Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10
CHlCAGO'S BIG STRIKE
VIEWS BY SECRETARY OF THE Ma
TIONAL BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL.
Testimony Given Before the Indus
trial COmmission-DofnE Work
without Contractors.

The industrial commission met in their
rooms in the Bliss building today and
heard the views Of H w. Steinbiss OF st.
Louis, secretary of the National Building
Trades Council. His testimony was OF spe-
cial interest, as it dealt in part with the
conditions that attended the great building
trades strike in Chicago.
There were present Commissioners Phil
lips, vice chairman; H. L. Harris, Kennedy
Farquhar Clarke and Litchman.
Mr.. Steinbiss said that in 1894 he framed
the paragraph of the constitution OF the
Building Trades Council of St. Louis which
declared that experience had demonstrated
and taught that strikes were failures He
had changed his mind on that proposition
and now believes that strikes are success
full in accomplishing ends aimed at. His
council had accordingly changed its con-
stitution in that respect, though 1t had
taken measures to make the strike a last
resort.
The witness explained what is attempted
to be accomplished by the National Build
ing Trades Council, which is federation OF
all the building trades OF the country WIN
a total membership of 25O0OO. he thousit.
the organization of labor is progressing ~
this country AS a result of organization
rates Of wages have been raised ana hours
have been shortened. He claimed that oe.-
ter work had been done. and ne thousht as
much work had been accomplished uhuel
the new system. He did not claim mat
man could do as much work In eight hours
as he could in ten. for were that the case
one Of the objects of the eignt-hour uas
would be defeated, this object pelns u give
more people work.
Combining Labor Organizations.
In Chicago since the great lockout there
the plasterers, bricklayers and iron workers
had withdrawn from the National Building
Trades Council The council has no strike
fund on hand, but, as in the case OF the
Chicago lockout such a fund can be raised
promptly when needed by the assessment
of 5 cents a week on each member In the
federation. He denied that there was any
conflict Of Jurisdiction between the national
council and the unions belonging to 1t, the
object Of the council during It's three yeaLs
Of existence being to get all labor organi-
cations together. They contemplate having
fraternal delegates In cases of unions that
do not properly come within the scope OF
building trades.
Mr.. Steinbiss said there is opposition in
unions to the practice of having agree
ments between unions and the contractors
associations under which the unions agree
that their men shall work for no one not
member of the contractors union. he
thought that no agreement embody1ng such
provision will ever be Endorsed again by
| the Building Trades Council
He suggested the possibility OF the Dulld-
| ing trade councils, in times of lockouts by
| their employers, taking hold of work them
! selves some cooperative basis, getting
along without the contractors. He thought
contractors were necessary in the construc-
| ton of some kinds of buildings, but, after
| all, he commended, the contractor was really
gambling in labor He thought a lockout
would in the future be met by the plan he
suggested, which would be really doing
| work by day labor. He thought Sympa-
| thetic strikes were necessary.
Mr.. Steinbliss thought the National
Building Council could have settled the
| difficulties in the Chicago lockout If
| it had had power to interfere with
| the local council, but it could not dc
| so, according to its laws. He proposed al
the next convention of the National Build
| ing Trades Council to ask that the nationa
| strikes and lockouts. He questioned the
constitutionality of any compulsory arbi
| tration law.