The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-14
CARPENTERS DISCUSS LABOR.
What Boston Men Said About Hours
and Wages.

The meeting last night under the au-
spices Of local union No. 96, United Broth.
erhood OF Carpenters and Joiners OF
America was large and enthusiastic. The
meeting was called to order by President
Thomas Herman. who after stating the
object of the gathering. introduced Mr..
Barstow of the Brockton Carpenter
Union. Mr.. Barstow said that he was
astonished to learn THAT PROVIDENCE
carpenters worked 10 hours a day with
the smallest scale OF wages In the coun-
try; 90 cents lower than in any country
town of Massachusetts. Carpenters in
New York work hours day and receive
from 50 to %. so a day. The carpenters of
Boston work hours and get S9.75 a day.
The carpenters of PROVIDENCE don't have
the backbone to demand their dues"
He advocated putting a walking dele
gate into the field to look after the car
penters' interests, and concluded with
the prophesy: IF you will only put your
shoulders to the wheel, when the Spring
comes you will have your nine hours and
full pay"
The chairman then introduced Joseph
Clinkard Of Union No. 33 of Boston, aud
business manager of the Carpenters
Union OF that city. The speaker said that
he lost confidence in Providence carpen-
ters three years ago. "You had meeting
twice as large as this at that time. Every
man raised his hand aud said he would
quit the next Monday. Only one man
was honest about what he said. To-day
you ought to be agitating for an eight In
stead OF y nine hour day.
i am peace loving citizen but you
who work here getting only $3.50 per day
and should be near the doors Of starva-
ton, how would you feel to have armed
men to come here aud try to prevent you
<r<<, ttvsx tttst tte
have a soft snap but the boss fever
operates against you.
"A good remedy is to leave here TO- night.
go to your jobs Tomorrow, and tell your
bosses you are not going to work more
than nine hours. You would find a
change In the attitude OF your employers.
1 don't believe in strikes except as a last
resort. have been walking delegate six
years and we have had only five strikes.
Tney can be avoided. In Boston non-
onion men without cards can get no
work and have to come to PROVIDENCE
Now why can't we do like the coal Darons,
and IL we have too much labor reduce the
quantity and get better price for what
we sell.
''Your pay is regulated by cheap men.
Now there are contractors who would be
fair IL competition would only allow them
to be- and II you would support them.
The first to cry strike are usually the
frat to go back 10 work. am not advo-
eating strikes. Tell your employers you
are organizing for mutual interests. Now
we have strikes and no arbitration.
want to see the wage system broken down
so that when n man earns 81 he will not
get 30 cents. Organize IA building trades
council. Tako in electrical workers. h, d
carriers, painters. brick layers, plasterers,
paper hangers, brass aud chandelier
workers, tiii-smiths and plumbers.
1T you had AN association with thou
sands OF dollars in the treasury you could
be more important In the eyes OF the en-
ployers. would like to know how many
men here would like to have "a ninc-hour
day? Those in favor of il, raise their
hands" Nearly everybody raised his
hand. "Union men will please raise
their hands" Fifty raised their hands.
Those who were not and were willing to
become union men stood. They formed
about one-half OF the audience. The
speaker continued: "You snould organ
ize while business is good. You should
raise nine-nour flag mere and defy any
man to tear IL down"
He closed amid applause.
The president stated that the union
meets every Thursday evening at 81 Nest
minister street. Fees ars only 90 per
year. There are an Insurance and n trades
benefit. A vote Of thanks was rendered
J. q. Clinkard. The president introd need
Thomas Galligan OF the Painters Union.
The speaker endorsed the idea of "A trades
council in Providence and promised the
hearty co-oleration Of Providence paint-
ers. The president gave AN opportunity
To non-union men To Apply for member
shin aud number Of men filled applica-
tioI banks.