The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-09-16
BELIEVES IN TRADES UNIONS,
Viee.President sayre Tells of Benefits
OF Cooperation and Good
ACCOMPLISHED

NCCOFlOlloUCbs
Waco, TeX.-FOlowing IS the an.
nual address of Vice President Davis
j. Sayre:
Gentlemen: We meet at this our
NTH annual meeting. We feel we
should be very thankful for the undi'.
turbcd and pleasant relations exist.
ing between labor and II employers
IN the building trades for the past
year And while we are Offering our
thanks for our present conditions Is
/, not pertinent to inquire what mas
brought about our good fortune ana
what can we do To continue II! is
n combination of fOrtuitOus circum-
stances over which we have no con
troll. or Is II the result of some acts
We have accomplished? Let MS look
around al conditions elsewhere and
COMPARE. In the East we sec lock-
outs, with their dcmorallHing enociS'
In the North we see gigantic SirIkc
with all It's accompanying lawicSS
riotinC. bOodshcd and dCmoraIiHcd
business relations. In the West we
see a combination OF anarchy, rioting
and martial law. due to a comblna
ton of violent strikes first, followed
by yindictivc lockOuts. In the SCUM
We sec undisturbcd relations, parLl'
cularly in the building trades, ana
with few exceptions law.abiding men,
both as employers and employees
We, as the state Builders EX-
change of Texas. representing differ
Cnt local builders exchanges, repre-
sent class of people who are among
the largest employers of intelligent
labor in the State. and whether We
wish il or not, we can not AVOID lhc
responsibilities accompanying TINS pc
sition. When we live up to our obIl
cations and duties fairly and honor
ably we contribute as no other claS
Sf people can to the peace and pros
rcrity of our country. And right mere
think it pertinent to partially eX
plain "why is the Builders EN
change" and what IL Il trying tt
do" Is it an organization for IN,
selfish interests of one class OF mcl
as against the rest? This | answer
"By no means" But it is union o
the different contractors connected
with the building trades, and th'
manufacturers and dealers OF ana II
building material, for the promotion
of the mutual interests of all. Whci
the whole building, interests, cOntrac
tors, dealers, manufacturers ana III
Dor are quiet, free from lockouts an'
strikes, this is conductive to the gen
cral welfare and prosperity of the pub
lie at large,
Right here comes up the question
Of union labor. think | voice The
prcpondcrating sentiment of the OK
change when | say the exchange tay
Ors union labor. If there is a union
in n certain line that has regular
rates of wages and hours, and all II
this line pay the same wages, TINS
fact helps to make the estimating ri
work in this line more uniform And
what helps to keep a uniformity ui
prices is i'm the interest of the con
tractors. Then. again. the idea Oh
mutual aid To each other i'm The union
Is not only humane but il also rs
conductive To higher and better
plane of citizenship. Also the VIII
mgnrss of the members OF the dlli,r
cnt unions Ia contribute to IT'S sup
mort is a laudahlo one and I rrsr,
the members of the exchanges d,
not appreciate and follow.
But ON the other hand. when DO,
professional labor agitator. hl,si viii
the Gift of cab aud utter solfshurSs
whose only aim in life is 10 get alon.
without work. and who from COLI
l.