Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-26
APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT
Mr.. Mckinley Requested Not to 0ficiate at
Chicago Corner Stone Laying.
Action Taken by Central Labor Union
The Cleveland Street Railway
Stakeholder Matters.

At the meeting of the Central Labor
Union held last evening at Typographical
Temple Secretary Feeney was Instructed
to request President Mckinley. in the name
of organized labor. not to participate IN
the ceremony of laying the corner stone or
the federal building at Chicago October ..
1t was stated by a delegate from the
local granite cutters branch. who brought
the matter to the attention of the central
body that trades organizations through
out the country are in full sympathy with
those in Chicago in their opposition to the
methods of those having in charge the con-
struction of the building. 1t is said that
John Pierce, who has the contract Tor
furnishing the granite for the construction
of the building is primarily responsible
for the trouble existing relative to the ar
ranged festivities in Chicago consequent TO
the laying of the corner stone OF the struc-
ture. 1t was also stated that seVerai
months previous to the letting of the con-
tract the granite cutters employed at the
various quarries throughout the country,
by referendum vote, decided to require the
same rate of wages for cutting the stone 70
be used in the construction of this build
ing that is paid in Chicago. This determl-
nation was. it is said fully known by
those who submitted proposals for the
work, and the Chicago rate of wages was
included in all estimates, with the eXcep-
ton of those of Contractor Pierce, VINO
secured the contract on a wage basis much
lower than that prevailing In Chlcaso
Under these conditions union stone cutters
have refused to cut or set the stone, ana
non-union labor has been employed
Aid for Strikers.
A communication was read before the
meeting last night from a committee of the
Central Labor Union of Cleveland, Ohio,
asking financial support for the members
trio al
pany's Employees Union, who are out on
strike. The communication states that af-
ter impartial investigation the following
ia cts We're aScertained:
The company's rules were so tyrannlcal
that the men struck on the 10th day OF
June. After remaining out sixteen days
compromise agreement was signed jointly
between committee of the city council,
the company and the men reinstating 81
per cent to their old positions and placing
20 per cent on the extra list. the company
also agreeing to meet committee of en-
ployes when any trouble or grievance oc-
CURED. This agreement the company vio-
lated from the first. When scabs quit
which they were doing frequently, instead
of promoting the old extras the company
hired or imported new men from some
place, and. when demonstrated with, thirty
OF the old employees We're discharged in one
week.
Had the agreement been lived up to
there would not have been scab left on
the road in one month. as the citizens were
demanding union cards of the conductors
before riding. Thus the company saw that
the union was going TO win out in spite of
all they could do, and it commenced its sec
ond attack on the men, which made it i'm
pc ssible for them to avoid the second
strike During all this time the public has
positively refused to ride 1t had been cir
culated through the press that the men
We're returning to work. To get at the facts
this committee met with the men, 500 being
present, who voted, without one dissenting
vote, to fight to a finish. The other go not
present are operating 'busscs to assist the
public
In response to the appeal the sum of $50
was contributed.
Another Donation.
! An appeal for funds to aid the locked
out miners of the Susquehanna Coal Com
Lany was also read, and in response the
sum of $40 was voted as contribution.
A number of orga nizations reported that
they would participate in the parade on the
occasion of the Homecoming of Admiral
Dewey. In honor of the occasion it was