The San Francisco call., 1896-03-27
BETTER TIMES AHEAD.
The Striking Painters Are Greatly
Encouraged by Signs of Future
Activity in Trade.


The meeting of the striking painters yes
terday morning was more cheerful than
any since the strike began. The reason
was because times are Frightening for the
painters, and the majority expect to re-
ceive employment before the middle of
next month. By that time the Building
Trades Councils card system will be in
operation and the only work done at all
Will be by union men. In the meantime
there is every reason to believe that some
OF the bosses who are wavering between
the stand taken by the Master Painters
Association and the demands of the
Painters Union are likely to accede to the
latter IN order to get their work done by
competent n en- and without trouble.
Reports were made at the meeting that
several OF the larger painting contractors
are asking for union men to 60 to work
and are only prevented from coming out
openly and acknowledging the union by
the fear that some one will taunt them
with having been defeated. One OF the
largest employers in the City is expected
TO unionize his shop within thirty
hours, as he has several large contracts on
hand and the property-oYners have but
little confidence in the non-union men
employed being able to do good work or
get work done on time. The man is really
an enemy of the union and he has no
great friendship for the masters associa-
ton.
Last Monday the unions initiation fee
was raised from % cents to $40. Yesterday
five new members paid III their fees and
took the obligation. The union interpret
this to mean that even the non-unlon men,
who have held out since the strike began,
have become alarmed and want to be in
Tbo kafo 2 ic 1afa A io+o
for the strikers will virtually drive the nom
union men out of town, for after a few
days they may be blackballed should they
try to join, and they would be driven from
every Job where members of the Building
Trades are at work.
From all accounts between seventy five
and 100 more painters went to work yester-
day, which reduces the strike situation to
a considerable extent. The number of
idle strikers who registered, as they are
required to do, was correspondingly re-
duced
President Rose, in discussing the situa-
ton, said:
The boys are feeling much better to-day than
they have before. While they were confident
OF winning their fight there were times when
things did not look so encouraging as they do
now. l refer TO the times when the outside
pressure was causing internal differences.
am glad to say that these differences have all
been Strengthened out and the men have more
confidence in each other, in their cause and in
themselves than they had then. do not want
the public to think that this strike has not
caused considerable suffering among the mem
bers' families, but our relief committee has
done good work and cared for those who were
in actual want. The public also has come to
our relief in most generous manner. We do
not care TO have the dark side of the strike
published but I tell you it is rarely that a
strike takes place but what it is accompanied by
suffering, worry and too often priyation and
want.
There is one thing I want to commend. In
our union are many men with families. and to
these the single men have given way with a
seli-sacrifcing spirit that is truly commend
able. The single men can stand idleness better
than the men who have families dependent
upon them. Their time will come before long.