The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-24
STATEMENT ON
WAGE PROBLEM
Reply Is Made To New
Scale AS Outlined By
Builders Exchange

7 Inc CQnmlLIeb Vi LAO huliGlh5
Trades Council Is in the nature OF
q. reply TO the proposed reduced
wage seals sent out by the Fair
mont Builders Exchange and which
vas fully outlined IN last Satur-
days West Virgtnian:
The circular letter sent out last
week TO unions of the building
crafts, by the so-called Builders
d Exchange, as referred to IN your
worthy periodical. but with no SIG
nature attached, cannot be taken
into consideration or regarded with
any seriousness as to adoption OF
such an implement as working
agreement for a Labor Union. II
would be Just rs plausible for this
said Builders Exchange to ask
laobr organization to send in its
charter as the proposition they
5 nut forth.
All the dffereut Craft Unions
have signed agreements With the
employing Contractors which ex-
pire at various tines most OF them
March 31st, 1929. We feel in JUS
tlce to the general public. the gooG
citizens of our city and commun-
ity. who may be misled BY such
fallacy that an explanation for en-
lightment Is due to them, as well
as defense Of ourselves.
Many times have &c heard ea-
pressions OF the high wages charS-
ed for work done in the building
line. Now does the general public
believe that the amount charged
10 them for workmanship is recelT-
ed by the mechanic? il so, they are
sadly mistaken in this belief. The
contractors Of whatever building
trade 1t may be, charges the owner
price after he has paid his work
men, he has left for himself Il
handsome income BY way Of e%-
ample the contractors contract to
do a piece Of work by the hour rnd
charge 81 so per hour for the job.
He puts ten men to work at this
union scale OF 81 90 per hour for
eight hours per day. You see wt-at
Mr. Contractor gets from the labor
Of each man,
Four dollars per man or forty
dollars for eight hours and much
/ Of the public s lead TO believe
that 1t all goes 10 tho man doing
the actual work. All contractors do
mot charge like this. but even II
their charges we're only sl.2J per
hour. docs Il looiS reasonable that
d contractor should even dssire
Two dollars per day Of eight nodrs
for each man employed"
II no takes contracts for stipu
lated sum, rost assured his es-
Inmates are high enough to derive
the RRme benefits or better. DID
you ever stop to think dear pub
lic, that one man has no money
Invested in another mau? Then
why should he derive such profits
from no investment" The mech
anio has Investment In himself in
that he has served apprenticeship
in Learning his trade. time and
money spent In learning and for
tools. This being the case, does It
not look reasonable tina! he Is the
one that Shoald have 4 reasona b."
wage nc profit for such invest&
meRt?
You may say yes. BIZ; look. the
uostAof living has come down as an
!. argument by greatly reducing
wages, We will admit that some of
The costs have come down but still
are 45 per cent higher than eight
years ago, according TO Official
Government Report believe va
speak the sentiments OF the Build
Ing Craftsmen Of Fairmont in say
ing, that when all the Business
and professional men c: lur city
who seem very deeply Interested
ID reduction OF wages. agree 10 re-
auctions IN their business and pro
LESSONS, including landlords on an
equal basis with reduction of
wages of the Building Crafts me-
chanic Ne stand ready t. submit
Don't forget We are still paying
war prices In bouse rents, doctor
bills, dentist bills, lawyer fees.
railway, street car telephone. gas,
electric and many other things
that go to mako up the list Of nee
essities commodities and pleasures
Of life. Pray tell me what incentive
Is there to life or the bringing in
10 this world OF Offspring II We
are to be deprived OF the neCes-
sary things for the pleasure OF life
and little residue for the time
when We are not longer able to fol
low our vocation?
or does the public think We
should submit to the will OF tc"
men who by their exploitation Of
labor aud the general public as
we'll that they and they alone saail
enjoy life to It's fullest extent?
And then when those whom tho
few have exploited become incap
doiated for further vocation must
submit to the humiliation q the
thing called CHARITY" by those
same exploIteTs. My dear reader
the building craftsman OF our beaM
tItul city of FaIrmout are as big
; hearted, honest. loyal. true fellow
men that you will find any where
and stand ever ready and willing
to do our part in the upbuildinG
Of our city aud its institutions
!. Il is q well known fact that be-
cause of our aftliation With Labor
Unions We are looked upon by
many as a sort of criminal class
that should not be tolerated. II