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


bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters and 9TH
ers. Inasmuch as the stone is required by
the contract to be carved in Washington,
there will be mouths of work for the local
soft-stone men, the number OF whom Is
very small.
1T should. of course, be understood that
the stonework foI The Star building is to
be done in the same way in which similar
work upon practically every building of i'm
portance has been handed, and the attempt
being made by the soft-stone cutters is 10
start new precedent with The Star.
The sole desire of The Star in making
this improvement, which will be far in eN-
cess of its actual needs and will represent
an aggregate investment of more than $780,
900 in land and building, was to erect a
home that should be a source of pride 10
every citizen of Washington. including Its
owners imagine no one wishes US 10
knowingly decide to run the chance OF spoii-
common-sense view. The stone work Is now
well under way and will, l believe, when
put in place, fully vindicate our judgment
in the matter
Ex-President Silver's Views.
Mr.. William Silver, former president OF
the Building Trades Council, and now
delegate frem the Granite Cutters Union
to that body. and who is regarded as one
of the most conservative of the District
labor leaders said:
About six months ago special commit
Association of this city called on the buse-
ness manager Of The Star, Mr.. r. Il.
Noyes, asking that the work of cutting the
stone for the proposed new Star building
be done in this city. Mr.. Noyes told the
committee that he was favorable to union
labor, always had been, and he would give
preference of some $4,000 to local con-
tractor. The committee expressed them
selves as satisfied with the proposition of
MIR. Moves.
When the contract was let It was found
that the local bidders could not comply
with the specifications in regard to time.
the shortest time named for the completion
Of the structure by any local bidder being
two years, and The Star desiring to
have it ready for occupancy in one year
'In view of the fact that The Star
through Mr.. Noyes, Indicated its preference
for local bidder, and also because the
committee at that time were entirely salts
fled with The Stars position relative to the
matter can see no reason for complaint
on the part of any labor organization.
The course of The Star in getting the
marble cut at the place where it is quar-
rled rs IN line with the custom almost in
Variably followed in Washington and every
other large city. In fact nearly all such
work Is now done in the quarries, and any
other practice would not be safe. Suppose,
for example, a stone should be sent from
the quarry away up in Vermont without
being cut, and after it was cut in Wash
ington was found to be defective, it would
OF course prove a total loss. On the other
hand, at the quarry the stones be in
spected by an inspector representing The
Star, and if one should not come up to the
required standard it would be promptly
jected and another stone supplied in its
place. Besides this, the latter course would
guarantee uniformity of color and quality,
two important factors that cannot be Sc
cured in any other way than that which
The Star has provided for.
This action of The Star cannot by any
possibility work any injustice to the union
labor of Washington, for even If the stone
IN t.nfflN 1l
enough work to keep every member of the
Journeymen Stone Cutters Association in
employment at good wages for months to
come after the building shall have become
far enough advanced to need their services.
L would like to have seen the cutting
done in this city, but in view of the prefer
ence given and local bidders failing to get
the work, / cannot see how the local stone
cutters can make any serious objection to
what The Star Company has chosen to do
in the matter. Beng more or less in touch
with the sentiments of the building trades
of the city, I am satisfied the journeymen
stone cutters could not at the present time
receive the Endorsement of the several
building trades of the city for their action
toward The STAR
Should Satisfy Labor.
Mr.. Milford Spohn, whose name is
household word in labor circles and who
was the main spirit in organizing the Cen
trail Labor Union, which represents 90 per
cent of the organized labor of the District
of Columbia, who was for several terms
president of that organization and is now
president of the Bricklayers' Union and sec
rotary of the Building Trades Council, when
questioned relative to the justice of the de-
Inand of the stone cutters on The Star Com
Dany, replied: Il am not an arbitrator in the
matter. ! will express no opinion relative
to the alleged grievance of the stone cutters
which would hamper them in any honest,
legitimate and reasonable demand.
''WbjIa 7 know much of the matter at IS
sue ! am not disposed to favor either party.
l understand that The Star Company has
specified and requires that the mechanics of
the various trades employed on the work
shall all be skilled Workmen, members III
good standing of the labor unions and in
all cases preference is to be given to Wash
ingtOn mechanics, and they are 10 De EN-
plOyed as far as possible.
This should be highly satisfactory to the
organized labor of Washington, as never
in my experience of quarter of century
in this city has a building Of such dimen-
sions been erected under such favorable
conditions to organized labor. The claim
as made by the stone cutters if conceded,
requires a breach of contract which would
make The Star Company liable for heavy
damages If however, The Star Company
and the soft stone cutters, in business
like manner assuming equal responsible
ties as to damages, liabilities, losses, etc,
can satisfactorily arrange the matter at
issue | will be gratifed AS it is solely
matter between those Interested | cannot
understand why other parties having no
interest in it, should concern themselves TO
the extent of attempting to injure the BUSH
ness of The Star, to enforce the demands
of the stone cutters.
Relative to the action of that faction of
District Assembly No. G6, which is repu-
dated and dscredited by the national au-
thorities of the Knights of Labor and of
a remnant of the old Federation of Labor
in stirring up meetings to protest against
The Stars course Mr.. Spohn, answering
questions, said:
THE malodorous reputation Of those
nearly defunct bodies will not give stand
ing to the assemb.age which will gather at
the meeting. They only represent a labor
constituency in the District Of few hum
dreds, and cannot be regarded as represent
ing the sentiments Of local organized labor.
The record Of these two bodies will show
that several years ago, when they con-
trolled the labor situation in the District,
many of the business men upon whom they
called to support them We're placed under
the ban of boycott.
THE opinion of the labor people of the
city generally relative, to The Stars
course toward organized labor has been
almost universally. commendatory. 1t is
a fact that in the employment of all
1,bor ,oppacta1 with the actohIiSb-