Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-28
MASTER CONTRACTORS ISSUE
STATEMENT CONCERNING
CONDITIONS IN IOWA
THIS YEAR" is
URGED AS PROPER SLOGAN
Contractors Look fer Surplus Of Me.
chanics il Present Slump Continues
and Labor Continues TO Increase De-
mands-Urges Union to Be Conserv-
alive and Cooperate.
Special to Timcs-Republican.

SpeCldl W llllCS-f tSpuLllcin.
Des Moines, Feb. 2s.-Conditions in
the building industry are discussed in
an open letter issued today by the
Master Builders Association of Iowa.
The association makes plea to keep
business conditions normal. The letter
fol,ows:N
I'VE, the directors of the Master
Builders Association of the state OF
Iowa, being assembled at Des Moines,
Feb. 10. 1915 and acting for the Master
Builders of the state of Iowa, do here
by call the attention of the general
public and also the various labor or
CARNATIONS interested in the building
industry thruout this state to the fol-
lowing facts and conditions:
Our attention having been called to
the fact that a great deal of unrest
and discomfort seems to exist among
the various labor organizations and OF
the unreasonable demands that are
being made in wage schedules for the
current year. we therefore deem it ad-
visable to express our views on this
question at this time and in this man
ner.
For the past ten or twelve years, all
classes of commercial and factory
buildings have had small added cost
on construction each consecutive year.
Each year some prospective builders
have postponed building on account OF
what they claim was high prices.
This year with the war conditions
and the labor conditions, the hue and
cry of high prices" is being raised
more than ever before until it is on
almost every tongue like a household
word.
Hold Prices Not Too High.
SHOULD all building operations cease
We would be facing conditions similar
to those which Canada has faced since
the beginning of the war. Accordingly,
it behooves all contractors and dealers
Of building materials to put forth
forth every effort to overcome THIS
misnomer, price too high Prices are
not too high comparatively with al
existing conditions. and the compare
tive unit value of the countrys re-
sources and products. Building COM
modities values are the result OF labor
and coal transportation costs. Now y
on top of all this the trades demand
an exorbitant or even an increased
price for labor at this time, it will only
have q tendency to reduce the small
amount of prospective building con-
struction, thereby, causing an excess
of number of mechanics required, and
bringing about reaction that Will
eventually, be extremely detrim entail to
the best interests of labor and OF
building. .s
ION account of the present slump
in building business, there will be an
unavoidable surplus of mechanics,
and, with an increase of wages aided
to this. there will soon be two mechan-
les for every job.
IF contractors stand firm for
small profit, labor stands firm with the
present wage scale, and every one IN
terested boosts" for patriotic uNty
as we'll as business; and herald the
slogan, "Build this year. there will in
evitably be work for all and living
for all; that is all we can hope Nor
until we have helped to conquer our
common foe.
Can it be denied then that the in
terests of the trades and the interests
Of the contractors are one and the
same? Keep conditions normal ana
boost for business for 1915
1--WE, therefore, appeal to the lahor
organizations Of this state in order
that as normal conditions as possible
be maintained, that they be as .noder-
ate and consistent in their demands as
possible, and further urge upon item
to confer and cooperate with their
employees in order that fair and con-
sistent terms and working rules be
adopted and maintained thruout the
year."