Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-03
MAYOR Ut 1ES LABOR
DISPUTE settlement
At MASS MEETING
Reasons Why Union Men
Cannot Accept Wage Cut
Explained by Speakers.
LABOR LEADERS SPEAK
Session at High School Was
Largely Attended, --Pending
Agreement is Explained.

Reasons why the union men can
not accept the proposition of the
master builders to grant a reduc-
ton in the wage scale for 1921.
which agreement is now pending,
was explained in detail last night
at the public meeting of the Middle
sex County District Council of Car
penters, in the high school auditor
ium here.
The speakers of the evening were
Mayor William c. Wilson, Hugh
Frayne. of New York, general repre-
sentative Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor; Henry Hilfers, of
Newark, secretary of the New Jer-
sey State Federation of Labor. and
Arthur A. Quinn, president of the
New Jersey State Federation of La
Dor. Prior to the meeting band
concert took place on the school
lawn.
The meeting was called to order
by Arthur A. Quinn, president of the
State Federation of Labor. Mayor
Wilson opened the meeting by speak
ing upon the orderly manner in
which the campaign against the re-
duction in wages is being carried on
by the unions ard said he hoped it
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come to all agreement soon as it is
not only Question of wages. but
question of what we eat. He said that
the present conditions usually exist
after each war. and svocated more
building which would mean less rent.
For his part, he said. he felt there
should be a reduction in wages, but
first must come reduction in what
we ca. and drink. He was of the
opinion that there could be a rea-
sonable reduction IL the Chamber of
Commerce and merchants of the city
would get together and bring it
about.
In closing he urged all to consider
both sides of the fence, and hoped
that the trouble would be settled this
week.
Presiden. Quinn then explained
the reason of the meeting and sta
ted tat it was called to lay before
the public the facts of the unions
side.
Henry Hilfers, secretary of the
State Federation of Labor, was the
first speaker. He dwelt upon the
fact that the unions in order to win
out must maintain their organiza-
tion, and urged that all union men
try to get men who are not union
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said that the present trouble is not
brought about through the desire to
reduce wages, but to destroy the Or
ganiZation and create open shop
conditions in the United States.
He told of similar trouble to that
which is now taking place here. hav-
Ing occurred in other cities in New
Jersey and how these conditions had
been met by the unions by showing
how the purchasing price of the dol
lar has not increased.
ut is impossible" said Mr.. Hill
fers. "for family of five to live for
less than $4,000 year. If the work.
ingman's wages are to come down,
everything else must come down with
it," said the speaker
He spoke about the number of
weeks work put in by the
1uilding mechanics as compared by
those who have steady work in fac
tories. He advocated that the ques-
tion of wages be left aside and
some other way found to reduce the
cost of building. At this point he
read a number of resolutions from
various Chambers Of Commerce and
industrial organizations, all advocat-
ing the open shop and said that 1t
was not a question Of lower wages,
but open shop that the master build
er san dthose who employ labor
wanted.
All through Mr.. Hilfer's address
was the plea for unionism against
the open shop. He pointed out how
the merchants, professional men and
manufacturers are all organized.
and urged that the union man do
his utmost to get the non-union man
to Join the organization. IF you
are not organized you will have to
take what they offer you or walk
the streets" said the speaker.
State Senator William B. Mackay,
Jr., was attacked by Mr.. Hilfer for
his stand on certain bills that pass
ed during the last session of the
legislature. He maintained that the
legislators were working for their
own interests and not for the inter-
ests of the people. "Out of all the
legislation taking place during the
last session not one bill was intro
duced to reduce the cost of living"
said the speaker. Many were pass
ed, however, to increase the taxes,
he said.
He said he had been Informed by
one of the assemblymen from this
county that the manufacturers here
had gone to the merchants and re-
uuested them to write off some of
their profits so that the cost of liv-
ing might be reduced and they re-
fused ito do it. He urged that some