The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-04
UNIONS
WILL BE
MODERATE
Salem carpenters Not
inIFaYOr of Radical
Measures
Buildings Going jUp Where
Union 9and NOn-uniOn
Men Work HarmOniOuSly
Side by Side

The attitude OF the Salem delegates
at the state Federation Of Trades con.
vention, in opposing retaliatory meas.
ures against the Lewis and Clark ex.
position, probably saved that enter.
prise from being defeated by the ref.
erendum.
The influence OF the Salem dele.
gates has also been felt in other ways
In the solution OF the general situation
between labor and capital. The selec.
tion OF a conservative man for state
labor commissioner is part Of the out
come OF their dignifed attitude:
The Carpenters Union OF Salem is
one OF the strongest and most lntelli
gent bodies OF organized labor at the
Capital City.
Its position on any matter In rela.
tion TO the problems Of labor and cap.
ital are significant and may be ac-
cepted as exercising influence.
The Journal is very much gratined
10 state that. while no formal action
of the Carpenters' Union has been
taken. the sentiment of the Union is
practically against radical action
along any line.
A prominent member OF the Car.
penters' Union was seen today, and
gave II as his opinion that the Salem
carpenters would never get into the
hostile and dictatorial position OF the
Portland labor unions.
He said that the rock that caused
the greatest split In Portland was the
, effort 10 force recognition OF every
member OF the Carpenters Unions at
Portlnnd for shorter hours. and $3.50
day. regardless OF the capacity of
the individual
lie said that work was starting up
on a great many buildings at Salem
with the distinct understanding on
the part OF the Union carpenters 10
Insist on the full union scale of
wages. II the mechanic was worth II.
and. II In the opinion OF the contrac'
tor he was not full hand. he was 20
accept pay accordingly.
This individual member Of the car
Denters union said he was of the
upinlon that majority OF the Carpen'
ters' onion would stand for the prin'
icipie that II man was worth $3.50 a
day for finishing. or as a boss, he
should have H.. and II he was worth
$500 day for nine hours, he should
have IL. but II he WAS only worth $3.50
.or S2.OO he should have that. and he
believed this matter should be left 10
fhe contractor. or the person building
the house to settle with the workman.
lie said he know this was not the
ordinary theory Of running labor
unions. but he believed Il was right
and that such policy would result In
more employment and better salts
faction all around,
The Journal has interviewed a mum
Der OF Individual members OF the Car
penters Union. and there Is a general
inclination TO pursue tolerant methods
and encourage building operations
The buildings that are going up In va
rious parts OF the city are being built
by union and non.union labor working
side by side.
II this disposition continues there
viii be great deal OF building done
at Salem this year Il win become q
reoord-brealing year, and good wages
generally win prevail While compe
tltion should not be allowed to drive
wages down, ON the other hand the
enforcement OF the Portland program
at Salem would paralyze building op
erations A reasonable position vii
be found TO afIord the largest employ
ment at good wages, and no one vii
be driven away from the city for wan
OF employment. II the unions at Sa
lem will avoid the rock on which
unionism has split at Portland. anS
II this city can prosper and set alonl
without strikes or lockouts, and le
both capital and labor have consider
alton. the greatest prosperity to th'
greatest number will be the result
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