Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-20

newspaper. came from st. Louis, Gin
cinnati. Milwaukee. Detroit. San Fran
cisco and all of the other great cities
The tenor of all Of them was the same
Charles L. Eidlitz prominent mem
Der Of the Building Trades association
was the principal speaker at the New
York meeting. He said in part:
There Is not man in this room who
does not appreciate that we have been
gradually backing down and giving way
to the outrageous demands that have been
made upon us year after year and not one
who does not feel that he has gone as far
as he can without completely surrender
ing.
At first you were asked simply to take
down the bar from the door. Later the
chain was to be taken off. Still later the
key must be left on the outside. All these
demands and many others were granted.
and now what is asked of you? That tho
door shall be taken off the hinges and
thrown into the street. And what will be
your answer to this request?
What has made it possible for these
men, many of them ignorant. most OF
them without dollar laid aside. to de-
mand surrender from their employers and
have practically all their demands grant
ed. sometimes with a show Of resistance,
but lately almost invariably with only
grunt OF disapprOval?
The fact that while they have been or
ganized throughout the city and the coun-
try as a central body. under practically
one head and have stood together, suffer-
ing want and prvation. with nothing in
sight but a return to work at best, we.
men OF Intelligence. men of affairs have
tried to deal with them sngly or at best
as only a one trade organization. Is there
a man in this room who has not had the
on some neutral ground and under some
proper head this terrible tide. this wave
of surrender. could be stemmed?
There never was time in the history
Of the building trade when conditions
tere as favorable for united move as
they are a present.
Mr.. Eidlitz said the Building Trades
association had always been merely
social organization, Notwithstanding
the general impression that it had
heretofore taken an interest in labor
Aatters. 1t had. however. been able 10
create a feeling Of respect and fear in
the labor organizati ations.
What could be done by this organi-
zation if properly supported, properly
led. with all of you as members?" he
asked.
The speaker declared the labor un-
ions had repeatedly broken agreements
with their employers. These employers
were ready to join the new movement.
The others could be forced into line.
A. w. Burritt, president of the Inter
state Contractors and Dealers associa.
ton of Connecticut, who was present
by invita- ton, said that for the first
time in the history of his state em.
ployers had formed protective organ.
1zation with membership of 700. In
strike lasting six weeks only -four
members had surrendered to the un-
ions. He believed the strike was prac-
tically won by the employers.
Otto NJ. Eidlitz called attention to the
fact that the purpose Of the new or
ganization was to cooperate with the
unions for mutual benefit The walk
ing delegate, he said, would have to be
relegated to some other sphere
Similar sentiments were expressed
by Charles T. Wills, A. Ferguson Of
Paterson, N. j.; Milton Snair, master
plumDer, and William Baumgarten.
decorator and cabinet maker.
The same night that the meeting just
referred to was held contractors, build
ers and manufacturers of building ma
terial to the number of hundred met
in Brooklyn and organized the En-
ployers' League Of the Borough Of
Brooklyn.
The first act Of the new organization
was to adopt resolutions barring all
walking delegates and business agents
of labor unions from the shops or op-
erations Of members during working
hours. A movement was started look
ing to general lockout In the build
ing trades in Brooklyn on the follow
Ing day, but it was voted down by a
large majority. %g sSs # ..s~ III; If