Evening star., 1909-05-12
IN LABOR CIRCLES

The initiative in a movement for the
restoration of harmonious business rela-
tions between the labor unions of Wash
ineton and the members of the Employers
Association has been taken by w. +.
Gilmore. secretary OF the executive COM
mittee Of the Building Trades Mechanics
Council of Washington and vicinity. Mr.
Gilmore is also member Of the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce and has pre-
sented a resolution to that body on the
subject. It recites that as 1.-The national
and local representatives of the various
building trades of this city have endeavor-
ed in every possible way to bring to an
end the present conflict between the
unions and certain of the employers, >
without success. it is. there, "the sense
Of the Chamber of Commerce that it is to
the best interest OF the business communi-
ty that the present labor dispute be adj
justed, and that the good offices of this
chamber be extended 10 the disputant
parties with this end In view"
This resolution was called up at the
meeting Of the Chamber of Commerce
last night. and without discussion was
referred by President Guide to the eX-
ecutive committee.
In communication to Isaac Gaus.
chairman of the Chamber Of Commerce
committee on advertising washington,
Mr. Gilmore has written In part as fol-
lows:
'sWhile the effort of your committee TO
Increase the volume of business in the
city of Washington by bringing trade
from the country and cities adjacent
thereto through the medium OF advertfs.
ing is a step in the right direction. and
should meet with the hearty approval Of
every citizen as well as members of the
Chamber Of Commerce, permit me TO say
that there is an opportunity within the
immediate reach of every business man
in this District OF Columbia to further
increase his business through organiza
tion of labor.
..It has been said. and rightly, too.
that the building industry is the most
important industry in the District of
Columbia, because it affects every line of
business. Therefore. the laborers in this
industry should receive every considera-
ton consistent with justice and right. De-
cause IL is on them that the business men
largely depend for their prosperity.
During the past two years the build
ing industry has been in a chaotic con-
dition, owing to the estrangement be-
tween some of the leading contractors and
the various trade unions, with the result
that these contractors are working the
open or non-union shop.
"To accomplish this these employers Of
labor sent to the various cities anf i'm
ported men to take the place OF the resi-
the business houses of Washington suffer-
ed. because in the majority Of cases these
men had no intention of remaining In the
city, and, having families to support, their
earnings were sent to other places, the
business men Of the community reaping
no benefit therefrem.
"Again, where the employers have sue
ceeded in establishing the open or nom
union shop the wages have been ma
teriaily cut down by some of them. in
some cases as much as S1.5O a day, SO
that these mechanics cannot spend what
they formerly spent with the merchants
of the city. I believe that you will agree
with me that good wages are conducive to
good business, as there are no sets of
wage earners on earth who spend more
freely than those found in the building
industry.
Perhaps. Mr. Chairman, You will ask
yourself What has all this to do with
the purpose of this meeting? And IL you
hold that the meeting is for the purpose
of considering plans for bringing buyers.
home seekers and investors to the capital
only, then what / have said is in bad
form, but il. on the other hand. the
meeting is for the purpose of considering
any. and all plans for bringing about Q