South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-04
NJ GILL EXPLAINS
LABOR DIFFICULTY
Declares He's Friend of Unions
and Details Peculiar TangIe
Which Resulted in WaIkout
of Men Employed on Building

In answer to charges that he has
been unfair TO union labor made by
various leaders in South Bend and
through handbills and stickers dis
tributed throughout the city, j. p.
McGill, of the J. 2. McGin Furniture
Co, issued a statement Friday in
which he denied the allegations. de
also stated that he has asked for g.
hearing before the meeting of the
general building trades council TO be
held Friday night, when he wishes TO
present his side of the trouble which,
IL is said, has resulted in an attempt
to boycott the McGnl store.
The difficulty arose in connection
with the erection of a new building
for the furniture concern on S. Michi-
gan st. Due TO the employment Of
three non-union painters, all other
members of organized labor who were
working on the building, went on a
strike a week ago Wednesday. Mr..
McGilPs stand in the matter, he stated
Friday as follows:
81 am a friend of organized labor
and always have been. When the
contract for the remodeling of the new
building was let, voluntarily specihed
that union labor must be utilized on
every class of work in which union
men were available. Shortly after
this time a man by the name Of
Beeler, presumably a walking dele
gate Of the unions. came to me and
asked If union men would be employed
on the building. 1 replied that they
would.
Encounter Difficulty.
HE returned later with the state
ment that the contractor had told him
the union laborerS were not specified
in my contract I showed him my
contract in which this was stipulated
and we took the matter up with the
contractor who had failed to see this
provision. He had already let the
painting contract. 1 Immediately or
dered him to dismiss all non-union
laborers and Beeler promised me as
many union carpenters as necessary.
But eight union carpenters were
sent to the contractor and he needed
at least 10. Later Beeler notified me
that two non-union men were being
employed and they were dismissed at
my request. Again Beeler notified me
that three non-uniOn painters were
working on the building and told me
that unless they were dismissed the
union men would quit work.
Had Let Contract.
Il took the matter up with the con-
tractor 20 find that he had made the
contract with a local painting COM
pany before he had understood that
only union painters were to be en-
ployed. We went to the painting COM
pany and asked them to withdraw
their non-union men. They refused.
1t was impossible to break the con-
tract with them and Mr.. Beeler was
notified of this. In addition he was
asked for a solution of the problem.
"I also explained that unless we va
Gated our present location by July 1 5
we forfeited $4,000 to the Brandon
Durrell Co, and that the work on the
fore that date. On Wednesday morn
ing the carpenters and other union
men were withdrawn from the build
ing. Thursday night a committee,
presumably from headquarters. APP
peared before me and asked:
Mr. McGiIl, are you satisfied with
how things are going on your new
building
Wants to Explain Facts.
ct replied Yes, and the next day
the stickers and bills, labelling me as
unfair were distributed. My purpose
in making this statement is give my
side of the affair in order that there
will be no mistaken impression. am
and always have been perfectly will
ing to employ union labor but this
situation was a peculiar one. 1 have
done everything in my power to be
fair to the unions. l do not know
whether my hearing before the trades
council will prove effective but 1 am
certain that very few of the labor
men know the true circumstances"