Telegram-herald., 1891-04-16
LABOR TO aid THEN
The Manufacturers Ask the Central
Labor Union
TO JOIN THE PRISON CONTRACT FIGHT
And Aid Ina the straggis ts Prevent the
Making of Furniture as shs Assia
frlsen-A Concerted MoseAeas
10 be inaugurated-

At the Board of Trade, last evening.
an enthusiastic gathering of members
Of the Grand Rapids Furniture Associa-
ton discussed ways and means of pre-
venting the passage OF the bill at Lam
sing, providing for the establishment of
a largely increased furniture plant at
the reformatory IN Iona. Charles X.
Sigh was chairman and IL. V. c. Van
Asmus, secretary. The report Of the
committee appointed at the last meet
ing 10 90 TO Lansing, was called for and
Edwin r. Sweet explained the condl.
ton of affairs as they found Il at Ian
sing. Most OF the Senators were IN
favor OF passing the bill, as II provided
employment for the convlets at bush
ness that was more renunerauve than
! others. Ii the vote had been taken
| Tuesday the bull. they thought, would
| have passed, but By hard work they had
| il postponed till next Tuesday. They
| already work 200 men at Iona, and
propose providing plant TO employ all
| the rest at the same business, except
such as make shoes and clothing.
| Mr.. Sweet then read the following list
!
cry with which 1t was proposed to fur
nish the reformalory:
| Proposed Machinery and Outht.
| Two dove tailers, SI00; two tenanters,
double header. $500; betting, 5000;
band saws, re-saw, 5000; circular saws,
planer knives, carving tools, shaper,
| cutters, bench tools, hand saws, trlm-
mers. ETC., $500; one mOrtlcing machine,
500: two smiths blowers and piping,
$1,000; two turning lathes (automatcl,
| $500; one embossing machine, $40; one
panel eraser, Sl15; four trimmers, 500;
three inviDcible sanders. thrty-inch.
$500; four planers, thirty-inch, $1,000;
one moulder, ten-inch, $500; two double
cutoff saws, $500; two shapers, $500 ;
one nntre saw, 500: one b lolnter, $3.50;
two band saws, $500; three carving ma
chimes, $50; five rip saws, $50; two
buzz saws, $500; two boring machines,
$3.50; one Swing saw, $75; two elevators,
$500; one planer knife lointer. $l50;
buildings, engine. boilers, ETC.. S24, 900
factory, $1,000; engine room, $500; dry
kiln, $4,000; boilers. engine, pumps. ETC.,
$500; piping for kiln. $1,000; shaftin &
and pulleys, $4,000.
This, it was said, would make fac.
tory capable of employing thousand
workmen and equip the largest factory
in the world.
The Folly OF the Idea.
He said that they tried to impress the
senators with the folly of the idea tha
to provide employment 10 these men
that they should have the most perfect
outfit of automatic machinery in the
| world with which TO ruin sho most lm-
portant industry of the state, and con-
troll the prices, all to help few con-
tractors and against the millions of cap
ital and thousands of free men en-
ployed now. 1t is also unjust to con-
centrate this competition all on our
class of trade, and that it should be
divided around go that none would feel
1t 40 much. The ball and chain gang
on the roads would not have weight as
a substitute with the senators.
President l.. Dustin of the Central
Labor Union, and A. w. Fischer were
present At the meeting by request and
stated that realizing that both
employe and employed would be
effected by this bill, the labor
unions of the city and of the State
would heartily cooperate to defeat the
| measure. That II was an imposition TO
expect free labor at 81 80 a day to COM
pete with convict labor at 30 cents n
day. Mr.. Fischer suggested that sew
eral men should be ut Lansing every
day, as those IN favor of the measure
had Il dozen on the field all the time.
George w. Gay and others emphasized
the sentiment, and also said that the
board Of control OF the prison. and the
governor of the State, should be shown
the great disaster threatened. He said
that it had been discovered that the
travelling men selling the output of the
| prison factory always signed themselves
as from Detroit, No that purchasers sell.
dom knew that they were buying the
| goods.
Labor Appealed to for Help.
| J. d. Utley suggested that Muskegon
and other cities had furniture man IL
facturers interested in tins matter and
| that they all with the labor unions all
| over the State should he asked TO CO.
| operate against the bill. That it was
not merely Grand Rapids movement
but one affecting the State. Mr.. W. I.
| Hess expressed the idea that every
| town should bring influence to bear
upon the Senator representing 1t. The
country roads offered plenty Of oppor-
| tunity for manual labor by the prisoner
and they could thereby help the farm
! ers.
Mr.. Fischer-"This thing resolves
itself into the following for the manu-
facturers: Either to be obliged To quit
| the business because of cut-throat
composition or reduce their employees
wages" A resolution was passed ask
! ing that committee of five be ap-
pointed by the Central Labor Union 10
| cooperate with the furniture commit
tee. The com mmittee was authorized
| to use necessary funds for the
| expenses of all. VIM. A. Berkey
spoke of the effect that such bill
| would have ON the lumber industry of
| the State if the furniture companies
| bad no use for H. Mr.. George Davis
| said that n stock company was being
| formed in Detroit 10 handle the output
| of the prison. and that a member Of the
| Acme Paint Company was one of them.
They expected To use bis paints. The
idea of offering "a substitute measure
| that the conrIcts be employed IN the
| manufacture of binding twIne was sug-
eested. The following committee was
| appointed 10 divide up the work At
Lansing and Iona. Chairman. Geo.
W Cav, X. T. Sweet, ". A. Berkey
j. p. Creqne, John A. N0wst. Elias
Matter. John WIddicomb, and Mr.
| Fischer. Others expect 10 JOIN IN. The
manufacturer in other cites have
been teiegraphed TO he on hand st Ian.
sag. ard ether labor unions viii join
in and send petitions 20 Tire Governor
and the senate, asking that the bili he
/ not passed.