Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-21
ENDS GAINED BY STRIKES
Mr.. McGuire's Testimony Before the Indus
trial Commission.
opposed TO Compulsory ArbitratIon-
Thinks There Are Many Objections
to to-operatiNc Enterprises.

Mr.. Peter J. Mctiuire. first vice president
Of the American Federation OF Labor and
secretarN-treasurer of the United Rrothcr-
mood OF Carpenters and Joiners continued
his testimony for a couple Of hours yester-
day afternoon after The Stars report was
c'osed.
Mr.. Mcclure said that there Is no dis
elimination against colored men in his
brotherhood. In he south there are col
ored and white unions in the same cities.
aud they are associated in interest through
a governing council composed Of members
Of each.
The boycott was simply the principle Of
choosing ohc's company and dealing where
one prefers That had always existed as a
right. and was exercised by labor sruanizs-
lions collectively
Since 1883 there had been l lag strikes in
the United States among the carpentr-s
ana Joiners, or which q9S were successful
ii were lost and 90 were ,,o,,,pr,,,,,..,,,
during the past Two years there had been
NJ strikes. Of which "a We're successful
Were compromised and were LOST -ThaI,
haa expended Sisi. 293 ia the support az
strikes since 1883. Strikes were ,,.ttg,.-
less ana less frequent. as EMPLOYERS racny-
ME the strength Of the labor nrganizstior
me greatest advance in extending M.
TIIsht-nour RUE was in the two wears iSlNi-
ri q
any other similar period. CntU The newer
VI me employees was shown by strikes the
employers would rot want them 10 confer
Inc brotherhood had protested against
system OF subcontracting i'm the buil5i,r,
business and had driven II out Of ali ex-
cept seven cities.
Opposed TO Compafsor, ,rhl,r,,,
Mr.. Mcclure was opposed to comnuls,,-,,
arbitration. When compulsory Hrhitr.ti,,
Is obtained it will mean that every g1les-
tlon OF dispute is taken before a board. and
the government VIII settle everything 'Tha
labor Organization would have no place IN
the trade. The GOV eminent would do n all
lie believed in Cancellation and voluntary
arDitratlon In certain cases. but II II were
not Tor the power 10 strike held bv Them
theg could not successfully deal with their
employers.
There is a more liberal spirit abroad to-
day than formerly in relation ia labor- or
CARNATIONS. Eight or nine years ago il was
a common experience of a walking delegate
TO be arrested charged with conspiracy
Since that time there had been no arrests
Tor conspiracy. Mechanics and iaborers to-
day have better social conditions Than dftv
years ago, when the witness lived in New
y ork. They are better housed In that city.
wear better clothes and have things on
their tables as necessities which formerly
were regarded luNurias.
Il am not a believer in the idea that the
world is growing worse said Mr. Mcclure.
Effect Of Machinery.
Machinery had had a bad effect on the
business in a general sense.
I'm Oshkosh Wis. woodwork is turned
out by machines that are attended hy girls
of twelve or thirteen years of a2e. and in
some cases as Young as ten years said
Mr.. Mcclure. They are paid ~ and I'D
cents day. and in going through he Hills
there every third girl will be found minus
-.rl-,
be delivered in Liverpool for - per cent
less than IL would cost 10 manufacture
similar work there.
The result OF this machine work makes
the cost OF house today 80 per cent less
than thirty years ago, though in the small
er houses there is more Of ornamentatlOn
today than formerly.
He did not regard cooperative move
ments as successful. a. far as they had
been tried. His experience had shown HIM
that the man who could run cooperative
store successfully would soon get out ana
run a business for himSc f. There were
number Of disadvantages I'm the practical
operation Of cooperative stores
His organization was opposed to uure-
stricted immigration. He favored an edu-
catonal test. Restriction Of immigri alton
was simply a means for self-proteCtion and
was approved by foreigu-boru Americans
as well "a Others. He thought the steam
ship companies should be held under a
larger bond for the return Of undesirable
immigrants than they are at present. amt
there should be inspection Of intended
emisrants Of Europe by consuls abroad.
immigrants landing. here he said show Ivy
their answers that they have been trained
to reply to the questions asked them AT the
barge Office. Because of this training which
they obtain by some unknown means they
are able to get through. Were an -Xami-
nation required before the Immigrant leaves
his home, better results could be expected.
Mr. Mcclure said that mechanics trained
abroad, as rue, are better workrnen than
IA 80 Ffns.fr-
snip here, for the reason the American boy
Is inclined 10 look upon his trade as a STEM
ping stone to some hing else and does not,
as a rule. devote 5 best thought To- H.