The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-03-01
!IJNIONISTS ISSUE STATEMENT
ON THE LAUNDRY TROUBLE
ENGINEERS REVIEW THE EFFORTS MADE TO UNIONIzE
ENGINE ROOM AT FRENCH LAUNDRY-CLAIM CHAND-
LER FAILED TO PASS THE SIMPLEST OF TESTS ON
PRACTICAL WoRK-TRADEs COUNCIL DID NOT ACT
HASTILY IN THE MATTER AS THEIR RECORDS SHOW

swers to technical questions. The ques-
tions We're of the simplest and com
an engineer should have answered with
out hesitation. Mr.. Chandler failed to
answer a single question correctly and
throughout the examination appeared to
be very incensed that we should require
any statement from him as to his capa
bilities. That the public may Judge for
itself concerning the examination we
give below several of the questions
asked of him and his replies;
"Question kind of a boiler
have you vertical or horizontal?
"Answer-I don't know.
"Question-If you were setting up a
boiler, how high would you set your
water glass above the flues?
"Answer-I amt setting up boilers;
boilermakers do that.
Question-How much water above
the flues when You first see water in
the glass?
"Answer-I don't know; they don't
have any license law in this state nor
any city ordinance governing engineers;
don't have to take any examination.
Question would you set valve
on an engine?.
HAneuor I'll ;,,e+ oot ~
"Question-But you would have to
have your engine on centre; how would
you know when it was on centre?
"Answer-Fd just turn it down onto
centre and look at it to see if it was
there.
"Finally Mr. Chandler said he wasn't
an engine builder; he was an engine
runner
Can you beat it?
1--WE were convinced that either Mr.
Chandler was absolutely ignorant of the
first principles of our trade or was deli
berately trying to string us and in
either case he was not fit subject for
membership.
1--WE believe that the position in any
manufacturing or mechanical plant car
ries with it considerably responsibility.
Not only the safeguarding of machinery
but human lives must depend upon the
engineers knowledge. If a man knows
anything about a boiler and engine he
ought not to be afraid to tell that
knowledge, for his knowledge and skill
in his own protection and recommends
tion.
"There is no question but that there
ought to be a state license law as well
as city ordinances for engineers. The
public would be better protected and the
honest employer as WELL
Just word as to the part taken by
the Trades Council in the Dwr contro-
versy. In the first place the Council
does not take hasty action in any mat
ter involving the placing as unfair OF
any person, firm or building. Before
any union can get the Trades Council to
endorse boycott, it must show that it
has exhausted every effort to obtain a
settlement, Upon that showing being
made the matter is placed in the hands
of its own committee for adjustment if
possible. Never does the Council take
final action without report from its com
mittee In the Durr case we have ex-
tamined the records of the Trades Coun-
ell to ascertain the length of time spent
on this matter We find that it was
first brought into the Council on Oct.
| goth, 1911, and that final action was
not taken until Feb, 2nd, 1912. The
| Trades Council committee made three
separate trips to the French Laundry in
iustment That MFR. Durr appeared be
! fore the Council on Nov. 3rd, 1911, and
promised to see that union engineer
was employed upon occupation of the
new building. That the Trades Council
let the matter rest until Dec. Sth, or a
period of over one month. That the
Durr controversy was brought up for
discussion from first to last at ten diff
ferent meetings of the Council. That the
French Laundry was not put unfair un
| til after the man Chandler failed to pass
the engineers examination and the Coun
ell committee upon visiting Mr.. Dur
were informed that regardless of any ae
tion of the union Mr.. Chandle