Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-04
TAKING A DAY OFF.
Both Sides to the Eight-Hour Differ.
ences Prepare Themselves
TO RENEW TIE STRUGGLE TODAY.
officials of the Carpenters Make Cate
gorical Statement.
MACHINlsTS TO MEET In CONVENTION

Both parties to the tussle between capital
and labor took a rest yesterday, and them
selves and their belongings to the fields and
hillsides for change of air and association.
Both sides will rise this morning with re-
newed vigor for the struggle, and proceed to
demonstrate to a waiting and expectant
public that they will 'never give in" 1t
is too early yet to make predictions regard
ing the duration of the fight. If both sides
are to be believed it will last till doomsday,
| and afterward continue in the nebular ex-
istence. There is, however, strong proba-
bility that whichever side weakens will be
| licked
The Brotherhood officials report conces-
sion to the new working rules on Saturday
of 48 carpenter contractors and the Swift
| Company. In this number was one who
had paid his fee for membership in the
Builders Exchange. The men claim over
200 ceders of the new rules. One thousand
three hundred and ffty-six members in IA
locals were reported as being on strike on
Friday. Saturdays report shows that this
number had diminished.
Present Claims of the Strikers.
The Press Committee of the carpenters
called at The DISPATCH office last evening
and made the following statement regarding
the present conditions of the strike:
The adoption of the present working rules of
the District Council was in strict comformity
with the present and past rules of the United
brotherhood and of the district constitution,
which has been in force for over two years, and
has never been questioned as to itslegalIty and
cannot now be declared other than legal and in
conformity with the laws of the Brotherhood.
Inc council is composed OF representatives
from the various local unions OF the district,
who are generally intelligent and fully COM
petent to interpret the laws of the Brother
hood, and any reflection as to the honesty of the
District Council is simply reflection upon the
locals and the entire membership of the dis
trict; hence any statements of unworthy
members are the utterances of traitors to the
organization. The reported decision of the
General Executive Board can have no bearing
upon the present strike or demands, because if
such decision was given the District Council
would Immediately appeal the same to special
or their next general convention, and still con-
tinue the enforcement of the demands of the
present strike to the eId. The members of the
district are determined that nothing shall deter
them in their efforts to enforce the same, and
the decision which is reported to have been
given by the General Executive Board at this
late date would only be the means of uniting
the members more closely together IN their
efforts.
A Word About the Funds.
AS TO the payment OF strike benefits, we have
ample funds for the emergency and can pro-
vide for the members to the extent of 10000 or
$1,000 per week If necessary. The reserve
or protective fund, referred to as having been
called for by the Grand Secretary. has been
sent as usual to the officer of the Brotherhood
whose duty it was to receive and afterward
disburse it. Out Of the entire membership of
the district no one member has been legally
reported as having returned to work under the
old rules, while from positive information from
the entire district 50 per cent more men have
been granted the new rules than we counted
upon or expected. As to the members CT Local
Union 230 SO much spoken of, no one need
imagine that they are dissatisfied or striving
to evade the issue or demand, for they
are determined almost to man that
the eight-hour rule shall prevail, and are
working in harmony with the other
members of the district. Any reports to 1
the contrary are simply false. We expected that
our General Secretary would have been here
on last Tuesday, but he failed to be present.
He will be here very shortly, and the members
will, no doubt, all be pleased to have him.
He will be here. not to interfere with the de-
mands, bur to assist in putting them IN force.
A member of the Builders Exchange said
yesterday that no change OF sentiment had |
occurred in that body. None of them had |
given in to the demands, nor would they.