The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-10
MOLDERS' REPLY
TO THE FOUNDERS.
Reasons for Ordering and Con.
tinuing the Strike.
Mill-Carpenters' Strike - The Split in the
men Help the Striking Molders

Inc 1r0n-mOiQ6r5 L MON mas WfIJLen
reply to statement recently published in
THE CALL by the Engineers and Iron
founders Association. which is substantially
as follows:
The Founders Association gives certain
reasons for refusing TO arbitrate with US.
claiming that we refused to arbitrate with
them just before the strike was ordered.
The only suggestion of arbitration made by
them to us was in the case Of Mccormick
Brothers, five months before the present
strike took place, and tine local union had
not the power to arbitrate, as it was mat
ter over which the International Union had
jurisdiction. Our course was satisfactory to
the association at that time. as some of its
members were in sympathy with the course
pursued by Mccormick Brothers.
The only proposition of the association
declined by us was that submitted to the
union after a conference on January 16,
1890. This proposition, in effect, was as fol-
lows:
l. That the minimum rate OF wages be reduced
to SO per day-a cut OF so cents.
2. That the term OF apprenticeship be length
ened one year-makIng IL i've years.
3. That all Limitation OF work cease
NO LIMITATION OF LABOR.
To the last of the three sections of this
proposition we replied that we did not limit
labor. To the second we replied that We
had already exceeded our law in permitting
apprentices to serve six months after the
four years presented in which to make
themselves competent. The first was de-
clined because our wages were proportion
atey no higher that the wages paid in the
East.
Continuing the reply sets forth:
Upon receipt of this decnatlon the association
informed us that on and after March 10, 1890,
theywould 40 longer recognize our rigbtto demand
SO so per day; Ia limit the number OF apprentices
TO be employed. nor TO refuse 10 work with non
union men. This began the strike, ana yet in
their letter OF the 9Th inst. they claim We vol
unfairly severed all business relations between
their association and ourselves.
The shops, they say. are stlll open to our men,
bers. Certainly they are; and we could obtain
pretty handsome bonus, too. II we were 10 ae-
cept this cordial invitation TO walk into my
parlor." The fate OF the fly IN the fable would
be repeated In our case were we TO be equally
foolish aud consent TO an Invitation that virtually
means the disrup tion of our union.
We do not deny the right OF any employer to
make rules TO govern his shop, but we must also
be accorded the privilege OF organization to bet
ter our condition as best we can, aud TO protect
ourselves as far as possible from the ayarice OF
combined employers.
THINGS NOT DENIED.
We do not deny the right of any American
citizen 10 earn a livelihood. nor can we prevent
aliens. simply because III Q greed of American ca
manufacturers have made such thing impos-
sible by flooding America with foreign laborers
Nor do we deny California boys the right TO learn
trade. but We do ask that a certain restr friction
be placed on tie number or apprentices en-
poyed IN order 10 insure their being taught a
trade.
We ask how many American boys are at pres
ent employed In the shops, let alone those Of
California birth 7? We also ask how IL Is that
when there was no limit on The number of APP
prentlces employed 80 few OF them were turned
QUIZ OF the shops competent mechanics? or
twenty-seyen apprentices employed in the Union
Iron Works, eight or ten years ago, but four are
now at The trade and competent 10 earn living
al IT. The Rtsdon Iron works during the past
twelve years have not turned out one apprentice
who was sufficiently competent TO be retained
by that shop as journeyman.
What they will not do for an apprentice when
a sufficient number OF mechanics are Ia the shop
to teach the boys we think they cannot do when
all boys aud few mechanics are employed. We
do not fight the boys; We try to help them learn
the trade and become useful members OF So
ciety and al tbe same time protect as far as pos
sibe their fathers. The boys are wanted merely
because the shops then get so much cheap un-
skilled labor, not because they are Intended for
mechanics.
OPEN SHOPS ARE NOT GENERAL.
We deny, proceeds the reply, that "open
shops" are general in the East. They are
in the minority, and they do not compete
to any great extent with the Pacific Coast
foundries. The only apparent reason for
this desire to create open shops Is 70 pit one
man against anOther-to take advantage of
mans misfortune and necessities, to put
MIN IN Keen competltion Win his fellows,
thereby reducing wages Open shops were
always and will continue to be detriment
to the community.
In conclusion, we wish TO say that our
reasons for entering this strike were, in our
minds, just and necessary to our welfare,
collectively and individually. and we feel
confident Of our ability to defend our posi-
ton whenever occasion demands. Again.
while we have always been wlling-eyen
anxious-to arbitrate, our last request was
not an evidence of weakness on our part,
but was made at the earnest solicitation of
some of the most prominent con tractors,
builders and business men of this city.