The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-19
WILL HEAR LABOR UNIONS.
CITY COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO NINE
HOUR PROPOSITION.


ers Exchange Yesterday and the
situation Discussed at Length.
Meeting of the Unions Held at
Night and Speeches Made by Lo-
cal and Visiting Union Men.
meeting of the City Council has been
called for this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock
90 hear from the representatives of the
labor unions and delegation from the
Bunding Trades Assembly in reference
10 a petition from the former for the
adoption of the nine-hour day by the city
and the employment of union labor only
on all city work, whether done directly
bv the city or under contract.
The Council did not consider ii advisa-
bic 10 take up the question while the po-
Htical campaign was on. so Mayor Myers
stated yesterday. Whatever action we
might have taken would have been cred
tied 10 political motives" said the Mayor
Now that the campaign is over, we can
act without being subjected 10 any such
suspicion
one of the developments of the strike
situation yesterday was the arrival in
town of Mr. w. j. Williams of Atlanta,
a prominent officer of the Union of Car
penters and Joiners. He has asked per-
mission to address the members of the
Builders Exchange, and may be heard
at the Monday meeting.
AT the meeting of the exchange, permits
sion was asked TO address the members
by a number of prominent citizens: Mr..
B. H. Levy, Mayor Myers, MIR. Nicholas
Lang Mr.. George W. Tiedeman, and Rev.
W. A. Nisbet.
The committee addressed the meeting,
stating that they came as citizs ms interest
ed in the welfare of the city ard desired
from the members of the Exchange infor-
nation relative to the questions at which
it is now at issue with The wot kmen, so
that, if possible through disint crested par
ties they might be satisfActori y settled.
Rev Mr.. Nisbet, who has taken consid-
cradle interest in the labor trouble, asked
that he be allowed to present 10 the unions
a proposition that the matter he set ed
by allowing the Workmen either a tsn-hour
day with an increase of 10 per cent. on the
present scale of wage, or that the wo lkmen
accept a nine-hour day with the scale Ct
wage now paid. The members of the ex-
change explained that the increase, is sug-
gested, had already been offered in the
proposition made the unions when The
trouble was first started, and that now
they were still willing 10 pay that scale,
but would not agree TO treat with the men
as members of unions or in any way 9th
er than as individuals.
One of the most hopeful signs of a set
tement of the present trouble lies in the
fact that at yesterdays meeting of the
exchange held prior TO the call of the
delegation of citizens, resolution was
passed that on and after Jan. 1, the men,
bers of the Exchange would institute the
nine-hour day.
number of contractors state that in
their opinion the suike is practically over,
that the men who formerly were among
the first to walk out az the call of the
unions have, in many instances,
returned and asked for re-employ
ment. Mr.. Steinacker says that
so far as his work on the Weed build
ing is concerned ne is in no way embar-
raised. His brick work is finished, large
part of the carpentry work also, and the
remainder of the other work is going for
ward rapidly.
Two of the painters that he had employ
ed on the building were set upon and bad
ly beaten Thursday night by, men whom
they stated to have been union painters.
The matter was reported to the police,
but the non-union men being strangers
in the city, were unable 10 identify their
assailants so no arrests were made.
well attended meeting of the striking
laborers was held at Labor Hall last
ght under the auspices Of the Building
Trades Council. The principal address was
made by Mr.. w. j. Williams of the gen
eral executive board of the United Broth
e hood of Carpenters and JONES, of At
lanta who spoke for an hour. His adj
dress was conservative and fair minded.
He advised the laboring men 20 be care
full of their conduct and their language,
and told them that they would not gain
their point by violent conduct and loud
mnuthiHp 'rhptr nnnducH YfltIsf ha- Gilph a
to win them the confidence and approval
of their fe low citizens.
There are good men among the members
OF the Builders Exchange, he said. Men
who have worked their way up in life,
and who are entitled to the success with
which they met. Nothing can be gained
by decrying such men, but by reasoning
WIKI them in a fair spirit they may be
brought to see the justice of the claims
made by the union men.
Mr.. W. S. Harris, of the Trade and La
Dor Assembly, made one of his character
lstic addresses. Mr.. C. P. Davis also ad-
dressed the meeting Judge H D. D.
Twges, who had been expected, was I'M
a9e to apnear on account of other en-
gagements
mini tee selected from the various
unions, was appointed to attend the con-
ference with the Mayor and Aldermen this
afternoon and to urse the claims of the
union men, The meeting was presided ever
ny PfeslGent George W. GruVer of the
Bun ling Trades Council.
Secretary Wilbon stated to O Morning
news reporter after the meeting that
communications had been received from
Augusta Port Royal, Tampa and the East
coast of Flori1a asking for a number of
t1e pest workmen from this point and
mar should these demands be filled it
city.
Fl'OO for the Round Trim, savannah