the follow
ing self-eXplanatory communication:
The Master Painters Association Of San Fran
cisco, realizing The absolute necessity hat some
efficient and adequate means and measures
should be adopted calculated TO correct a grieY-
Gus and long-eXlStng evil aOd abuse, hitherto
by far too extensively prevailing In The painting
trade in this city by men claiming but not honor
Ing the name 0l master painters IN The substitution
and use OF an impure and worthless admlXfure
as paint, called by the common name OF dope"
which is IN no way allied 10 nor contains one
particle of pure lead and oil paint materials
We as Master Painters, willing ana DESTROYS
always to fulfill bOnOrably and squarey the re-
quirements of every specification placed Ia our
hands. ask you, gentlemen OF The architectural
profession. and the source through which comes
10 US the greater number OF our contract engage
mentS, that you lend US your aid and assistance
in rendering IL possible for honestly inclined men
to compete squaTely Tor woIk onered, without
being subjected 10 the humiliation of business
classification with men possessed Of no worthy
mechanical principle or ambition.
In tile move now being made the iOurneymen's
organization known as The brotherhood OF
Painters and Decorators OF America, Unions No.
l40 and ITO OF San Francisco, have taken
worthy and aggressive STAND In the matter, aud
Will, TO the extent of their opportunities, expose
and refuse TO work for those who use the impure
and meTitless stuff called dope " In any OF It's
manifold forms; for IL Is hydra headed, ID that
Its component parts are without formula and as
varied and vile as The minds that control their
manipulali Ions aud use.
Hence II you. gentlemen of the architectural
profession, standing IN your high and honorable
position as between the good and the bad, VIII,
by YOUR influence and acts, close aud lock The
door, The key of which is held almost absolutely
in your own grasp and shut out from Compel
tion on works under your charge everyone who
Ia not beyond all question honest aud honorable
IN all transactions, aud where miXtules OF paints
will not b. ar the closest scrutiny and analysis.
BE kind enough, gentlemen. TO express 10 the
Master Painters Association your Views upon
this to US, aud by reasonable presumption TO
you, most important matter. You want good
work executed with good materials, aud these
you can get only at the hands Of good me0. VIII
you aid us2
This communication was received with
favor by the architects, and the Secretary
was instructed to reply that the architects
chapter is willing to cooperate with the
master painters IN their warfare against
dope"