Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-22

| am also satisfied that those who control
| The Star have always recognized any just
demand coming from organized labor. My
| opinion of this entire matter is that the
| owners of The Star are at the present fairly
| disposed, and believe will, throughout the
| entire period of the buildings construction
deal honestly and justly and in business
| like manner with all trades that will be
| represented in the construction.
| This opinion has been formed from per-
| sonal interviews with Mr.. F. b. NoyeS when
| L called to see him as a representative of or
| ganiZed labor, and l agree with a large
! majority of conservative, progressive and
bona tide members of the various building
| trades in the District of Columbia who are
| familiar with this matter, who believe,
| union men. they would sooner receive nine
tenths of the benefits to be derived by being
progressive than to be too aggressive and
| lose all by fighting for one-tenth.
| 'By this 1 mean that it is far better for
| the common sense progressive working
| men to approve The Stars course in having
the marble cut for It's new building at the
| quarry in accordance with what has come
| to be almost universal custom, than to
| undertake to force The Star Company to
have part Of its work done in a way that
| is not deemed by them wise.
| Il am convinced that if the stone cutters
| would look at the matter in its proper light
| they would also be convinced that the
| course adopted by The Star will, if accept
| ed by them, really result in beneflting those
| who are now trying to injure The Star. l
| am sure the statement is true that cutting
| the stone at the quarries will prevent what
otherwise would be veXatious delays in the
construction, and this, as every
| gagged in building operations knows, is one
of the most serious difficulties mechanics
| have to contend with. as loss of time means
| to them loss of money
Il do not believe The Star COmDany should
| be asked to do something that is impossible
| and while I would be glad if union men
! were employed at the quarries, L think it
| the height of foolishness to make any fuss
about it.
LAS an individual, I<would do all in my
| power to influence the entire number of
| friends who are members of the various
unions to have this work done in the city,
| if | thought all business men, who conIe1n-
| plate building, would be asked or expected
to do the same that asked OF The Star
Company concerning the cutting of stone in
the quarry. but think it unjust and would
be impolitic for members Of the building
trades and other unions to ask The Star
Company to do what is not asked of others
and, l understand, will not be asked of
other men who, although they may not
specify for union labor, still, when their
houses or buildings shall be erected, will
employ union men.
ITO illustrate. l will speak metaphorically
and say possibly Mr.. Jones might have
erected building upon the opposite corner
from The Star and the exterior walls OF the
building would be marble and on the walls
of that building possibly might be men
working at trimming and setting stone
quarried and finished at the Vermont quar-
ries, under the same conditions as prevail
there at present. The men on this build
ing, union men, We're setting the stone
under the aforesaid conditions, and at The
Star building they would only set stone cut
by them and under conditions suitable to
them. Such an exhibit and practice of
unonfsm ! am unfamiliar with, and l think
the falr-minded people of the District, who
are glad to see the altitude organized labor
in the District has reached would be sorry
to see US as whole countenance such
transactions and we could not and should
Inv or
support.
"On number of buildings in this city
these same stone cutters have fitted and set
the stone cut at the same Vermont quarries
without a word Of protest.
Mr.. HeaIey in Accord.
Mr.. John P. Healey, president of the
Building Trades Council, after reading
what Mr.. Spohn had said on the subject
added II fully indorse what Mr. Spohn
said to The Star reporter.
mo one can question the right of the
Stone Cutters Association to petition. 1t
would have been better to have circulated
their petition before the contract for the
construction of The Star building was
awarded. If. however, by this or any other
reasonable or logical method a satisfactory
understanding can be arrived at between
the stone cutters and the George A. Fuller
Company, organized labor of this city will
be universal in approval. Some weeks ago
| reported to my organization (Brck!ayers
No. l, D. CO. that the contract for the con-
struction Of The Star building had been let
to the George A. Fuller COMPANY and
that the specifications provided that none
but local union labor should be EMPLOYED in
its construction. The report was approved
by a unanimous vote of the union. 1t was
especially gratifying to the members to
learn that the clause providing for the en-
ployment of local union labor had been in
serted by the building committee of The
Star without suggestion from
labor, through a committee otherwise.
Il am confident that the building commit
tee of The Star intends to enforce this
clause In the specifications to the letter. |
believe the sentiment expressed by the
Bricklayers' Union will be Endorsed by
every organiza ton in the city conducted on
the broad. liberal principles of trade union
ism, which have gained for organized labor
the respect and support of the public in
general In my opinion, one of the most
powerful and influential allies of organized
labor in securing it's present standing in the
community has been. and is today, The
Evening Star, and l feel assured that or
ganiZed labor will do nothing to forfeit the
esteem and support of this powerful cham
pion."
Will Amount to Nothing.
Mr.. James B. Galliford, a former pres-
dent of the Amalgamated Society Of Car
penters. after reading what Mr.. Spohn and
Mr.. Healey had said, remarked:
Il thoroughly indorse all that those gen.
tiemen say in regard to The Star and its
new building. 1t is my opinion that all this
monkeying on the part of the stone cutters
| won't amount to shucks. If it was a rec
ogniZed practice in the erection of build
ings to cut the stone where the structure is
built, and nowhere else, then the labor or
CARNATIONS might look upon the matter
in a different light"
Mr.. John G. Wolf, vice president of the
Bricklayers' Union and chairman of its ex-
ecutive committee, said: The sentiments
expressed by Messrs. Spohn and Healey
represent MY views the subject exactly
The attempts to put The Star in a false
light before the people of this community
will fail. If McHugh, who is the ringleader
in making the trouble at present, had any
objection to make as to the place where the
stone is to be cut he should have said so
| to The Star management long ago. as he
knew all about that at least two months be-
fore the contract was let. The firm which
| has the work has had dealings with the
bricklayers unions in every part of the
country, and in every instance it has given
the most entire satisfaction
Was MfsinfOrmed.