The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-01-23
DECLARE OPEN SHOP
Master Builders Association Of
Kenosha Declares for Open
Shop for New Season
MUST MEET COMPETITION
Builders Declare That Carpenters Have
Ignored Suggestions To Better
the Conditions = Lumber
Is Reduced
(From Tuesdays Daily.)

The Master Builders Association of
Kenosha including many Of the best
known contractors Of the City have
declared for the open shop and to this
end a formal notice was issued to the
public this morning. The declaration
for an open shop came only after the
members of the Association had made
an effort to secure some .concessi ons
from the building trades in regard to
a cut in prices for the opening season
is on in earnest between the Union men
and the contractors. AS the Master
Builders Association includes so many
of the contractors of the city it is
thought that the declaration may result
in much cheaper prices for building in
Kenosha during the coming months. 1t
is alleged by the members of the Asso-
citation that they are being driven out
of business on account of the fact that
it has been impossible to meet competi-
ton with outside builders and that the
contractors from other cities have come
into Kenosha and taken work from
them simply because they could get la
Dor at lower figure.
May Improve Conditions.
The conditions Of the labor market
it is claimed practically put an end to all
building in Kenosha last season and the
Master Builders Association is making
an effort to prevent this being repeated
this year. There are a number of build
ings ready to go up if the people can
be assured that they can be built at a
reasonable price and it is thought that
this will instill a new spirit of progress.
While the carpenters are the only body
of men mentioned in the formal notice of
the Master Builders which will be found
In another column Of this paper it is
understood that the ruling will affect
other building trades as we'll and al
ready the card men are giving up places.
1t is understood that the relations be-
tween the Master Builders and the
Union men were practically broken eff
a week ago last Monday when the men
showed no desire to accept the lower
rate Of wages as demanded by the build
ers and as made public some time ago.
The Builders have claimed that they
are willing to pay as good wages as are
paid in any other city in Wisconsin but
that in the past they have been asked to
pay higher wages in Kenosha than
have been paid in Milwaukee and other
cities and that it is Impossible for them
to do this and at the same time meet
the competition of contractors from
these cities.
With the declaration of an open shop
on the part of the Master Builders AS
ISOLATION announcement is made at all
OF the Lumber Yards in the city that
the price Of rough building material has
been reduced to the extent of two dol
las thousand. This price prevails in
other cities as well as Kenosha. Promi-
nent builders of the city have expressed
the opinion that before the season
opens the prices of other building ma
terial will be reduced and that these
oSA"oOAoho Will P1opSI I6uuCGlOuS IN the
cost Of labor will greatly reduce the
cost Of building.
Laborers Most Affected.
1t is rather remarkable that the most
men affected by the ruling of the various
unions to keep the prices up are the
laboring men themselves. Many of
these people have made arrangements
to build new homes during the coming
year but the plans are being abandoned
daily on account of the fact that the
high prices makes it practically i'm
possible for the men working on aver
age salaries to raise the money needed
for building and the condition of the
money market makes it an exceedingly
difficult matter to borrow the money.
1t is just possible that the declaration
of the Master Builders Association
will result in the Unions seeking some
compromise Rhich will be more salts
factory to all concerned.