Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-03
LUNCH FOR WORkMEN
GAME ALL TOO late.
Foreign Laborcrs at Commercial Club
Building Decided a Few Minutes
Before Noon to Strike.

Il The constructive work OH the new
Commercial club building Is getting
to be a good bit OF realism of the
story Of the Irish section foreman,
Finnegan. who reported "Off agtn, on
5agin, gone agin.''
Yesterday morning the tie-ups was
thought to have been broken by the
employment of about 50 Japs. Greeks
and Austrians. At noon they struck.
This morning work was again re-
sunned with about % Austrians. Greeks
and Assyrians. This crew did good
work during the forenoon hours, and
the contractors handling the structural
iron and steel work weren't going to
take any chances on the men being
talked out Of their job during the noon
hour. Meals We're ordered from res
taurants to be served to the men with
in the excayation--but when the lunch
was brought to the ground, 1T was just
Is minutes too late. The men, with
the exception of two, quit and went
'ton strike" just a quarter of an hour
before the noon whistle sounded.
The situation at the Commercial club
building is developing into an lncreas-
ing embarrassing position for the sub
contractors. the Minneapolis Steel &;
Machinery company, who have the con-
tract for the erection of the iron and
steel work Of the building. Refusing
to meet the demand of the union fora
wage schedule $3.50 per day of eight
hours, resort was made yesterday to
the employment of foreign cheap labor.
After half days work the Japs,
Greeks and Austrjans were talked out
of work, and today this same thing was
duplicated.
There has been no disturbance Of any
kind at the scene of the trouble, but
the whole matter has been carried on
quietly. Today as yesterday, a Quiet
speaking man simply walked about the
worknien saying n few words in low
stones-and then came the refusal to-
work. "a
From present Indications, the sub
contractors will likely be forced from
their position within at least The next
day or two and The work will be begun
with union labor The Commercial club
has taken the stand that union white
labor must or ct least should be en-
3ployed, and while no statement has
been given by the general contractors,
James Stewart & Co. there is sufficient
Indication to lead to the belief that
. they are of the same opinion.
So far5as the differences existing be-
tween the union and the Minneapolis
Steel & Machinery company is con
cerned the general contractors have
nothing to do except that they will in
sist upon the completionof the sub boon
tract They have in reality nothing to
do with the employment of the labor.
but VIII demand, however. that work
must progress or else the contract will
be abrogated. This means that the
work must be done in satisfactory man
ner which is not being done with the
employment of foreign labor half a
day at a time.
One of the eastern strike break ers
arrived today, and the subcontractors
are hopeful that a number will arrive
by tonight or tomorrow.
There viii be a meeting between the
board of governors of the Commercial
club and representatives of the build
ers. trades council tomorrow at noon
hopeful that the situation viii be COM
pIetely cleared at that time.