The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-03-27
BUILDERS
SAY PUBLIC
LAID DOWN
Building Trades Employers
Association of Lake County
Says They Will Continue
Fight Alone

The Building Trades Employers
fight to lower building costs" ac-
cording to an article in the Indiana
Construction Recorder. the official
contractors publication.
The article written by the B. T. E.
a. Of the county scores the public
for lack of co-operat ton and
charges that civic bodies of the
county laid down and left the con
tractors to fight their own battle.
The article follows.
"TNAS EVER THUS.
1t has been said repeatedly that
the industrial situation today is
vitality linked with public interest,
particularly is this said to be true
Of the building industry. After put
ting UP fight for year for low
er wage scale and revised working
conditions both of which. If obtain
ed. would accrue materially to the
benefit of the public, the b. T. l.. A..
has about reached the conviction,
convinced by The Puhlic's attitude.
that the said Public is only inter-
ested in so far as to letting some
one else wage the battle, stand all
the expense. and bear the burden.
Then in the end. The Public is most
whatever benefits may result from
the fight. to collect the spoils.
Experience has taught usi that
when it comes to The Public, as rep
resented by civic bodies. or the in
dividual. neither stands willing to
he discomoded: If Inconvenience or
real sacrifice is to be required TO
bring about success The Public
holds aloof and is not willing to
take an active part or contribute
substantially to the success of the
venture. On the other hand, in
order 10 appear neutral, The Public
by It's inactivity tIIrows obstacles in
the way and thus hinders victory
When fight like' this arises The
Public seems intent only upon di-
vertine responsibility. shifting the
burden. passing the buck as il
were
Before the F. T. Z. A.. of the
Calumet District. started in last
year to lower the cost of building
construction operations the various
committees were assured that they
would have the undivided support of
The Public in the big undertaking
Since then. as the fight grew hotter
and hotter, more stubborn il has
been demonstrated to us that so long
as only talk was involved we could
get plenty of that. However. when
concrete action was needed there
was absolutely no one or no body
that was so strongly imbued with
public spirit as to come TO the fore
and make a stand for the great col
lective interest Of the Dear Public
There were men who were loudest
in their protestations against ex-
isting conditions those who vocifer-
ously urged. conidential1y, that the
contractors carry through the fight
to lower building costs. and yet
these very men when called upon
have refused to let B. T. E. A, mem
bers figure their projects lest they
get in bad and lose a few votes
sometime when they might come
out for public office, or. that their
business might suffer in that some
man who carried Union card
would buy 15c worth of scrap to-
bacco. soap or other merchandise
from a competitor.
Henceforth we are not going to
be disappointed for we know now
that we can expect nothing from
The Public and we are not going to
bank on the support OF it's repre-
sentatives
Nor have we quit; we are fight
ing not only to lower the building
construction costs so people will
have a chance to provide homes for
themselves, so that employment
may he provided for the man VINO
is willing TO give n honest days
work for an honest days pay. but
we are contending for a principle
as well. the principle that gives TO
the contractor the right to work on
his own Job and be the boss of that
work.
The whole thing has simmered
down to the point where ii is up TO
the contractors TO take a new grip
on the situation. strengthen their
determination and following the
policv and words of General Grant.
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