The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-04
A GREAT STRIKE NEAR.
Chicago Brickmakers May Pre-
cipitate a Severe Struggle.
a CRISIS EXPECTED BY SATURDAY.
If the Trouble Comes It VIII Be q Battle
to the Death Between the Unions and
Contractors Builders Declare Unions,
Demands Have Grown Unendurable.

ConJractOrS-ButlderS Declare Unions
Demands Have Grown Unendurable.
CHICAGO, Aug. 4.-As result Of the
brickmakers' strike, all the brickmakers
in the city may be locked out. This
would precipitate the greatest struggle
between employees and employers Chi
cago has known.
1t has been a battle to the death be-
tween the building trades council and
the Central Association of Contractors,
maae up Of those operating in all the
different building trades. The subject
was under consideration even prior to
the bricklnakers strike, but since that
time it has received more serious con-
sidcration, and to such an extent .aat
there will be a meeting Saturday of the
members OF the association to consider
the advisability Of ordering the lockout.
The trouble has its origin in the pro-
fessed conviction on the part of the
bosses and the contractors that the ex-
actions of the unions affiliated with the
buiEling trades councils have become
practically uncomfortable. Each succeed
ing years agreement is more oppressive
than its predecessor, and special dissat-
lsfect!on has been created by certain
provisions i'll some of the present agree
ments prescribing what shall constitute
days work. 1t is declared that in
many instances work that can be done
in all hour is made to constitute days
work. With this decrease in work it
is claimed there has been an increase of
wages.
ii Complications have arisen in connec-
: ton with the laying of the cornerstone
OF the new federal building which may
interfere with the arrangements, if they
do not upset them entirely. The officers
of the Chicago Stone Cutters union say
there will be no cornerstone laying un-
less President Mckinley or some other
visiting official takes Off his coat, lifts
the Stone into position himself, smears
the mortar which is to set it and trues it
up, and leaves it as it is to stand as long
as the building Lasts. The complica-
tlons have arisen because the union has
been unable to reach an understanding
with Contractor John PIERCE, who is
cutting the stone. Union men ,xay the
cornerstone of the federal building will
be the product of nonunion labor and
that no union man will put hand to it.
President Joseph Stone of the Stone
cutters union said yesterday: .sNo
union man will have anything to do
with the laying Of that cornerstone.
That much is certain. We have made
every effort to have the work done in
Chicago by union men, but up to this
time have failed. Without the assist
ance Of the derrickmen and hricklayers
I cannot see how there is going to be
any cornerstone laying, unless the presi-
dent or some other dignitary is strong
enough to lift it into position and has
the necessary skill to set it. Organized
labor worked hard for the appropriation
for that building, and it had right to
the work. 1t seems, however, the prin-
cipal work, the stone cutting. is to go to
nonunion labor; not only nonunion, but
outside labor. When they get ready to
set that nonunion stone, Chicago labor
organizations will be ready to cease
work in all departments. 7"