The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-09
CHALLENGE TO LABOR UNIONS
u. T.. HtvEWEyER WANTS Az
SWERS TOQI ESTIONS HELLPtT.
He VIII Pay Al the Expenses Of Public
HsIi. the speakers Of the in'"ns 10
COnfine Themselves TO Questions
which lie WIN Furnish The m In Advance

YoNKERs, N, Y. May s.-Joh IN G. Have
meyer of this city in an open letter published
In the local papers to-day ISSUES chal-
ienge to the trades unions OF this city. Mr..
Havemeycr has taken a decided stand
against many of the policies OF the unions
particularly their refusal to permit their
members to work with non-union men lie
has published several letters on the sub
ject which have attracted wide criticism
hero. To-day he offers to engage public
hall and defray all expenses except
for the speakers and makes one condition
that the unions agree to con1ne their
speeches to answering questions to be iCr-
nished by him in advance. be says re-
fusal to accept his offer will be an acknowl-
edgement of weakness on the part OF the
inch. There is at present bitter strike
in progress and local union leaders said
tonight that the challenge would in all
probability be accepted. The Central
Federated Union of this city VIII probably
cali IA meeting for the purpose Following
is part of the lette,
An open letter 10 Members NJ Trrdo. tRions:
1t IL a great thing to b" right. ior thus means
success and there will he no regret after
ward IL Is nniortunste to be wrong io or
mind wasted effort and repentance which
may bss too late 1t j. als9 I, great thns to
bsst an p ef S0r sor W n " M @
there should BIZ t. u man disEinsinthe New
York subway to know t2at every SnDvelinl
of earth is taken from the right place ana
will aid in completing a tunnel which VIII be
Of immense benefit TO the city and the world
Just 80 IL every n.a a. s" "a wrR N WI, III f"E
will be Il building that the owner desires ana
the architect planned and which viii be use
full and. il ornamental. CIV, pleasure to many
=. / would in this connection suggest another
thought, Has il ever occurred to You that
the ability or skill 10 perform any kind oil
work comes from God and is trust Of which
we are bound IN make good USE? To what
extent has any man the right TO cease rom
he the right by persuasion or force to keep
other men from exercising this gift if he is
unwilling to use it himself? 1t seems to me
that this is very serious question.
After giving some Of his personal expert
ences Mr. Havemeyer concludes as follows
In conclu sion, hereby extend an invitation
TO the trades unions OF fcnkers. am ready
which men whom the several unions VIII
accept as representative OF their cause shall
h1yf the bs Of Ss Viii hG dsa as
all the expenses connected with the meeting
except for speakers and there VIII be put one
furnished in advance The object o; this
will be to prevent a waste, of time by irrele-
want and eNcitable appeals and to secure a
clear and full statement Of tho Grounds upon
which the action OF the trades unionsis based "a,
be accepted If not. ! can hut regard the
failure as an acknowledgement that their
actions cannot be Justified, and would in that
case suggest to the scientiqus and though
full members of tn" several organ cations the
wisdom and duty of united and independent
action outside. of the union ,oth"rwise, they
will he following the example and will share
the fate Of the infat uated soldiers of NAPOLEON
Bonaparte, who did not think for them
selves and submitted blndly to the will and
ambition of one man. Their only regard was
the del,ision that they were promoting the
glory of France