The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-27
FORMED BUILDERS EXCHANGE.
CONTRACTORS OF THE CITY ORGAN
IZED FOR MUTUAL DEFENSE.

Fifty-three Master Contractors Met
at knights of Pythias Hall to Con-
slider the Demands of the Labor
Unions-It Is Understood That 9th
err Unions VIII Join in the De-
Inands of the Carpenters and Join
ers-MeetinE Did Nothing other
Than to Arrange for a Permanent
Organization-No Disposition to
Refuse the Just Demands of the
Labor Unions.
The master builders Of Savannah Of all
trades, took preliminary steps last night
towards the organization of the Builders
Exchange. by which the best interests of
the builders of the city are to be con-
suited.
The meeting had its inception in letter
sent to the builders some time ago by the
local union of carpenters and jolners,
and by a later letter, in which it was an
nounced that the other labor unions Of the
city would assist that of the carpenters
and joiners in any movement they might
make, and that if they refused TO work
upon any building in course of construc-
ton, the other labor unions would follow
standing that forced the contractors to-
gether for mutual protection and urged
them towards organization, if they wished
further to prosper and exist. 1t was very
evident that without organization and mu-
tual protection neither prosperity nor ex-
istence was possible.
When the meeting of the contractors or
gained at Knights of Pythas Hall last
night ffty-three contractors were present
and taking part in the proceedings. A
temporary organization was perfected by
the selection of Mr.. l.. A. Mccarthy, as
chairman, and Mr.. Henry NJ. Ward as
secretary.
The purposes of the meeting and the de-
mands made by the unions of carpenters
and joiners and the other allied trades
were the subject of considerable discus
sion, but the discussion resulted in moth
ing. 1t was decided finally that it would
be wsest not to pursue the discussion
further, but to appoint a committee to
suggest plans for the organization of the
Builders Exchange, 10 which all such mat
tiers as that now confronting the con-
tractors of the city should be referred and
by which they should be regulated.
The committee appointed TO suggest
constitution and rules and bylaws of the
new organization is as follows: Messrs.
w. II. Cosgrove chairman; j. Il. Burgess,
Peter Rabey, j. r. Eason and John F.
Freeman. The committee is vested with
the power of calling a meeting, and it has
already been determined that the next and
organization meeting of the association
will be held next Friday.
The meeting last night was made up of
a representative body of the business men
of Savannah. There was not present any
anxiety or determination to lower the eX-
listing scale of wages for laboring men,
or If the conditions demanded it, to re-
fuse to increase it, but there was very evil
dent a ready-made conclusion that the
contractors would not be trampled upon
and that they would not consent to allow
a scale of prices for labor that the scale
of prices for contracts would not permit.
Tie contractors, evidently, intend to
stand strictly within their rights.
The men that made up the meet
ing were among the most progressive and
intelligent in Savannah. 1t was imposs-
BILE to conceive that they would do any
thing other than in justice to the laboring
men of the city, or that the best interests
of the laboring men would be allowed to
suffer at their hands. From the character
of the men represented at the meeting it
would appear that any right and just de-
mand would meet with instant acquies-
cence and the contractors say that this
is the case. They do not. though intend
to be inundated or bulldozed into doing
something that their consciences and their
judgments do not approve.