Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-21
TYRANNY OF LABOR UNIONS.

TYRANNY OF LABOR UNIONS.
The labor union, or trade guild, is an.
institution as old almost as civilization.
itself, but the question of its benefit
to mankind is still a mooted one. That
doubt has been particularly increased
by the recent experience OF the great
city of Chicago. Where the entire build
ing industry has been paralyzed by an
excess of unionism, or rather the en-
.cesses of unions. AT present 10000
men are out on a strike and ths con-
tractors and capitalists are organized
and determined. Men in cool deiibera
ton meet at a banquet and openly adj.
wise lighting it out" or Starving the
sworkmer TO it, so intense is the feel
ing that labor unions have acted I'M
justly.
For years the various trades have
been organizing. First the brick ma
sons, then the carpenters. and finally
the plumbers. AS each became strong
y
it began to enforce one exaction after
another. mdividualism or the energy
Which has given American industry a
foremost place in the world. was stifled.
Men We're prohibited from working
more than eight hours each day, wages
were pushed up Irrespective of any
ability to pay. in many trades the OUT
put was also limited. A plumber, for
instance, was forbidden to wipe more
than 50 many joints, or a steam filter
TO run so many fest of pipe a day. The
rest of the time the men must loaf.
So We find in the present crisis that
ths brick layers had boosted up wages
and the plumbers had restricted the
output: each branch then adopted the
others mode Of procedure in addition
adopted both practices. high wages and
restricted output. Other eXactions fol-
lowed and the contractor found himself
quite under the thumb Of the organiza-
tons. In the plasterins trade. for in
stance. the more easily intimidatea
contractor was not permitted even To.
appoint his own foreman, but must ac-l
ceptthe election OF the men. He could
not discharge man, and the only way.
TO get rid of an undesirable workman.
without bringing OH a strike was TO
resort to technical procedure of laying
him off for the time being. or OF put
ting so many men TO plaster in one.
corner that they stepped on one an
others feet and so interfered With one
another that some of them resigned Of
their own voiition The contractor With
"a rush job on his hands could not rely
upon the esprit de corps of faithful and
expert workmen whom he kept upon
his staff even thru periods of ideness
and whom he paid slightly better
wages. He was graciousiy permitted
TO have his men work overtime at u
rate one and one-haif times the regular
rate. but the brick layers We're limited
10 the laying of 800 brillis in eight
hours, tho an expert could more than
double this without unwholeson1e ex-
ertion. Some Of the unions permitted
the contractors 10 employ two shifts,
each working eight hours day, SO that
the contractor might get sixteen hours
work a day at the regular rate The
plasterers are limited to so many
square feet q day, and other trades are
similarly hidebound. Other restric-
lions are set also in the matter Of the
use even of material made by nom
union hands, and certain styles Of work
are NOT permitted to machinery.
After months of controversy, months
lof idieness for workman and capitalist
and months of rioting. We find the
great newspapers of Chicago proposing
q compromise which needs only 10 be
Tread to give a clear Understanding OF
1.-THE unreasonable exactons af .hsSa la
II Dor unions gone mad. Admitting tina,
it is more than the laborer Is justly en-.
titled to, these journals propose for the
sake Of peace the following conces-
Isions:
/ ta) That there shall be no limitation
as TO the amount Of work a man shall
perform during his working day
tb) That there shall be no restriction
OF the use OF machinery or tools.
4 te) That thefe shall be no restriction
/ of the use of manufactured 5nateria
Iecexpt prison made.
Id That no person shall have thu
/ right to interfere with the Wiorkme1
] during working hours.
T. (el Tha. the use of apprentices shall
not b. prohibited.
Fl That the foreman shall be tn,
4 asent of the employer.
1 fg) That all workmen shall be at lib
4 erty to work for whomever they see fit
h) That employers shall be at ibert,
Ito employ and discharge whomeve
4 they see At.
That eight hours shall constitute
days work.
That the rate of wages per day shall
be:
lBricklayers.. .......s4.0
4 Plumbers. ........... Az
4 Stone cutters -. go. $3.50. }. 4.G
4 Steam filters. ). ....... .......... 10
4 Gas filters. 1900. ...... ...... ~
t5Piasterers... 49,. 4.o