Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-26
AN OPEN LETTER.

AN OPEN LETTER.
 To the Members of the Labor Unions
 of Waterbury:
 My Good Friends-Some time since l received, in common with other real estate men In Waterbury, a communi- cation which I laid aside as of little consequence, but which, in the light of recent events, seems deserving of a re- ply. And as I am moved to make it a text for a little discourse intended to express what many people are thinking and saying, the signers will pardon me, I am sure. If | make my reply by an open letter.
 1 The communication was as follows: Waterbury, Conn, Dec ?, 1902. "To the Real Estate, Rental and Insur-
 ance Agents:
 Dear Sir-For several years organ 1zed labor has been treated very un- fairly by those engaged in the real, es- tate, rental and insurance business in 1 this city, not only in regard to new work, but also the repairs being done almost exclusively by non-union work men, and feeling that we, as members or organized labor. could not be expect ed to pafronize those who oppose HIS m securing better conditions for our serves and families. the following res olution WAS offered and unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Building 1 Trades council held Sunday November 23, 1902. and endorsed by the Central Labor union at a meeting held Mon- day, November 24. 1902:
 Resolved. That on and after this date we declare all houses built, re paired and re-painted by non-union la bor unfair. and all members of organ ized. labor shah absolutely refuse to rent such houses and wifi use and re sort to all fair. honorable and legiti- mate means to induce others to refuse to rent them as well, and it is further
 Resolved, That copy of these reso- 1utions be forwarded to every real es- tate. rental and insurance agent In Wa terbury and vicinity.
 Signed: A B. CROSS, Secretary Central Labor Union. "BURDETTE CLARK, Secretary Building Trades Council, 10 Middle street."
 An American Citizens Reply. Tn now using the above communica- tion as a text. let it be understood that am not presuming to represent any of the real estate fraternity but my self, and what I say must be taken as simply from an American citizen, who loves his country and his city, is a friend of the laboring man and has no personal i'll will towards any living soul.
 As before said, paid but little at tention to the communication when it l came to hand. I thought it did not really mean me, for I had not been aware of having treated organized la- bor unfairly" nor opposed anyone in l his endeavor to secure better condi- ! tions" for himself and family. Not having before had any intimation that either the divine government or the government of the United States had granted to organized Iabor'' monop- oly of all building work, had never inquired when giving out job wheth- CT the men who did the work were sull- ion or non- union, nor did care so long as the work was done to suit me. I presumed 1t was done by somebody who was thereby helped little in SC curing better conditions for himself and family and, so far as I can now learn. my work for many previous months had all been done by union men My union brothers and friends-Sup- pose that, instead of sending that com munication to me, it's writers had re- ceived from me the following:
 Waterbury, Sunday, Dec 2. 1902 Messrs A B. Cross and Burdette l Clark:
 "Gentlemen-For several years you two men have treated me very unfairly in hiring the tenements you have lived in from other agents than myself, thus opposing me. in my endeavor to secure l better conditions for myself and fam l lily. Now, therefore, this Is to notify you that have two vacant tenements on R. street, which you must now rent from me at my price or I will de. clare you both. unfair and will do all in my power to have you elected from I the houses where you now live and discharged from the employment ir which you are now engaged. and that you be refused rent or employment elsewhere.
 Yours respectfully, Signed l "A. F. ABBOTT,
 "21 East Main street"
 What would have been their and your reply? Then. if should have bravely added, 1T have eight thousand friends in ffis town who. will suppor
 me fin this demand and will boycott ev
 eryone who fnterferes,' what wouIt you all have then answered? I don
 believe you world have said much 0: anything printable, but in your vein and in the veins of yoHr friends ant
 neiaghbors. tbe slow Anglo Saxon blood
 and the quick Irish blood. and a1l tn,
 other kinds of libertv-loving bloot
 would have quickly boiled. and the an
 swer would have been. kick tha
 would have sent me bowling out O