The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-06
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Editor West vlrginian:

Editor West Vlrginian:
In your issue Of December 23d
appeared a letter signed Commit.
tee from Trades Council, which pre-
tended to be an answer to the
schedule OF wage rates adopted
by the Fairmont Builders Elk.
change. But in the whole article
the writer. does not present a sin,
gle argument to pretend to show
that the rates and working condi.
tons as adopted are inadequate or
unfair.
Neither does he present any ar.
gumeut in support Of the present
unfair rates but confines himself
to false statements, misrepresenta.
tions and ridiculous charges.
But on tho whole Quoting from
the Muse of Monongalial It reads
very much like the "Blithering OF a
Blatant 'Blatherskite," making an
appeal to his dear public" for
sympathy.
1t is my desire to show the dear
public" the very great sympathy?
that is due them, how dear the pub
lie is to them and how very dear
they have been to the public.
The dear public" OF Fairmont,
has during the past year paid the
highest wage rate of any one OF SIS
principal cities in the United States,
reporting to the National Associa.
ton of Builders Exchanges, except.
ing eight Of the largest having
signed wage agreements extending
through this year. And the forty.
eight cities that have had wage re
adjustments In many of them tho
rate Is lower than that adopted by
the local Builders Exchange.
And the readjustment covers
twenty.six Of the various crafts en-
gagged in the building industry.
The principal objection advanced
against the rates adopted by the
Builders Exchange Is the schedule
had no signature on It.
1t is not my intention to make
any excuse or apology for the ac-
tons OF the Builders Exchange, nor
is 1t in any way responsible for
any statements made herein.
But as an individual It appears
to me the public is not particularly
interested in knowing who Is the
author OF any movement initiated
for the special benefit o! the com.
munity.
And the signature Of any one in.
dividual or the whole body adopt
ing any resolution does not effect
the standing Of the resolution.
The writer says "all the differ
ent craft unions have signed agree.
ments not yet expired" A canvass
OF the building trades employers
shows that none of the employers
have signed agreements for the
year 1921 except the painters, which
will expire April /, 1922.
The charge contractors are max.
ing enormous profits OF their EN-.
ployees and profiteering of the
public, Is too ridiculous for ser1.
Gus consideration, since any one
who knows anything about the
building business knows that the
General Contractor bases his over.
head expenses and profit on Ger.
tain percentages OF his net costs,
which vary depending on the mag.
nitude Of the work from Z per cent.
on large jobs to Is per cent. on
small jobs Of labor alone where a
mechanic may be engaged three to
four hours.
However we have a class known
as Curb Stone contractors, who
mostly belong to some labor union,
who, when they can 5os get con.
tracts for small Jobs will work as
journeymen for the legitimate con.
tractor, and since we are not IA.
millar with their system OF doing
business. It is quite likely they
are the ones making the enormous
profits of their employees and
public. The writer says zone man
has no money invested In any 9th.
er man" this is no nearer truth
than any OF his other statements,