The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-20
Mass Meeting Under Auspices of
Carpenters.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir:-The carpenters of the city have
arrived at the conclusion that the time
has come when they must do something
and do it at once, If they intend ever to
better their condition in this city, their
condition today being something to be de-
p.ored. What with the large number Of
their craft in the city and the deplorable
state of the building trade, there are large
numbers of them on the verge of starva-
tion, and those who are working are only
making living wages, having virtually re-
ceived reduction in their wages of from
25 to 80 cents per day during the last eigh-
teen months.
This condition of affairs has been large
ly brought about by indiscrminate COM
petition of the contractors, who bid so
low that It is impossible to pay living
wages and make any profit; therefore in
order to save themselves, they take adj
vantage Of the poverty Of the men and
compel them to work for wages that
would not be accepted even in poverty
stricken Europe.
There are instances where men who
have been used to getting $3.50 to IS per
day have applied to the same bosses for
employment and they have met with the
answer that they might start In a day or
two, provided they would work for 81 per
day, as he Ghe boss can get all the men
he needs at that figure; and / am sorry
to have to say that he tells the truth, be-
cause the poor fellow either has to take
il or see his family starve.
There is no reason whatever that wages
should be cut in this manner. Because
| times are bad, is it any reason that the
bosses should do all in their power to make
| them worse? Why should any man take
| advantage of his fellows poverty to en-
rich himself? Again in nearly every in
! i
| possible to do without them) laid off and
| cheaper men hired in their places. This
| is discriminating against the first-class
| mechenic in favor of the men who hardly
! know how to keep their tools in working
| order. Indeed, It is a fact that a great
| many of them don't know the names of
| the tools they are using. The city is full
of just such men, and l am afraid l shall
! have to lay part of the course of this state
| OF affairs at our newspapers DOORS but
at the same time We may take a large part
of the blame upon ourselves, as we should
| see TO 1t that the newspapers of the city
were better Informed upon the subject.
What is complained of is this: The build
| ing Inspectors report for last month, for
| instance, showed building permits TO
| the amount of S65 900 or thereabout. This
is the actual cost Of the work complete,
and the newspapers in commenting upon
| this say that while other sections of the
country are bewailng the deplorable state
OF trade, Scranton is keeping well to the
front; In fact, giving out the dea that
trade is booming here. Now as everybody
| knows Scranton newspapers are as wide
| yread as any in the country, and the out
sder upon reading this will say to his fell
| lows What is the use in staying here
and starve while things are booming IN
| ScrantonT' And to Scranton they come.
| For whatr Either to cut down the wages
OF the already-crowded home mechanic
or walk the streets and starve with the
| rest of them.
Now, take this $4,000 and compare II
with the amount of money that would be
required TO pay the men employed in the
building trades one months pay, should
they all work fun time There are 2,2OC
men employed, distributed as follows
showing their rate per day and the amount
required for one month Of twenty-six
working days:
1000 Carpenters at S225 ..........s5s 500 OC