Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-01
EMPLOYERS ORGANIZE.
For Purpose of Protection
Against the Organized La
Dor of Iowa City
RESULT OF LONG DELIeERATIoN
Members Of the Organization Reserve
the Right to Employ Whom They
Choose Regardless Of What the Un.
ions Say or Do = Sharp Struggle
Expected as Result Of Action Taken.
Taken.
Special to Times-Republican.

iowa City, March 1.-The contractors,
manufacturers and business men Of the
city today perfected an organization for
protection against the organized labor
Of this place. Union have only been in
troduced in Iowa City within the last
two years. At that time the first trade
to be organized was the painters and
they have retained their strength ever
since, being able to drive out OF town
every non union man who has ventured
to work here. AS result Of this or
ganization the wages OF the
companies. At the meeting delegates
union painters has rizen %
per cent Their example was
quickly followed by all the rest of the
trades in turn until it Is now impos-
sible for q non-union man to turn a
shovel full OF dirt inside OF the city
limits without making 1t all right with
walking delegate.
The acton OF the business men and
the contractors OF the city has only
been taken after long elaboration. The
prospect OF a severe fight between or
ganized labor on the one hand and or
ganized capital on the other within the
limits Of the city has withstayed their
hand for the past years. and has caused
q loss Of business to the contractors
alone OF nearly 100000. during the last
year, as estimated by William Horiban
when seen at his home in the city last
night. Mr.. Horiban moved here from
Des Moines three years ago and since
that time has been one of the largest
contracting builders in the city.
The president Of the Employers Pro-
tectiye Association, as 1t is called, Is
Louis Lyons.
According to the constitution adopted
any person. Arm or corporation, that
employs more than three persons can
Join. Already over seventy-five men
have done So The object OF the organ
ization as stated in the constitution are
tllree-6old. The first is ito unite the
employers Of labor In the city for mu-
tuaI protection and Ter the resistance
against the unjust demands OF workmen
and for such other purposes as may
from time to time seem fit"
The second object as stated is "the
adoption OF a legitimate and uniform
method whereby the members OF the
association may ascern who are worthy
Of their employment"
The third object Is. to protect its
members as may be deemed expedient
and proper against legislative, munic-
ipal and other public encroachnents."
The meaning OF the first object Is
that as Mr.. Horiban stated at his home
last night that they would make scale
of wages and they would stick to it IL
it cost hundred strikes. The present
scale Of wages de- as high as is paid any
where In Iowa and the men have q nine
hour day. Mr.. Horiban states that the
wages are not going to be lowered
but that the men would have to work
ten hours for the same scale that they
are paid now THIS means cut in wages
of about 10 per cent.
The adoption Of the second clause
means the establishment OF a black list
though none Of the men who are con-
(nected with the new movement would
say so openly.
The closed shop -is thing that the
uf:ions of the city have fought for since
their birth. Last summer they had 1t
absolutely. Not shovel full Of dirt
was turned by a non-union man in the
city. This conduct" said Mr. Horiban
last night, "has lost to the contractors
alone over 100000 worth of work be-
sides the harm that 1t did the city"
I'VE can afford to go thru the entire
summer and not do dollars worth Of
work. The labor Of the city can not
do so They have got to work and we are
the men that they have got to work for.
That Is the position that we are going
to assume and they can make the most
OF it. Another thing that Is the key
note Of our organization is open shop.
We are going to reserve the right to
employ whom we choose regardless Of
what the unions say or do.
Il don't believe that they are going to
let this thing go to the extreme where
they are going out on a strike for any
length of time. We rather look for
trouble when the wage scale goes into
effect but when they understand that
they will have to work for that or moth
ing at all believe that they will quick
ly come to terms"
The Employers Protective Associa-
ton will Join D. NJ. Parry's National
Employers Association before their
wage scale goes into effect. Thus they
will have not only their own backing
but the support Of the national ongani-
cation as we'll. This will mean great
deal to them in the fight that is to come.
For dt Is believed that labor win not
A-s AZ