The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-26
Object of the Conference Is to Meet
Half Way the Fight of the Build
ers' Association.
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF DIFFER
ENT UNIONS TO BE PRESENT.
Ii VIII Probably BE One of the Most
Important Meetings of the Kind
Ever Held.

A meeting of representatives of all the
associations connected with the building
trade in any way will be held in this city
to-day. 1t will be the most representative
meeting of its kind ever held in the his
tory of the building trades organization.
The object of the conference is principally
to bring about more seIf-governing sys-
tenn among the building trades unions and
TO fortify themselves against the fight that
the Builders Association is making against
them and organized labor.
The previous policy of the building
trades in taking their matters for settle
ment before the American Federation Of
Labor is not approved on the grounds that
they are decided by a vote the majority Of
the voters not being acquainted with the
questions. Consequently the point at issue
is to form associs ton that will be capa-
bic of handling with proper knowledge the
questions that arise in the building trades.
Up to the present year every town and
city Of any Importance has had its Build
ers Association. it's Citizens Alliance, it's
league of one kind or another. These or
CARNATIONS were perfectly legitimate, as
they transacted business relative to their
calling. which was not only of Importance
the community in which they were located
If troubles in the labor market occurred
they were usually adjusted by committees
of arbitration Cancellation representing
the employers and the employees. A labor
leader said yesterday:
Lately these associations have combined
under one head with the sale purpose in
view OF crushing labor organizations. 1t is
said that trades unionists are too arrogant,
too domineering and too 'bossy' for the
welfare or the country. While American
workmen only receiving starvation
wages at the present time and only
living from hand to mouth, yet these en-
ployers think that they paying too
high wage scale and it is their endeavor
TO reduce wages and lengthen the hours of
toll so that they may become rich so much
for material and for construction of build
ings are not reduced in any manner, shape
or form.
REASON FOR MEETING.
I'm order to meet them with their own
weapons and to adjust matters of impor-
lance in the building trades. the meeting
of the national representatives of those
trades is to be held to-day. At this meet
ing more than half million organized
workers will be represented. when they
propose to take into consideration.
Il The regulation and control of affairs
i'm the building line without having to sub
NIT them to men who have knowledge
whatever of their needs and who cannot
deal with questions arising from time TO
time in the building industry, in intel
ligent manner.
20 The formation of closer comhina-
ton of the interests of the organizations
engaged in the construction and repair of
buildings.
IS. To devise ways and means to pro-
tect the autonomy of said trades.
nj n
rival bodies of the same trade.
80. To combat the evergrowing tenden-
TONS
The place of meeting will not be decided
until the representatives arrive i'm the city.
trades are the brick masons, the structural
iron workers. the plumbers. the Brother
hood of Carpenters, the plasterers, the
building laborers and the hod carriers.
Among the representatives that will be
present are c. Gubbins, of Chicago. secre-
| tary of the International Brick Masons'
Union; Frank Buchanan, of Chicago. secre-
| tary of the Structural Iron Workers; L. w.
| Tilden, of Chicago, secretary of the Inter-
national Association of Journeymen Plumb
ers: William Balborn, of Detroit, president
| of the international Brotherhood of Paint
| ers: NJ. p. Carrick, of Lafayette, secretary
/ of the Plasterers' Union; w. A. O'Keefe,
/ of st. Louis, president, and j. f. Lillian,
secretasy of the building laborers. The of
/ fetal of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
| Joiners will also be present.