The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-07

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was a talker who went straight to the
point.
That's the kind of speakers needed
at meetings such as last nights.
Mr.. Hammes gave concise, clear
and very temperate statement of the
position of the strikers, which made
an impression upon those who heard
him. He said he would be brief and
he was, which was another commend
able feature of his talk. In part, Mr..
Hammes said:
MIR. HAMMES' STATEMENT.
"The Carpenters Union passed set OF
rulcs two sections of which were the
cnuse of the trouble. one asked that
eight hours constitute a days work and
the other asked for thirty cents per
working hour. The eight hour day is
inst and right, believe, because the
workman who is employed only eight
hours each day is capable of doing bet
ter work and becoming more skilled in
his craft. The result is that the man VINO
cmDlCyes labor gains as well as the
man he employees Another considera-
tion Is that q greater number of men
will find employment. Labor saving
machinery and the combinations or
carital have greatly reduced the num-
ber Of workmcn who are required to
do a given piece of work and n rear
rangement of hours that will employ
more men | believe is for the general
public good.
The second bone of contention is the
request for the thirty cents an hour for
1ourneymcn and thirty-five cents for
forcmen. This is S2.40 per day which
car hardly be called eXtravagant for
skilled workman. If the carpenters
could work every workday in the year
this would be n fair rate of wages but
ms a matter of fact the carpenter aver
nges Only seven months a year,
changes from one ioh to another and
bad weather making it impossible for
the carpenter to average more than the
number of months | have mentioned.
More than this, the carpenter must
have from 500 to $3.50 worth of tools
to start with and every year must cX-
pend about $50 to repenish his stock.
WILLING TO ARBITRATE.
"I ask you. as intelligent men, if
this wage scale is excessive. If ii is
let the contractors meet with MS and
show us where we are wrong and we
will rCCcde from the position we have
taken. We are willing to arbitrate' We
are willing to be convinced if we are IN
the wrong.
Il have talked of this strike as if
it was q carpenters strike, but it is
moro than that. The Building Trades
Council took up the guage of battle
and caused a general tie up. And n
tie up there is Notwithstanding the very
truthful 90 statements of the very
truthful 90 secretary of the Builders
Exchange, Mr.. Laudg. A tie up does
exist and tie mp will exist until this
matter is settled because it is not a
case Of resisting the demands of the
Workmen. but of striking death blow
at unionism i'm this city.
lone Commcndabe feature of this
strike is the good feeling that exists
between the strikers and their late en-
plOyes. If there is bad feeling it has
not come to my attention and when
this trouble is over we can go back
and work for the best interests of our
employers as faithfully and as honestly
as before the trouble.
Nov for the remedy! We are will
ing to arbitratc. Since the beginning
of the trouble we have had a grievance
committee ready to confer with the
bosses. We are not obstinate. We
are willing to go half way; yes, three