The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-15
WILL HAVE NEW UNION.
Brick and Stonne Masons Organize
Work.

Brick and stonne Masons Organize
Work.
Last night was organized a local union
| Of brick and stone masons which will par
bricklayers and stonemasons which have
a local union here. The cause OF this is
the strike which has been in progress for
three or four weeks on the Butts Bros
Lumber companys building at the cor
| ner of St. Francis avenue and First
street. The lumber firm is moving here
from Augusta and Mr.. j. H. Butts. the
manager, stated 10 the Eeagle yesterday
that he was a union man, but did not
know there was union in this city when
he let the contract for his building. He
employed a former Augusta man named
Conner. to lay the foundation for the
Office. When the work was partially COM
pieted, committee of bricklayers and
stonemasons waited on him and tod him
he was unfair to union labor in this city,
that he should employ only union men
on his job.
Mr. Butts stated that he was willing to
employ union men and was told that he
could not get union bricklayers TO work
eli his building when the foundation was
laid by non-union man. Mr.. Butts said
he would straighten this matter up. Yes
eiday to the Eagle. he said:
THE committee referred me TO a Mr..
Campbell and 1 went to see him. Mr..
Ca npben stated that he thought the union
was going too far in their demands and
for me to go ahead with the work and
l.
work. 1 was out of the city some time
and when 1 returned found that Mr..
Campbell would not build the Office for
me.
Then 1 gave the contract to Mr.. Cut |
ting and he laid the water-board The !
union Ioen came around and told Mr.. Cut |
ting he could not employ union men be- |
cause he was unfair and that there was
fine of SIS against him as damages N l
the local lodge. Mr.. Cutting paid the fine +
and I was fined 500 for damages. l COM
promised the fine for SO and paid it. Last !
THURSDAY and Friday the men worked on /
my wall and then they brought my money !
back again and called the men off. This |
thing was getting serious with me. l |
have been Knocked out of the use of my /
Office for three weeks on account of this |
strike and here they quit again. / went |
20 the president, Mr.. Williams. and after |
two days work paid them the money |
again and today the men started TO work !
again. l am bossing the job myself and /
will not let it by contract"
Last night, in the Martinson building
Or the West Side. about twenty br ok
layers and stonemasons met and org n
wifi aff n
the International union. These men or
ganized a union of theri own. not that they
are non believers in union labor and the
international organization, but because
they think the matter has been carried
to far in this case and they withdrew
from the local union on account of the
strike at the Butts building.
B. N Duning, one of the men who
worked last week on this building. and a
member of the International union. is one
of the promoters of this new union and /
Mr.. Cutting, union man. also stated to
the Eagle yesterday that they wanted it
understood that they were union men.
first. last and all the time; had been
union men for years and would continue
to be such but they did not believe the
local union took the proper stand regard
ing Mr.. Butts and they would not c n
tinue as members of the local union. Mr..
Dunning said: Mr.. Butts did not know
he was antagOnizing the unions when he
came here. When the matter was shown
him he was perfectly willing to do he |
right thing by employing union men and
only kept his contractor at work on the
advice of one of the unions best con
tractors. When he discovered his mis-
take. he was willing to Tectify il and did
so, but the union demanded a fine of 500 /
and he paid this and even after every
thing was Strengthened the union called
their men off / do not think the union
was right and refused TO stand by their
action.
Last night committee was appointed
to draft a constitution and bylaws and
rules for organizing the union .Anothe-
meeting viii he held next week to perfect
the permanent organization.
The following Officers were elected:
President. Albert Kidd; vice-president
Geo. Corine; corresponding secretary,
JeT Cutting: secretary. Frank OTenstein;
treasurer. John Offenstein