The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-08
LABOR AND POPULATION.
The Unions and HaIf-MilliOn
Club Not in Complete
Harmony.
TWO POINTED INTERVIEWS.
William H. Bunker and M. MoGlynn
Take Different Views of the
Same Question.
TWO POINTED INTERVIEWS.

! Now and again indications have come to
the surface showing that there was not
complete harmony between the labor
unions Of this City and the Half-million
Club.
William M. Banker, a member of the
executive committee of the Half-miIlion
Club, said:
Shortly after the club was organized it was
| found necessary in order to accomplish its
object of bringing the City population up to
| the half-million mark to pay special attention
| to the development OF the entire State and of
| home industries, and 1t is on these lines that
| our work has been carried on.
1t was very clear that neither mechanics nor
| laborers were needed; that the various avenues
| OF employment were already more than filed.
! The club aims to promote State development
and it has not allied itself with any under.
| taking that cannot receive the unqualified in.
| dorsement OF every patriotic citizen.
The material development of the State by the
| introduction of Eastern capital and Eastern
| people of means will certainly result in in
| creasing the amount of work for mechanics
| and laborers, and without this increase of work
| this City cannot make the healthy growth 10
! which the Half-milion Club is committed.
Regarding the excursion through the State,
| which has come in for some little criticism
| among people who failed to grasp the practical
| nature OF the project, it was the direct means
| of giving the State about $500, 900 worth oil
free advertising of the best kind. 1t led to cor
/
our knowledge which resulted in transfers OF
California lands. The excursion also accented
the fiesta idea and brought it into general pop
ularity. These in turn have attracted large
number of Eastern tourists, and viii, if contin-
ued, attract an increasing number each year.
| AS each tourist is credited with spending
about 5000 while out here, the benefit to the
| State can be readily seen.
In short, our object is to provide work and
not workers, and our efforts should certainly
receive the cordial support of the labor unions.
hal h TIGl anu
facturers' Association, and the la boring people
can aid the upbuilding of the State by patron
lzIng home industries.
NJ. McGlynn, president of the Labor
Council, the representative body of the
labor organizations of the City, had this to
say on the Half-milliOn Club and its effect
on the laboring people:
Frankly am IN much the same position that
believe the majority of the citizens OF San
Francisco TO be in regard to the HalfmilliOn
Club. / have not deemed it of sufficient
present or probable future importance to
trouble myself to form an opinion.
So far as have been able to learn the club
has no definite object or if it has the members
cognizant of ii have taken considerable
trouble to conceal 1t.
l see it claims to be working in conjunction
with the Manufacturers and Producers Asso-
citation, but although l director in the
latter body am not aware of any particular
ala given by them to the home-industry move
ment
The working people look upon the Half
million Club as being real estate advertising
scheme pure and simple. Perhaps they are
mistaken. Perhaps, also, the Half-million Club
may devise some plan whereby TO put TO work
the $4,000 or 10000 idle mechanics now in
this State before others are enticed here from
the East by the reports of its continuous
carnival season and the consequent delusion
that the people OF q State thus frOlicking must
be free from ell cares.
OF course, the Half-million Club emphati-
cally declares that 1t desires to attract only
men of capital, but it is certain that long be-
fore they can attract one capitalits a score of
idle mechanics will flock to this State in hopes
offinding employment by very reason of the in
ducement held out to attract the capitalists.
1t is the knowledge OF this fact that has caused'
the feeling of opposition TO the Half-million
Club on the part OF the working people.
Their recollection of the Midwinter Fair and
its effect on industrial life here is yet too
vivid to permit them to place any confidence
in any plan engineered by real estate owners
and agents.
If the members of the Halfmilion Club are
really sincere in their desire to make Califor-
mia and the people prosperous, let them come
fairly out and join the Manufacturers and
Producers Association. This talk of their
working in conjunction with it is all rot. They
don't work in conjunction with it. AT least
do not see any evidence of it. The money
they have spent in their banqueting tour
through this State would have been very ac-
ceptable 10 and been more profits used by
the Manufacturers Association which en-
phatlcally declares that no new residents are
desired until those here are able to earn a
living.