Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-10
First Step Of
| Great Movement
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF
EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION IN
6UlLDlNG LINES.

CfiiCAGO. ill, G l0.-Pfe.lrli
nary steps Were taken in Chicago TO-
day to organize a national FEDERATION
of local employers associations in the
blu. lding lines. In the opinion OF
those well informed as to the purposes
and scope of the movement Its impor.
lance Ear scarcely be overestimated
In plain words 1t aims to curb the ex.
Y s4,astlons of labor unions, from
which the building trades have suf,
fered Of late perhaps more than any
other line. Other objects, such as the
Standardization Of material ami the
SUPPRESSION of unfair competition. will
be kept in view by the new organiza.
ton, but all these will be OF seconn,
airy Importance in comparison with
the man purpose of advancing and
protecting the interests Of the con.
tractors in their relations to the labor
unions.
The idea Of the National Associa.
tion Of Employers, under which name
the federation is to be known, had
its inception in the formation of the
Building Trades Employers Associa.
ton in New York last Sping. Moth.
ing of the kind on so large a scale had
ever been achieved In any city in this
country, and all cities which had been
disturbed by labor conflicts watched
the outcome. Soon similar associa.
tions were formed in other cities and
the idea of national federation was
the result. Represented in the fedora.
tion are the following trades: Archi.
tectural iron. elevator building. plas-
tering, house drainage. mantel and tile
work, masons and builders, plumbers,
steamftters. carpenters, stone cutters,
marble manufacturers, painters. de-
c%orators, mosaic work. and electrical
work.
The objects of the organization. as
set forth in the call for today's con
ference, are as follows:
To advance and protect the interests
OF the contractors.
To secure equitable treatment in
their dealings with their employees.
To encourage organization AMI the
formation of associations Of contrac-
tors.
To regulate conditions among build.
ing contractors.
To maintain peace and harmony be-
tween the employer and employe.
The basis of settlement of all dis
putes should be Cancellation and arbi-
tration.
The sympathetic strike should be
absolutely prohibited,
Where conditions are proper and
employees associations exist, agree
ments to be made with them.
A uniform form of government be
adopted and used in making joint
agreements. wages being adjusted ac-
cording to local conditions.
All agreements to embody the fol
lowing principles:
There shall be nc restriction OF the
use of machinery or tools.
There shall be no restriction of the
use Of manufactured material. except
prison-made.
No person shall have the right to in
terfere with the workman during
working hours.
fne use OF apprentices shall not lie
prohibited.
Inc foreman shall not be the agent
Of the employer.
All workmen are at liberty to work
for w~homsoever they sec fit.
All employers are at liberty to EN-.
ploy whomsoever they see fit.
The last clause is a plain declara.
tion for the open shop. Union men
have always contested that a success.
full movement TO establish the open
shop meant the end of organized labor.
For this reason II is predicted that the
new association will have the antag-
unism Of the unions from the very out
set. Foreseeing the probable aim Of
the new association. the American
Federation Of Labor, assembled In
annual convention In Boston last
month. gave extended attention TO the
open shop issue ana formulated q re.
port strongly opposing IL. The action
Of the two organizations, one repre-.
senting three-forths Of the organized
workmen or America. and the other
representing the building trades Of
the entire country. portend a conflict
the extent ani results or which can
be but family imagined.
The organization of the building
trades Is the first great step In the
movement urged by President Perry
Of the National Manufacturers asso
tIon 10 organize all emplOyers of the