Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
STAND UP and Be COUNTED.
CANDIDATES MUST ANSWER La
BORIS QUESTIONS.
Must Say Whether or Not They Will
Give Organized Labor Exclusive
Employment in All Work
Done by the City.

Organized labor purposes to find out who
its friends are and the Building Trades
Council has prepared circulars containing
a list of questions which will be sent to
every candidate for Office this spring. The
questions are uneQuivocal and cannot be
evaded. The circular is signed by President
7. S. Jones and Secretary w. H. Thomp-
son, of the Building Trades Council, and
is the first time such action was ever taken
in a political campaign in Kansas City.
The circular is as follows:
In view OF the approaching election. and you being
a candidate for office, We would respectfully call your
attention 10 the fact that Greater Kansas City"
bears the proud distinction of being the banner union
labor city, which carries with 1t a result Of peace and
harmony between employer and employe SO necessary
for the welfare OF a community. While the industrial
interests in other large cities in the East are more or
less harassed or endangered by strikes and lockouts.
Kansas City has been free from any OF these democrat
izing and hostile influences to the peace and happi-
ness OF society. The underlying cause of these salu-
tary conditions has been the full recognition by our
present administration Of organized labor. Realizing
that this is an age of organization. this beloved coun-
try of ours. an institution composed OF organization
within organization. and that the progress Of time
and its condition demands cooperation in place of
competition. Labor unions exact mechanical skill
from all applicants TO membership. hence employment
Of union labor guarantees good workmanship. removes
to q great extent the danger of accidents. and, mas
much as labor unions have adopted conservative fea-
lures of arbitration and concilistion, 1t insures peace
and contentment. thus bringing about the greatest
good TO the greatest number. There can be no Ques-
tion as to its Justice and legality.
Therefore, to be able TO intelligently vote at the
coming election, We would respectfully request you
to answer without delay the following questions:
'First-Are you in favor Of having all contracts for
public work contain a clause that union labor only
shall be employed where same may be had?
'Second-Are you in favor OF appointing as In
spectors OF mechanical work requiring said positions
on public buildings only practical journeymen me-
chanics who are members OF Unions of their respective
crafts7
'"Third-Are you in favor OF confirming all bids on
contracts for work or material to Kansas City citi.
zens. providing they can comply with conditions
thereof
'Fourth-Are you in favor Of excluding from ap-
pointment to public positions all who are not bona
fde citizens of Kansas City?
'Fifth-Are you in favor OF an amendment to the
city charter providing that all public work let out by
contract by the city OF Kansas City shall be done by
union labor. and no person shall be allowed TO work
more than eight hours per day, and that contractors
shall so conduct their work as to prevent strikes
among their own employees or among the employees Of
other contractors?
'fSiNth-Are you willing to use all efforts to estab,
lish rules for the enforcement Of all questions you
Rave answered In the afnrmativen'