Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-27
STORY OF THE STRIKE
As Told by General Secretary Nc
Guire for the First Time.
THE FACTS GIVEN TO THE WORLD,
Local Carpenters Went Out Against the
Advice of Their Order.
THE MONEY SENT TO THE STRIKERS

General Secretary P j. Mcclure, of the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, has
written and forwarded to THE DISPATCH
for publication a statement regarding his
position and that of the organization re-
garding the late carpenters strike. In it
he says just what was stated in THE DIS
PATCH in regard to the same matter; and
that denials were Intellectually sought to be
given as to the accuracy of these statements
did not then, nor do they now, detract
from the truth of the matter printed in
these columns at the time. Mr.. McGuire's
letter, which was received yesterday, is as
follows:
PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 1891.
To All Whom 1t May Concern:
So much has been said about the recent
strike of the carpenters of Pfttsburg that in
duty to myself and the United Brotherhood
l am impelled to make this statement to the
public. Amid all the slanderous censure
and adverse criticism hurled in Pittsburg at
the organization, and at your humble serv-
ant, have refrained from entering into
public print until now. l was in hopes that
all the idle talk and baseless gossip would
give way to better counsel. And out of due
respect for the feelings Of the men in Pitts
burg who held out on strike so many weeks,
l felt inclined to rather bear unmerited
blame than to make any statement preju-
dicial to them in any way. Now, however,
1 cannot forbear any longer, and wish the
world to know the real facts 80 far as the
general officers are concerned.
THE STRIKE NEVER AUTHORIZED.
First-The carpenters strike in Pittsburg
was never legally or constitutionally sane
toned by the General Executive Board of
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
Hence, full financial aid from our organiza-
tion could not be given under our laws.
Second-The carpenters of PIttsburg went
out on strike May 8 olely on the authority
of their own District Council despite official
advice from headquarters for them to wait
until later in the season.
Third-For the whole first week of their
strike, the men in Pittsburg entirely ignored
this office and sent it no official information
of any kind as to the status of the strike.
And on my arrival ut Pittsburg, May II. Mr..
W. H. Irwin, in the presence of members,
said he was advised to send me no tnforma-
tion.
Fourth-In an informal conference at the
Builders Exchange at Pittsburg, on May IL,
learned from the contractors that prior to
the strike conference had been entered
into between both sides, and that the Dis
trict Council had broken it Off without
cause very abruptly. On investigation 1
found tSa this to BE- true and at the meeting Of
the District Council to reopen negotiations
for a future conference, and they did so. At
this meeting of the Council further urged
that the mill men and machine hands be
allowed to return to work, as 1 considered
it a mistake to have ever called them out in
the recent strike. But in this, as we'll as in
some other matters, was overruled by the
District Council.
Fifth-Full financial aid was never guar
anteed by me to the carpenters strike of
Pittsburg. But after 1 had come to Pitts
burg and witnessed the solidity and deter
mination of the men, was urged to consult
the General Executive Board. and l tele-
graphed them from Pittsburg. They author
from time to time as we could spare to aid
the men on strike in Pittsburg. And in this
way at different times we sent them dona-
tfons amounting in all to $l30 900.
NO FINANCIAL AID PROMISED.
Sixth-President Gompers, of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, never made any
promises of financial help to the carpenters
of Pittsburg. The Federation under its laws
cannot render any help to any trade in any
city unless the strike is first sanctioned in
accordance with the constitution and rules
of the national organization OF that trade.
The Pittsburg carpenters strike having
never been legally sanctioned before the
men went out the American Federation Of
Labor could not be called on.
Seventh-The carpenters of Pittsburg
were on strike at very unfavorable time
when work was scarce, and such buildings
as were under way were delayed by the
prior strike of the stonemasons and the sub
sequent strike of the bricklayers.
Eighth-It was unreasonable and bad
policy to involve the m1llmen and machine
hands in the eight-hour strike. By doing SO
the strikers cut off in large measure their
own base of supplies for furnishing mill
stuffs and material to contractors favorable
to the eight-hour day. The mill bosses felt
the nine-hour day to be some hardship in
competition with mill materials coming
from ten-hour towns. And to inaugurate
the eight-hour day in the mills would make
their hardship all the greater. This led the
mill bosses to join hands with the Builders
employers, while on this very subject there
was dissention among the men.
THE COUNCIL OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED.
Ninth-The appeal of Union 23O of Pitts
burg against the action of the District Coun-
Gil of Pittsburg was sustained by decision
of the General Exc cutive Board on April H.
and Union 230 and the council were SO noti-
fled. The reason for sustaining the appeal
of Union 230 was that the new working rules
of the council were never adopted by q two
third vote of the members of the union in the
Pittsburg district, as required by our laws.
The General Executive Board then recon-
mended that q new vote be taken on these
strike, so as to comply with our laws and to
gain time, and not have a strike until the
season was more favorable. But this deci
sion of our g. Z. B. was unheeded by the |
District Council of Pittsburg.
Tenth-Many of the promises of money, and
of visits from me at various times, were
made without my authority solely to bolster
up the men and hold them out.
In conclusion, will say the carpenters of
Pittsburg certainly made heroic strug-
gle against fearful odds. The help the |
United Brotherhood gave them was given |
out of desire to show them we did not wish |
to abandon them in their struggle, even
though they had been unmindful of our
laws, and had given no heed to our advice |
and decisions. 1t was out of feeling of |
sympathy and fraternity for them that we
rendered them any aid. And were all the |
facts made known by the few men in Pitts |
burg familiar with the facts, the present ant |
agonistic feeling expressed against myself |
and the general officers would be replaced |
by kinder and more favorable considera- |
4ir Ynt1 t,.aalr-