Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-01
BOYCOTT ON A SCHOOL
Proposed by Indignant Citizens Of
the Thirty-First Ward.
Noy-TNION LABOR WAS EMPLOYED.
First Fay of the Strike on the Second
Avenue Electric Line.
INDUSTRIAL FEATURES OF INTEREST

The new Thirtv-irst ward schoolhouse is
approaching completion, but before 1t Is oc-
cupied by the young idea there is likely to
he uar to the knife between the School Di-
rsctors and the citizens of the ward. Ihc
latter empbatically object TO the non-unlon
labor employed on the new structure and
several other features. A political scalp
raising and unique boycott is likely to en-
sue. \ score of years ago. when the hill
districts facing the Monongahela on the
Southside, were folded within the loving
embrace Of Pittsburg by consolidation, the
districts referred TO were considered SUBJ
urban Al that time the present Thirty
first ward was called Allentown. The
name clings TO it vet, and il is better known
to the residents than tie ward number.
The new district had hardly entered into
municipal grace when it was discovered
THAI 4 new schoolhouse was badly e.ed.
The borough house was not large enough to
accommodate the throng of youngsters then
attending. and dav bv dav increasing in
numbers. So new building. a frame
structure of eight rooms, was erected on
Washington avenue. TIE rooms were large,
nd it was thought the building would be
caraci0us enough for many wears TO come
Ru, the district grew rapidly, and 1t was
only few wears until the attendance fairly
hnl-ed out of the doors and windows, and
more accommodation had to be provided
A piece of property was bought on Allen
avenue. a short distance above Washing
ton, and a brick building of four rooms
built thereon. The architecture of the new
structure was neither Corinthian, Doric or
Gothic. A citizen rather vaguely termed it
a sort of '-here and there" building.
Plenty of School Children There.
Nevertheless. the children who had not
arrived at a critical age crowded in, and it
was not long until it was as full and flowing
over as the other one. Then rooms in the
e. A Z. building on Arlington avenue were
rented. and still later more rooms were
acquired in Director Charles Magle's house.
AMI still additional pupils kept coming,
and the capacity OF the four different build
inrs was not nearly adequate to the de-
mard made upon them. The school direc-
tors Of the district then took the matter in
hand, finally decided TO erect structure to
cost abuul $40, 600, and selected their Allen
aypnue property as the location.
Taen the fun began. Alien avenue at the
roint adjoining the school property is a
yeri,anIe tobogran. so far as the grade is
concerned. 1t is not paved and during the
winter season bridge would be required to
cross il. Then 20 get at the foundation, the
upper end had to be dug out nearly 20 feet
in depth and a heavy wall OF the same
height placed at the lower side to even |
matters 1t took a large force OF men three
months to do the grading.
Everything went on briskly enough. The |
builders kept right at work and the con-
tractors promised its completion several |
months befoer the time specified. The stone
nlasons came. They.were all right. Then |
the carpenters. They were all right. Then |
the hricklavers. They were call wrong"
10 Use the phrase Of an indignant worker of
that craft
When the time came for operations TO |
begin number of bricklayers who reside in |
The ward-unlon men-who have been on
strike since the spring, applied for work
on the building 1t is claimed their aDpli
cations were refused, and howls of wrath
were heard. To use the language of Mr..
Elcock. a citizen and union bricklayer who
was met with Yesterday:
Here I am. property owner and tax
payer. am assessed to pay for that build
ing, and am not allowed to work on it,
while men from Philadelphia, Johnstown
and oth. POINTS are brought on here to do |
work ] shall consider the matter before 7 |
viii consent 10 pay single cent of tribute /
toward paving for it. I am plainly a vic
tim Of a conspiracy against nv rights. L |
also voice the sentiments of large number
o. different craftsmen in the matter. With
them I shall not send my children to
school buiit in such a manner. ! shall find
means to pay for nv children's tuition az
some ether institution. but go they shall
no, to a school held within walls built by
scab' labor
Many of the Same Opinion.
A number of Others were spoken to con-
cernir" the matter. Not one ielt kindly
toward the non-union laborers employed
THE DISPATCH reporter was given to un-
aerS-aHd thar a preconcerted mo. ement
would he made al the coming election to re-
move rle directors who had caused the new
building to be put where it is or permitted
tine employment of non-union workmen. The
interests part of the matter is that every
one ot tie direc ors belong TO labor organ
izatiouS. the President being none other
than NJ. NJ. Garland, First Assistant Presi-
Grni of tire Amal@amated Association Of
Iron and Steel Workers Mr. Garland and
MIR. Charles Nagli'S terms end the coming
year Both have hitherto been very popu-
lar in Jae ward The labor issue has al
district will make a strong fight, according
10 their assertions. They will ask outside
organizations to aid them.
hlr. Garland was called upon in reference
10 The trouble. He refused to believe that
the dissatisfaction amounted TO much. He
knew that il existed, but had not worried
himself concerning it, as he was confident
the board had acted properly in the matter.
Efforts had been made 10 Gain the consent
of Tnc contractors to employ only union
men before the contract vas let. The re-
quest was conceded in every case, except
ing rhay Of ihe bricklayers The attorney
fer the board WAS consulted. and he de-
cided That they could not legally stipulate
in the contracts for union Workmanship. |
Such an action would be exceeding their
authority rs Il tactionless body elected by
the people. ANY attempt at coercion would
rsudcr them anenabe to legal proceedings |
Il a.s only then the contracts were given
out and that with reluctance.
tsc ot the oldest features of the affair |
is the determination which a number have
arrived at to boycott the building. If ex-
pres>ions Of opinion can be accepted there
i rot the slightest doubt but that this
Will be done. Some hold such pronounced
Niev> that they will not, under any !
cIi"slaSiaBces, permit their children to
be oruested within its walls. IG there
should he any umanimity in this opinion it ;
Is possible the school board of the Thirty
hrst ward will have some improved {
property 80 dispose of in the near future