Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-23
aEtTERATION OF CHARGES
MASTER PAINTERS MAKE Re-
PLY TO LOCAL UNION.
Declare Work Is Hampered by Ac-
ton of Journeymen-Alleged
Violation of Law.

The contention between the employing
painters of the District and the Painters
local Union was given important con-
sideratfon al meeting last night of the
Master Painters and Decorators Associa-
ton. After several addresses had been
delivered by members OF the association
the following official statement, signed
by George Markward, president, and
William Martin Cleland, secretary. was
issued:
The association desires to lay before
the public the condition of affairs existing
IN the painting and decorating industry
IN this city at this time
"First-This association jndorses the
statements made by the Individual en-
ploying painters as published in Saturday
evenings Star that this association re-
-rained from joining forces with the En-
Jloyers' Assoc!a ton in establishing the
open shop in this city for the reason that
We could not subject our patrons to the
larassing conditions and delays conse-
Iuent 10 strike or lockout during the
all season. II being necessary 20 avail
ourselves of the full force Of the union
membership at that time, and further
Implement that number by the addition
If the 200 or 800 travelling painters who
usually came here during the fall months
"Second-That the members of this as
ISOLATION have repeatedly applied to the
union for men during the past six or
eight weeks, and have been repeatedly
lold there were no men out of work.
"Third-We know Uhe union acknowl
edges the facD that measures have been
taken by the union to prevent outside
men coming here, thus cutting Of our
usual fall supply
Master Painters Complaint
With reference to the reply of the
officials of the journeymen's union, pub
l:shed in Monday Evenings Star, we
would call the attention of the public to
the admission that it is true some re-
straint has been place. upon tie travelling
members of our organization' That is
our complaint, we have not enough men
% do the fall work because the union
mas seen fit to exercise this restraint
The power Of labor unions was never
better shown than in this CANDID ad-
mission; they need but to exercise this
power of restraint in the slightest de-
gree, and the employer suffers loss, and
the public Is Inconvenience When this
power of restraint is exercised to its
iuiiest extent, then it matters not to
what industry it apples, that industry
ceases.
is this violation of the interstate
commerce law 4 letter or in spirit? Isn't
it an adoption of the expression as one
hecl View ShpIeSSeu IL, lie
be d.?
This association has recorded In its
minutes the other salient point of the
journeymen's official reply: 1t is we'll
known fact that had not the relations
between the employers and our union
been SO pleasant there would have been
demand for an increase o. 81 cents per
day. and a committee has been ap-
pointed to ascertain what species of pleas
ant relations exists, which. permits of one
side so restraining labor as to render
it impossible for the other side to con-
duct business.
Statement Denied.
That the union is trying, by every
means in its power, to meet the demands
we deny and our denial is based upon
their admission that they are restraining
labor. and further that for years
stranger has been compelled to pay s25
before being allowed to work in this
city-in the shape Of an initiation fee in
this union.
THAT a demand for an additional 80
cents per day would have been made we
have no doubt hao not the EMPLOYERS
Association established condition of
anairs which rendered it necessary for
the unions to strain every point, even to
cornering the labor market, to hold on
to what they have