Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-19

President-elcct Columbia Lodge of Machnlsts.
ternational Order of Machinists. for five
years; was elected vice president in 1905.
and at the recent election was promoted
to the presidency.
President Brown has always taken
lively interest in all matters affecting the
welfare of the thousands of workers in
the naval gun shops here and the navy
yards in other sections. His friends pre-
dict that he will make a good record as
head of the prosperous association of
machinists.
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor went over
to New York Monday. and on that evening
before the 800 members and guests Of
the Civic Federation he is reported to
have said some things.
He served notice that any attempt to
reduce the wages of workingmen at this
time will be fought to the bitter end"
He delivered the ultimatum at the din
ner given by the Civic Federation.
John Mitchell also included in his speech
similar warning to employers. although
clothed in more temperate language.
Since l have been in New York today,
said Mr.. Gompers, Il have been ap-
preached dozen times by bankers. imam
ciers, capitalists. in open conversation. in
written communications and in whispers
that the laboring man must make up his
mind to bear his share of the hard times.
And I turned to these men and | asked
them whether the soil of our country IS
less fertile the treasures beneath the sou
less valuable, mems minds less active, the
laboring men less Industrious Wherefore
I asked them. is there reason or neces-
sity to thus attack the American standard
of our workingmen?
THE history of industry demonstrates
hot S,1ch reduction of wages, IN
tended to meet such conditions as now
exist, has only accumulated the situation.
made matters worse. When you reduce
the laboring mans earning capacity you
reduce his consuming power. ana thereby
intensity what was already bad enough
Continuing President Gompers said:
so l say to the employers-to the
bankers, the lawyers, the manufacturers,
the mine operators, to al empioyers-
that If they now attempt to reduce wages
they are not going to have the easy SAIL
ing that they had few years ago, Tor
the American workingman has come 10
the conclusion that if for any reason the
financial situation is as it is-and shall
not suggest any reason tonight-lt was
not. at any rate due to any fault on the
part of the working people. They have
made up their minds that they are not
going to be the chief sufferers because or
an artificial panic. or of one caused Dy
the blunders of those in charge OF the
finances of the country
Speaking along the same line MI
Mitchell said: 1T is not going TO make
matters any better to reduce wages Such
reductions have never failed TO make
matters worse instead of better.
Thousands of skilled mechanics in the
building trades are out of employment.
In 1868 and 1904 there was so much
building that the men worked over
time; in 1865 the building season pro-
prasced favora hly but in 1906 1t began
to slacken somewhat.
This year it began badly, and at present
less than half of the skilled workmen are
employed. The prospects fer the be-
ginning of the new year are not en-
couraging but it is expected that the
business will brighten about next April.
The contracts already on hand Will be
between 100000 and $4,000 more next
Manhattan, but there will be a large
falling off in the Bronx and In other
sections
The trade agreements of the following
unions having the eight-hour day ex-
pire at the end of the year:
Bricklayers' and Masons' International
Union. who receive 20 cents per hour
Cement Masons' Union. 6512 cents per
hour: labore-s. skilled. 30 cents per hour;
unskilled. % cents.
United National Association Of Plumb
nrs and Steamtitters and Helpers, So a
day.
Elevator Constructors and Millwrights'
Union. $40 a day.
Sheet Metal Workers Union $3.50 a
day.
Stone Settlers. $50 a day.
Wood Carvers' Union. s. day.
The members of the Electrical Work
ers' Union expected an increase from $3.50
to S. day.
The following statement was recently
issued on behalf of the New York Build
ing Trades Employers Associations:
1.-THE business outlook is worse tnan at
the beginning of 1907, and building opera
tons generally appear to be on the de-
cline. But reducing wages would not in
crease the volume of business. OF course,
1t would be impossible to predict abso-
lutely whether the present stagnation will
continue during 1908. but next year is the
year of a presidential election. when trade
is bad generally. A good deal depends
upon the time occupied in completing the
tunnels and other public improvements
now in progress. If they are finished
sooner than rs now expected it will slim
ulate building operations"
David Mackie has been appointed audi
tor in conjunction with the auditing COM
mittee of the international Association of
NachjniStS for the present year.