The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-07-14
Place the Burden Of Blame for Lock-
out on Contractors. Bankers and
Capitalists - Strong Resolutions
are AdOpted-A Fair Statement of
the building Trades Councils Pos
itiOn is Demanded From the Pub
lie Press.

tee. The resolutions state exactly the
true cause of the controversy and place
the blame where it belongs.
The resolutions pledge renewed moral
and financial support to the locked-out
men, concerning the contractors for re-
fusing TO arbitrate and eulogizing the
Building Trades council for the fight
it was making against what was
termed injustice and oppression, and
were adopted at a conference of trade
unionists in Chicago last week.
Prof. Graham Taylor's report from
the committee on Investigation was
read, showing that the contractors pos
itively refused to cooperate or enter
into any discussion Of the subject, as
the; believed their principles were
right and needed no explanation or de-
fense.
G. W. Perkins. president of the cigar
makers union. a member of the inves-
tgation committee, submitted the fol-
lowing resolution. which was unanr
mously adopted:
Not Strike But Lockout.
"We learn from carefully compiled
and undisputed facts that the present
difficulty in the building trades is a
lockout, made such by the arbitrary
and uncalled-for action of a combina-
ton of employers. aided and encour-
aged by bankers, capitalists and in
some instances servile press; that the
difficulty is not strike, but lockout,
the Inauguration and continuance of
which the Building Trades council nor
the unions affiliated Herewith were not
and are not responsible for.
Refuse to Arbitrate.
eve find that every attempt to end
adjustment of terms whereby the lock-
out could be ended has emanated from
the Building Trades council and the
unions thereof, and we have noted the
arrogant refusal on the part of the
employers council to consider any plan
of settlement except on the basis of un-
conditional surrender and dissolution
or the Butldfng Tradesscounc y ss9'.-s
''We also have noted the persistent
manner in which the employers coun-
Gil has kept its secret mud-slinging bu-
reau in constant operation, by which it
has assailed the character and honesty
of the officers, business agents and ac-
tive members, individually and COL
lectively. of the Building Trades coun-
Gil, and the foregoing stated officers,
agents and members thereof.
We have not lost sight Of the fact
that with one or two exceptions none
of the thirty-twO unions represented in
the Building Trades council has made
any efforts to increase wages at this
time, but We have noticed that the co:s
of material entering largely into the
construction Of buildings has, through
the operation Of trusts and mbinat-
tions Of employers been increased from
10 per cent to as high in some instances
as 700 per cent.
Contractors RespOnsiblc.
'Resolved by the representatives of
the trades unions of Chicago in conven-
present difficulty in the building
trades to be lockout pure and simple,
for which and it's continuance the
Building Trades council and unions
thereof are in no way responsible.
"Resolved. That we place the respon-
:-:blity for the lockout and the paraly-
Sis of business in the building line in
particular, and the consequent stag
nation in ctre- lines, squarely upon the
shoulders Of the employing contractors,
bankers and capitalists, and hold them
reer,olsible also for the great suffer-
ing, want anh privatiOn akin to star
vation that our fellow unionsts and
their families have been forced to un-
dergo.
Building Trades Commended
''Ecsolved, That we ccmend the ef-
forts Of the building Trades council and
unions thereof to bring about settle
nounce the attitude Of the employers
in refusing to meet the unions in an
effort to alnicably adjust the trouble
as unWarranted, una merican and con-
trary to all spirit of fairness and man
illness, and contrary to the business in
terests of our city, and we hold that
such action on the part of the employ
crs can be construed only as an at
tempt upon their part to disrupt the
trades union movement in this city,
and we hereby declare that in our opin-
ion that is their hidden purpose.
"Resolved, That we declare our faith
in the principles of the Building Trades
council and hold it to be legitimate
organization and necessary for the pro-
lection and advancement of the union:
affiliated herewith.
Labor Officials Upheld.
"Resolved, That while we do not hold
the Building Trades council to be in
falIible or entirely spotless, we, how.
ever, have investigated the alleged dis
honest acts of it's officers and agents
secretly circulated by the employers
and find them to be baseless. false ir
every particular, and circulated, in oul
opinion, by the employers for the sole
purpose Of influencing public opinion
against the Building Trades council
and we hereby affirm our faith and be-
lief In the honesty and sterling integ.