Fergus County argus., 1903-09-16
STRIKE NOT
UNSUITABLE
The Local Labor Difficulties as View.
ed From the Standpoint Of
the Citizen.
STATEMENT FROM THE UNION
Executive Committee of the Trades
and Labor Council Give Reasons
for the Walk Out.
Editor Fergus County Argus:


That part of the people who are in
Lewistown and immediate vicinity
and are not directly concerned in th,
present difficulty in labor circles here
have depended to a great extent Oh
the local press for an authentic ser
sion Of the affair.
From our point OF view a true state
ment of the facts has not up to this
time, been presented. and with a view
Of setting the matter correctly before
the people. We submit ,hc following
Al the advent Of spring Ia the hope
Of organizing "A strong peal union Ui
the United Brotherhood u Carpenters
and Join'rs. il was Gmu"' necessary
10 include all comnpreu carpenters
IN and around LcwE'mH All 11lIEa.
ed with tho movement Jh 'hp yNroP
tior of what is known aS ~. Tuobs
rarpontar.. Mr. 7. = Tunns rhoscu.
ior mamh'r of thr arm uf contractors
invariably mot all solicitations Tor the
cooperation ur Ui men u the mulr-
mear with haJ-A'y reflections on The
qualifications u 'ao individual mem.
bcrs pf rb- carp.utcrs' union regard.
ne eharanru" and workmanship.
w, charg without fear ut success.
mi contradiction that T. j. Tubbs has
been violating union principles on
three different counts, any OF which
Is IN violation OF tho cardinal prin.
eiples pl mionlsm.
First hat he is working non.union la.
Dor, second. that he is paying non.
nnion pay, and, third that he is work.
ing Aun.uniOn hours.
II Can readily be seen that those
taiT Contractors who are complying
with h rules uf the unions in pay
nL higher wages and shorter hours.
arr at 4 disadvantage in bidding for
contracts against Tubbs. who is on.
abled Co. bid cheaper. by sacrificing
the labor commodity. which enters as
the most potent factor in the con.
siructiOn OF work.
We understand Mr.. Tubbs lays pan
ticulaT stress on The fact that all men
under his employ. who are working
for less than wages. are apprentices,
The constitution of the L. II. OF c.
and J. Of 4 provided that apprentices
must be- between the ages OF Is and
y 4ad that one firm of contractors
shall not be- allowed more than one
apprentice.
The question arises as to the brick
masons' actions being justiiiable in
the premises.
Clause T. in section I. of article is
N III" constitution OF the Bricklayers
and Masuns International Union o
America, reads as follows:
Subordinate Unions have the powe
10 affiliate with other trades an'
building councils"
The b. VI. |. U. No. 3. being affili
ated with the Fergus Coounty Trades
and Labor Council by refusing tC
work with non-union men. and furth
crmore were commanded over sigma
ture and seal of VIM. Dobson. Ma
tiOnal Secretary Of the B. VI. I. U.
with headquarters at North Adams
Mass. 10 give support 10 the council
The silly question of the right OF {
man 10 work for what he pleases /!
nppcrmOsr III the minds of some.
We claim that in order to perpet
datc falr wages and hotter conditions
II is necessary Tor labor 10 urgani,
The same as il is necessary for gov
grnmeut Ia organize for the protrc
finn of society and the hottrrmrnt %
conditions and tho individual woul
b" as equally justified in refusing u
pay taxes for tho support Ul 20,
cInmcnt for the protection OF all, q
h. would be m refusing 10 align wit
organized labor for thr protection q
al who labor
The question of TuhnS violating M
ion rules as regards the employment
vi nOn-union men and the working &
nun-mion hours is like an open booI
The chargc of paying less tha
days wage is sometimes more diff
,ult 10 substantialc but in order I
clear this matter We altach the swor
affidavit OF Mr.. "A, u, McDonal,
which speak, Tor itself
CLINTON FlTZHUGH.
!. $. BOONE.
\. FRANZETTI.
JAMES VI. BAILEY.
9. JOHN BELL,
HERMAN SCHNICK.
ALEXANDER NORM,
Executive Committee
State of Montana County of Fc
gus, IS,
H. -, Mcdonald, being first dul
sworn dcposcS and says:
That he is a citizen and qualihc
rlpctor OF Forrus county Montana
that on tho 2Hth day OF May, 1902,
entered tb, employ of T. ]. Tubl
as q carpenter with the imprcssiu
that ! was tU lD paid the prcyailin
wages for carpenters, tO-wit: $3.50 fc
nine hours WORK per day: that
worked for the ar0r said Tubbs Tor
period Of lup days and Gl the end ,
fhis time n settlement was mad
wnrn Mr. Tubbs made nm effort
uay me off NJ The rate uf $40 p,
month and board, and after SON
wrhugling over the matter. ! was pal
uT nt the rate Of So per day an
board, and I further swear that at
about this lime T. J. Tubbs told n
by word OF mouth that hr was the
paying VI. Il. 'orrcn at the rate of S;
per month and board, who was the
working as a carpenter for Tubb'
also that the said NJ. T. Ferrcll to-
me that S%j per month and board WI
the rate nl paF for which he WI
working.
n. B. MCDONALD.
Subscribed and sworn 10 before n
this 10Th day Of September 1903.
tSeal1 +. +. MACGOWAN.
Notary Public in and for Fergus Cou
~. Montana
From Standpoint Of the Citizen.
We publish elsewhere In this iss,
a statement from certain union mt
in this city, purporting 10 be- a iu
tiicatiOn for The labor difficulties
uur midst, from the standpoint OF L!
T.. 4 O.