The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-09
PAINTERS AND BOSSES
MEET IN LOVE FEAST
PAINTERS UNION GUEST OF MAS.
TER PAINTERS ASSOCIATION.

| Association is One Year OId-Amicabie
Relations Exist Between Employers
and EmpIoyed-Evening is Spent in
Speeches, Music and Refreshments
Both Sides Throw Boquets at Each
Other-Parryism Condemned.
The first anniversary of the birth of
the Master Painters association took
! place on Monday evening in the Kala-
mazoo hall. A banquet was held and
the local union of painters were the in
vited guests. There were twenty-five
shops of the thirty-three, represented
and about fifty-five members of the
| union. The viands were the best the
season affords.
After satisfying the inner man, cigars
were passed and G. M. Warren, the
president, who acted as POSTMASTER,
welcomed the guests in a neat speech.
| He called on w. F. Meyer, the new
president, who on behalf of the union
| thanked the association for the cour-
tesy extended, also for the contem-
plated increase in wages. He said that
! ninety-five per cent Of the work in the
city had been done by the union and
association. He closed by saying that
there was not words enough in the
English language to thank the hosts
properly for their hospitality.
Mr. J. F. Gordon said the agreement
had been a success.
Next followed a song by the Linneau
quartette which is composed Of union
men who had given their services for
the occasion. They were heartily en-
cored
Business Agent Richardson was
| called on, and said that although he
had been notified that he was to speak
he found greater difficulty in speech
making than in speaking from the
handle, as it were. He explained that
he was merely an agent employed to
represent the union, and whatever he
| had done was at the dictation Of the
union, he had no apologies to make
for he knew the best of feeling prevails
between the association members and
himself. He said he would quote from
| some Of the advanced thoughts of the
labor champions on the advisa bility
and utility of employing agents, and
that it is indeed a pleasure to. see the
lion lie down with the lamb; this gath
! ering is significant of the future, a
| true sign Of the times, that a better
| understanding exists than some minds
imagine. The past season we have
labored together why should we not
| rejoice together. We were told upwards
| of hundred years ago that "a mans a
man for a that" let us not for one
moment forget this. We read every
day Of strikes, but very few strikes
result from a dispute over wages alone
Don't you think that when there is a
strike or lockout, the employer is more
to blame than the employe, as he is
accepted as the master on whom all
others must depend. The manager or
superintendent who has. not the tact to
fsuccessfully handle men, under him
shows by his impotency that he is not
fit to have them in charge, he may not
lack morals or honesty of purpose but
he laos skill. He should have at least
| the same skill as a tailor. A man
! couldn't make a suit of clothes to fit
his customer if he had not measured
him, such a man might be good
churchman or an economist, but I
guess his employer would soon get
some other man with less religion, but
more perfect in tailoring.
The responsibility for many of the
| labor disputes lies with the captain OF
industry. True some employers real
lze in general way that they and
their employees should act as partners
but in the breast of many men there
fingers the old prejudices imbeded into
humanity in the early Roman and
feudal days, when labor was servile.
They seem to forget that the world
service doesn't apply to labor now,
that there is real partnership be-
tween the employer and the employe
and that together they must prosper
or decline. Again referring to strikes
We do not find that they have arisen
through disputes over wages generally
but were often due to disputes with
the men whom the employer dealt with
I don't see what difference it makes
whether the employer dealt with Johr
Doe or somebody else. Yet against thai
we have seen whole Industries para
lized, conditions Of society threatened
| because the employer would not settle
with some outside person. That is ne
| reason for causing a disruption. What
| concerns the employer and the laborei
is what should we pay and what should
he be paid. Business agents are hired
because the journeymen painter fears
direct contact with his employer; usu-
ally this fear has been justified.
The way for the employer to rid him.
self of the business agent is to treat
the workingman as partner and give
him reasonable consideration when hi
comes to him with a grievance. HI
should realize that every man has g
right to better himself, and that nc
man improves his condition without
benefiting his neighbours.
Trades unions have been an effective
agency in enabling laborers and EN-.
ployers to adjust their rights, and the,
could not help but be beneficial to both
Trades unions have given service:
/ which can't helm hut he effactiua *