The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-30
Mr.. williams Makes Answer.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of today 1 saw a
letter from j. f. Lavery who takes ex-
ception to some statements made by me
to the Republican. VIII you please give
me little space to acknowledge my
errors and correct some wrong impress
sions on his part.
| have been informed that the Building
Trades Council We're united on The eight
hour demand and If they are not | ac-
knowledge that | was wrong in that par
ticular, but / have seen the printed de-
| mands of the Carpenters union, the
Plasterers union and the Sheet Metal
| union. and they all demand an eight
hour day. l have since been Informed
that the Plumbers union have signed
an agreement on the nine-hour day for
| one year from last January, and the
| Painters union have had their strike al
| ready so that they would only go out
| to help the rest of the unions win the
strike next month.
But that will make no difference in
the expense of a job If the rate per hour
| is not raised. l hope that the Trades
| Council will not be so unfair to its MEM
| bers as to allow some to have the eight
hour day and leave the rest work nine
| hours. / am we'll satisfied we shall be
able to get all the help We want from
the poorly organized cities outside this
region. but | still claim that the unions
demand AN increase of % 10 80 per cent
above the present wages. The carpen-
ters of this city receive from 20 to 25
cents per hour and now demand a uni
form rate of 30 cents per hour which
I'm the case Of the man receiving the
minimum wages will be an increase of 30
per cent. and in the case where the men
receive the regular union rate as II is
today (25 cents) the percentage of ir-
| crease will be 20 per cent above the
/ 4. l. III
can figure this same problem and get
7l2 per cent. for an answer. The plas-
terers demand eight hours and 40 cents
per hour tat present they receive from
80 To 3S 1-3 cents per hour which will he
an increase of SO 1-3 per cent. on the
low rate and 80 per cent. on the high
est rate.
new rule in mathematics that the ord-
nary business man does not know about.
In regard TO the foreman, / know that
my foreman did not dare to discharge a
workman for not doing his duty, for fear
| of the insults he would receive at the
next meeting of his union He suggests
that it. would take no strong force of
| detectives to ferret out those who use
| force and violence to carry their points.
| notice in the Wardner case IL took the
| strong arm Of the United States mill
! taTy force to suppress the lawless ele-
ment, and | think II the unions wish 10
| leave their work and claim the right to
| quit AZ any time they see tlt-tnat they
| should not question the right of the con-
| tractor to get his work done by any man
who is willing 10 do it.
| I'm regard to the unions saving the men
| from loss OF wages by working for ir-
! responsible contractors. l believe II has
| cost the men more to pay the salaries of
| their business agents and other expenses
| connected with the running Of unions
| than has been saved to them by the
union, and he that Joins a. labor union
| gives away his rights as free will agent
| and gets very little in return for il.
| l do feel sincerely sorry for the fam
| lilies Of the men that are 80 foolish as
| 10 be led into such an unreasonable
| strike, as the coming one promises 10 be,
! by a few men who have very little 20 lose
| by II, but much power to gain in case OF
| success. do not believe the majority Of
the sensible men In the trades are In
| favor Of 1t and but for the horror OF be-
ing called "scabs" would not go out. I
hope the best element win take "A hand N
this matter and not allow anything of
| this nature TO cCme upon them In the
| future. Edwin g. Williams.
Scranton, Pa, May 20, 1899. -.