St. Paul daily globe., 1892-03-02
Though a Lockout, as a Coup,
May Step in Just Before
hand.
Prospects Of a Disagreement
Between the Painters and
Their Bosses.
Another Fatal Accident En-
phasiZes the Need Of an
Ambulance.
Very Little Prospect OF a
Concerted Third Street
Improvement.

The prospects of war between the
journeymen painters and decorators
and the bosses, when the spring work
begins. is very striking. The present
indications are that the contest will far
exceed that of last summer, when the
journeymen who contended for nine
hours work for nine hours pay
were locked out. Both sides have
been making preparations for the
contest. The bosses have formed
club which meets in the builders
exchange rooms, with tie ostensible
purpose of taking in bosses as we'll as
journeymen, and establishing scale OF
wages based upon the capacity OF the
men to do work. The regulations of
this club excludes members of the jour-
neymen's union from membership III the
club. They also require that boss
painters recommendation is necessary
to entitle journeyman to membership
therein.
The painters and decorators union
held uhe largest meeting last nightslnce
the lockout of last summer. There were
present number of men who are en-
ployed by bosses who belong to the so
called club, but who are not members OF
the iourneymens' union. The situation
was fully canvassed aud discussed. 1t
was stated that the club named
is but the outgrowth of the combine en-
tered into by the builders exchange,
mention of which has already been
made in the GLOBE. This combine is
to the effect that all boss carpenters and
painters who do not affiliate with the
-; tn hQ
as working against the exchange, ana
their success will be crcumvented. 1t
was further said that the object OF the
club is to break up the journeymens'
union, to force the ten-hOur rule
and to cut prices by employing boys.
A large number of the Journeymen
have refused to become members OF the
club. in accordance with the desire OF
the bosses, and say that they will not
thereby consent to enter into an agree
ment to prevent their joining the
painters and decorators union.
The jOurneymen are applying for
membership in the union with
the determination of resisting the
encruachment of the bosses upon their
rights. These men say that the bosses
concede that they may join any LABOR.
organization with the exception OF
Tie DdllISIS anu uhiOH'
They say they will quit work be-
fore they will be forced to join the club.
The union has decided to hold an open
meeting next Tuesday night at Labor
hail. when the situation will be publicly
discussed. The union is already act
lively at work with view of strengthen
ing its organization. The cooperative
paint shop is doing good business. and
an effort will be made to get all the
work obtainable, sothat, if possible, all
the union painters in the city may have
work. The union also has the assurance
of the backing of the national association
and the probabilities are that the labor
organizations generally will back the
painters in contest that will doubtless
be bitter one. The union men say
there is no controversy at present over
the scale of wages. but that the contest
of last summer for nlne hours work at
nine hours pay will be renewed If
forced by the bosses.
Plumbers Union No. "a held its reg
ular meeting last night.
The walters union held a largely at
tended meeting last night.
The machine woodworkers met in
regular session last night,