Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-11
UNION MEN ARE HOT
They Cam the Contractors Have
Not Used Them Right.
AttTTEa FROM ka. COURTNEY
In Whsah Ne ProposnAs several Con-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ass Oh
BStcki~yes. "a ts~ tsnps~sea.

At . nesting - tbs boss ua.oas yes
Various cities. sith whom they have been
IN coSr--poeicnee for soms time. pro-
cure ms~ous to como here and work nine
koass per day. Today several II the
bossss ~iii start sor Chicago ~ obtain
men, The meetilg wss well attended
sad all sere hrn in the belief that the
men must not Gin Ia. strike.
The only !ob 70 any size now going on
- tina, q the big addition to the Grand
Rapids sshool Furniture coopanys fac
tsry. Contractor Vincent. who has that
lob. said yesterday that there was no
reason Why all the contractors should
DOT gran, the eight hour day. II could
uaa<s 10 possibl. difference with the
carpenters or others. he said az the
bricxlayer- often bad 10 wait Tor the car
penter- as buildings Progressed. Four
teen unioa bricklsyers and several tend
ers are working eight hours on that Job.
They claim that tho contractors cannot
InP"Tt cool men 20 sntagonixe the local
unions position to any extent sufhcien.
"a carry ON their business successfully.
President Courtney last night requested
iHE HksALD D. publish the following:
EpfrOs GRAND R,FfD- HERNLp As
~ sTe the cause - the trouble accord.
H. % the report Il the Builders ex.
Change. ] would hk. Ia state a few facts
and then let the people Judge. We are
ibid that at a fun meeting Il the ex.
eGsnge last Friday nlght II was agreed
Z" oppoe. tho eight hour day move. The
way | understand 10 - m. exchange Ia
conPOsed % lumber dealers. shinglo
.iralrrs. lime. brick and stone dealers.
PAINTERS. carpenters AMI mason builders.
These gentlemen all vote on a question
they hast no more To do with than
the man IN IN. moon. Suppose We
asked ail unions in the building trade
"a side with ~. as the stonecutterE.
plumbers and sssIitters. carpenters and
pls-teress What howl would 90 out!
Nos. Mr.. Editor. | want In ask the
risscns n the exchange II at any time
they -.nt us communication not tn
work foe carpenters. and II we would not
work for carpenters the exchange ina
-sn- would try and have firms dealing in
lime. stone snd brick agree Ia seIl Ia
non. but the members cf the exchange.
What a snap; and they winked the other
eye
Dad you or did you not send us a
communication, stating that you had
agreed To sign 10 contract when the
o~ner Of the building was going Ia hire
esrpent.r 20 sur~rintcnd the mason
work. and asked our support
What was the Consequence! The
tricklaysrs struck on e.. r. I,eonard's
building. and the poor old man was dis
charged and ~ got the blame. and You
A A l.
Which of the firms In your honorable
body sas the first Ia break forth and
take the men and do iob on the hill.
when Nr ,Tc-n. carpenter. was super
mtendrnts
Did you or did you not want the con-
mittee appointed from the union To
agree 10 work Tor no carpenter or owner
20 building. in fact ID agree Ia work for
H. one but mssons - the exchange.
am going TO suppos. John =.
Farr met me on Canal street and said:
Courtney. | want you 10 go o. such
piac. on Division or Monroe street and
do some work Tor me" oh, ! can't.
Mr. tarr ! have agreed o. work for
non. but the mason members % tho
exchange rs have worked for him
when he vas IA business. can imagine
his reply. which would te; You can
* o. ". well. you know where.
Dld you or dad your committee say
That Z he would agree 10 these proposals
that they would let us have eight hours
and atty cents Per hour. but that we
would have o. make the light or thu
public sould think you were standing
a. With uss -. yes. Ne are t. make the
aicS. You gentlemen are not ir IL.
-0v Ne court the fullest investigation
BY ths public. How would you like -
ruert "a and invite the business men 81
Meet with u. and We viii produce all
your communications for the last three
0r four years. signed by your secretary.
and Rad them Ia puhlie'
- Ear - the people building at pre~-
cnt. they want VS. Ia wax the streets
and their buildings 70 NJ by out-idsrs
a. CERTAINLY have no rsc rcss. Deny any
- thsse questions and We will publish
he letters AMI then the pubic can
Judge KhO are the liars.
jaws IT. CoUgrSEV.