Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-27
PLENTY OF MEN
FOR ALL DEMANDS
Concensus of Opinion Is That
There Is No Shortage
Of Labor.
EMPLOYERS ARE INTERVIEWED
Majority of Contractors Talso Um-
brnge ut Advertisements Issued
BY Real Estate Association,

The recent action of tho Salt Lake
Real Estate association In advertising
| In eastern papers that Il shortage OF
labor exists In Salt Lake City has
caused great deol of comment
among the local building trades. most
of which is OF an unfavorable nature
There are those who agree with the
stand taken by the Real Estate as
ISOLATION but the concensus of opinion
as far rs The News Is able to ascertain
1t, appears to be that during the past
summer, there have been sufficient
men for all demands. such as they
were.
1t is stated by representatives OF
one or two of the largo outside firms
who are contracting in the city. that
local men are unsatisfactory TO some
extent. 1t is said that they are slow.
and their employment has raised the
cost of these large buildings This, 1t
is said. is especially noticeable among
brick and stone masons. as we'll as
cement workers. and to a certain eN-
tent among carpenters.
1t is pointed out In this connection
that work on many OF the large build
ipgs were greatly retarded owing to
delays in shipments of material. so
that at times only a few men were
employed. where otherwise there
might have been large number.
greatly affecting the labor situation,
and causing a shortage.
AS things were. 1t is said there was
q shortage of first class brick masons
for a while in June. There has also
been demand for metal fathers, as
there are only about a dozen men Of
that class In the city. 1t is we'll under
stood that there hns also been q short
age of available plumbers, but that
has not been because there were not
sufficient men in the city so much as
the fact that a strike has been In
progress during most OF the summon
I. NJ. Higley. the plumber. Is de-
cidedly in favor OF the course taken by
the Real Estate association. He says
the master plumbers have been short
of men ever since the strike was start
ed, and if work opens out next year as
big as indicated now. the plumbing
situation is going to delay construc-
tion work II something Is not done to
remedy II. Mr. Higley says the masters
Will not pay Sc per day but are de-
termined to stand by the old rate OF
$500. and as the men seem just as de-
termined to get what they started
out for there is no likelihood that the
break will be patched up. Therefore.
Mr.. Higley is in favor of bringing in
plumbers from the outside, and he per-
sonally has become so tired OF union
ism because of the action OF certain
members, that he says he is going to
run his shop in tho future by employ
ing non-union men. Other plumbers
also agree with Mr.. Higley as to the
desirableness OF having moro plumbers
brought In from the outside for next
years work.
STRONGLY OPPOSED.
The structural iron workers union on
the other hand. Is strongly op-
posed to the action of the Real
Estate association In advertising
all over the country that men of
all trades are wanted in Salt Lake City
at high wages. Business Agent J. e.
Munsey. OF this association. says that
he had 200 men enrolled three months
ago. and with the approach of winter
this number has been reduced to 154.
and of these fully so arc out of work at
the present time. Mr.. Munsey says
there have been plenty of union men
here at all times during the present
year, and no delays on any OF the build
on account of the shortage of men.
There was some trouble because en-
ployers for a time refused to give the
men $3.50 per day as demanded, but 1t
did not last long. There was at all
times plenty of men available. And If
this had not been so. Mr.. Munsey says
he could get all the men wanted at
short notice from other cities. He
says there is 10 doubt that the Real
Estate association is doing a wrong
thing In influencing structural iron
workers to come west to Salt Lake City.
and that the matter should be let to
the business agent of local No. %. who
will see that Salt Lake Jobs are not
held up on account of lack of struc-
tural iron workers.
A prolonged discussion of this mat
ter took place Friday night at the
meeting of the Structural Iron Work
ers, The meeting was primarily for the
election of officers but the discussion
OF the Real Estate associations action
in advertising for more men for Salt
Lake City. claimed the attention of the
men for most of the evening to the ex
clusion of everything else. num-
Der OF those present argued for
an open door. but others reminded
them that as most of the workmcn on
the Jobs in Salt Lake this winter have
homes here, the vote was finally re-
corded against the open door
F. r. Holton. assistant superinten-
dent OF construction for the James
Stewart company In this city. is also
outspoken against the means being
employed by the Real Estate ossocia-
tion. though he says there was a short
age Of skilled worl1men at times last
summer. This condition was due. Mr.
Holton says, not because OF any ac-
tual shortage, but because so many of
the local men were not at or near the
top Of their trade. For this reason
the jobs OF the James Stewart company
have cost more than was intended Mr..
Holton says the best tradesmcn and
workmen employed by his company
during the past summer have been
transients. bat he does not consider
that any argument In favor OF food
ing Salt Lake City with a lot OF un-
6esirables as will follow, In his opin-
ion. from the present course of the
Real Estate association. AS far as
the number of men is concerned. Mr..
Holton says. there has been no short
aRc, but when quality Is considered
there has been shortage of the most