Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-30
REVIEWS YEAR 1908
Building Employers Associa-
ton Satisfied.
WIPES OUT ALL ITS DEBTS
Public Contributes Big Sum to the
Organization.
A. C. MOSES DELIVERS ADDRESS
Discusses Effect of War and Peace
Between Labor and Capital.
Other Remarks.

Business and pleasure in happy combi-
nation marked the meeting and reunion Of
the Employers Association of the Build
Ing Trades last night at the headquarters
of the organization, 1883 G street. There
was a large attendance OF the members,
and Joseph Richardson. president. after
calling the meeting to order. gave a
resume of the work of the association
during the year that has nearly passed.
He read from reports that had been pre-
pared by the secretary, Edwin X. Hall,
and congratulated the members on the &C
complishments of the organization.
President Richardson said the main OBJ
ject of the meeting was to make formal
report to those interested in regard to the
work OF the past twelvemonth He re-
marked that nc was particularly happy to
inform the members and its friends that
the association is entirely out of debt.
The deficit caused by the open shop con
test has been wiped out. and there Is
surplus i'm the treasury. Within Two
months, Mr.. Richardson added, the clti-
zens of the District subscribed more than
the 5000 that was needed The assocl-
alton was at no time without funds, out
as the open-shop contest was regarded as
the publics fight 1t was the opinion that
the public would like to- share in It's ex-
been contributed during the year to the
association and its objects.
Arthur c. Moses Speaks.
Presiden, Richardson then introduced
Arthur C. Moses. who delivered an ad-
dress on The Effect of War or Peace
Between Labor and Capital" Mr.. Moses
declared that the subject takes hold Of
the very fabric of every nation. and is of
the very greatest personal interest to
every human being"
The speaker said to be prepared for war
is the most effective means of preserving
peace. He added that the Employers AS
ISOLATION. In preparing for war, has been
far-sighted, broad and tolerant. He COM
plimented 1.-The craftsman-the man who
supplies what capital cannot-the crafts
man who has joined hands with you sets
an example to his 100000 fellow-men in
organized labor.
II believe in organized labor" Mr.
Moses said "but it must be properly led.
Without union. abuses would exist: men
might be driven brutally and overtaxed
and their lives shortened. But there Is
one vital principle labor must remember
competition is the life of commerce,
whether in the trade of mans labor or
commodities Do not kill effort in the in
dividual by arbitrary limit of the work
he snail do in given number of hours.
Keep the man honest by permitting him
TO do his best for his employer Let him
earn more for his familys support if he
have the capacity.
Condition of English Workingmen.
He spoke of the condition of the Eng
lish workingmen. and said 1.-The shriveled
arm OF industry has filled the British Isles
with unemployed, and the number is SO
large that an insurance company is oper-
ated exclusively in order to insure mer-
chants against loss from theft by the
army OF the unemployed
Referring to the work of the Employers
Association. Mr.. Moses said: THE fight
for the open shop so ably made by you, as
! see it, has done more for the man whose
daily wage comes from the exercise of
Drawn. and the skill of which he is capa-
BILE. than it has for you. the employers"
Mr. Moses gave statistics of strikes in
the United States. and spoke of the great
wage loss to the workers. He believed an
appeal to the public conscience would
right the wrongs of employer and work
man.
Il want to suggest Mr.. Moses said,
that SO far as possible our chamber of
commerce be used medium in taking
up any disputed question between the
builders and their employees
Treasury in Good Shape.
w. T. Galliher made brief address in
which he said the condition of the treas
ury OF the ASSOCIATION Calls LOT cOnSratu-
lation, inasmuch as the statement of the
fnance committee showed that during
the eighteen months Of its existence the
organization had spent between $1,000 and
$1,000. and that at present all debts are
paid and balance is on hand.
Others who spoke along similar lines
were CunO Rudolph, Thomas w. Smith,
John r. Galloway and S. J. Prescott.
They ali lauded President Richardson for
his "unsetiSh work and his personal sac
rttices for a principle Thanks were ten
dered 10 Samuel j. Prescott through
whose special efforts the deficit was wiped
cut and the treasury replenished.'' A
buffet luncheon followed the meeting