The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-24

Contractors WILL RESUME
WORK THIS MORNING.

at the Old Scale of Wages and
HOurs-President of Trades COun-
ell ApoIogized to Builders Ex-
change for Guinness of Letter Sent
Its observation-disclosures Between
Contractors and Union Men Dis
cussed But No Agreement Reached.
Southern Organizer of Carpenters
and JOurneymen's Union Here and
May Order General Strike.
At the meeting of the Builders Exchange
yesterday no further action looking to-
ward a settlement of the labor trouble
was taken. The members discussed the
situation and construed the recent note of
the Building Trades Council 10 be an ul-
timatum that required no answer One of
the members notified the meeting that
President Buck of the Trades Council had
requested PERMISSION to be present and
apologize for the curtness of the commu-
nication that had been sent the exchange
by the Council. His request was granted
and he was notified that he would be heard
at onle. He made short address, after
which the meeting adjourned. The MEM
Der who had brought the message said
lItdl ne idu DttH lOil ny TIE Itd1 vi tffC
council that he thought by addressing the
meeting he could arrange matters ami
cably; but one of the members of the ex-
change said after the meeting that the
differences of the unions and the exchange
were no nearer a settlement than they
had been since they began.
Last night, after 6 o'clock, the lay-off
by the members of the exchange was over,
and today the contractors will resume
work with such men as apply, whether
union or non-union, but none will be ac-
cepted except those that consent to work
at the scale Of wages and hours which OBJ
tanned previous 90 the difficulty. One or
the members of the exchange said that
he had applications from enough non
union men TO do all of his work, and be-
sides these workmen, he had been assured
by several union men who had previously
been in his employ that they would show
up for work this morning.
The members of the exchange are con-
fident that they will win their point, and
that the union men will be willing to re-
turn 10 work at the scale of wages and
hours which they offered the Trades Coun-
ell as compromise to the original de-
mands of the unions.
one of the contrac Tors was assured by
one of the men now idle on account of the
lay off that he was sorry he had Joined
the union, that he did ID for the fralernal
benefits he expected 60 obtain, and that
had he known d strike was contemplated
he would not have sent in his application
for membership. He further stated that it
was now impossible for him TO resign, as
the union of which he was a member had
recently passed a resolution TO the effect
that no designations would be accepted
until after May /. Other union men told
the same story. Il am a member of the
union, and will stand by il, even if [ am
forced 10 go 20 another city in order to
get employment said one member but
l was led into this thing against my bet
ter judgment, and had il not been assured
my by one of the leaders that the con-
tractors would be brought TO terms twen-
ty-four hours after the matter was put
before them in a decided way I should
certainly have voted against the measures
that have Ned to the present conditions
The view of the Builders Exchange
members as a whole may be said to be
expressed by one, who said that he knew
that the unions are claiming unlimited
money to support them in the fight and
that they boast their strength which is
more or less of a ghost story. More COM
pact and Weather unions have gone to
pieces before his, he said, as the collapse
of the Longshoreman's Union not so many
years ago proves.
Referring to the competition that would
naturally result should contractors not
members OF the exchange accept the
union demand of wages and hours, the
member said he had no fear of that that
after all it is the public that pays the
bills, and he was sure that in the stand
he and his associates had taken. the peo-
pie would recognize that it is to their
benefit to patronize those who give the
greatest amount of work and the best
work for the least money.
plumber who spoke to the same effect
said that it was quite possible that the
three plumbing firms, Mccarthy Herman
and O'Brien, or the big Three" as they
are known among the union men, would
be made into non-union shops with view
of avoiding any future trouble.
The latest union to make a demand is
that of the he'd carriers and mortar mix
ers who demand that on and after April
10 they be given the nine and eight hour
system. and that their wages be, for hod
carriers, $l25 per day, and for mortar mix
ers and labOrers around a building, 81 80
per day. This demand was made on the
Builders Exchange yesterday. IL was re-
ceived as information.
The unions have not been idle and meet
inss are he'd daily, often several times
a day. AT q meeting held Yesterday /,
was decided to notify officially regarding
the lock out the International Union or
Worklngmen, with headquarters in Phila-
delphia. +. L. McGruder, Southern Or
ganizer of the Carpenters and Journey
mems Union, reached Savannah yester-
day 20 inquire into the condition of ar
fairs. 1t is said that he will stay here
several days. until he has looked into the
matter thoroughly and may order a gen
eral strike Such n measure, it is saic
would be popular with number of tho
union men, who. under such circum-
stances. would be entitled to receive a per
diem from the national organization.
a union man, speaking of the matter
last night said that there is an ample
supply of funds to continue the fight IN
definitely. There is a fund of $4,000 he'd
by the National Federation of Labor ne
said, FOR such a fight as is now being
waged. and besides this. the national or.
der hos the right 10 assess each union. OF
the country to raise further money for
the purpose for whicA the fund is in
tended.
That the unions are receiving the recog-