The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-28
TO AROUSE SYMPATHY
ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO INCITE
UNION MEN AGAINST "SCABS.''
Testimony Before the Industrial Com
mission-Both Sides of Labor Ques-
ton Heard-The Idaho Case.

CHICAGO. March 27.-Before the federal
industrial commission subcommittee
George p Gubbins. president of the Chi
cago Bricklayers and Stonemasons' Union,
testified, to-day, that the contractors were
trying to incite union men TO attack nom
union men that sympathy might be
aroused fer the latter. Last Sunday he
said, "a man employed by the Master Ma
sons Association came to me to get me to
incite my workmen to attack nonunion
men. He got no satisfaction from me"
The committee was so much surprised at
this that Mr.. Gubbins was pressed for
more details. He explained himself thus:
1.-THE man was detective. OF course he
did not say outright that the master ma
sons wanted us to attack nonunion men.
First, he told me that at a certain time
bus load of scabs would be going to work,
guarded only by two men. His motive was
to get me stirred up, knew and he told
me himself who was paying his salary"
Mr.. Gubbins protested vehemently that
his union stood for peace and for arbitra-
ton. He told about visit to the chief OF
police. asking for personal protection. and
also about visit to Mayor Harrison, in
which he accused the contractors of en-
ploying discharged policemen, criminals
and levee "bums'' for special watchmen,
and training them to shoot union laborers.
When asked what prospects there were
for arbitration Mr.. Gubbins said: ''The
Building Contractors Council has lost its
chance to arbitrate. 1t turned US down and
it is a fight to a finish now.
In response to Mr.. Kennedy's question
fnfv
arbitration, if the contractors would join,
and he would like to see President Nc
Kinley appointed arbiter, but he had no
confidence in the contractors. Mr.. Cub
bins's statements were at the opposite pole
from those of Thomas II. Jones, non
union machinist, employed by the Troy
Laundry Machinery Company. The latter
denounces unions as selfish and unchris-
tian. Labor, he urged, should not be d.
vided against Itself. and he predicted that
long the close selfishness of the
unions continued the condition of labor
would not be materially improved. Union
ism to-day is far worse than the saloon In
breaking up home and wrecking the lives
of honest workmen. The church might as
well bless the saloon as labor union"
The other witnesses of the day were
John A. Long, business agent of the Gas
filters Union, and James Regain, a mem
Der of the Lathers' Union. Mr.. Long came
out in a fiatfooted manner against police
interference with labor II don't think the
mayor should give the bosses the benefit OF
protection he said. Mr. Long said that
the bosses were not all standing together
and that some of them were being coerced
by their organization. He defended the
limitation of work demanded by his or
ganiZation as securing a better quality OF
product, and said that gasfitters would &C.
complish more in eight hours than in ten
Regain was one of the most fiery cham.
| pions of labor yet listened to by the com.
| mission. He exalted unions as the creates,
agencies on earth for keeping men out OF
| prison, and he charged falsity against the
statements of every contractor and every
| nonunion laborer alike that appeared be-
| fore the commission. His panacea for labor
troubles was free silver. The commission
| will not adjourn until Saturday.