Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-09-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE WAY OF THE
TRANSGRESSOR.
(By James Duncan, First Nice-Presi-
dent. American Federation of Lahor.)


(By James Duncan, First Nice-Presi-
dent, American Federation of Labor.)
In the early days of the Alien Con-
tract Labor law, number of liza
nois profiteers in barter for large
grant of land in the largest state OF
our country agreed to build capitol
for that state. The barter being
closed the protiteers sought the cheap
est method of doing their part. They
found plenty of granite IN Texas to
construct the Austin capitol, then
sent hirelings abroad to hire cheap
workmen. The building was largely
constructed under non-union condl-
tons, the non-union men so employed
being the first violation of the slen
Contract Labor law, but the Illinois
profiteers, led by one of their SEN
ators and a celebrated congressman
of the time, had influence with Presi-
dent Harrison and although the Gran
tie Cutters association got a 1udg-
ment against the above mentioned
promoters, and which as by the law
would have required them to pay
1000 for each alien contract work
err, President Harrison revoked the
fine because it was the first convic-
ton under the law"
The two hirelings who attended to
the mechanical management and who
until then had been union granite
cutters, were looked upon in the trade
as being two men with whom any
union granite cutter might associate
and after the building was finished,
and it stands today, about as raw
lob of the kind as ever was hung
together, those men found themselves
with the brand of Cain and with the
odium of Judas 1scariot combined
wherever they went among their fell
low workmen.
The lesser of the two soon eapltu-
lated, paid the next to the highest
penalty ever imposed upon an UNI
faithful granite cutter and tried for
short time to live down the past,
but eventually, and through such re-
morse of conscience as he had left
passed the great divide 49,.
The other areh-conspirator thought
up a plan. He changed his facial APP
pearance. also his name, went from
Austin, Texas, to st. Louis, Mo-, but
in less time than it takes to tell the
story a real granite cutter IN 81.
Louis saluted him thus: Hello, Gus,
where did you get the spinach, when
did YOU arrive in st. Louis, and what
is this new name you have got9' Gus,
for such was his first real name, took
a train for the windy city. The first
day he appeared on prominent
building under construction granite
cutter on the job gave all the shop
stewards on the building informa-
ton that this was the arch-consplra-
tor who had tried to construct the
Texas capital by non-union labor,
called him by name and in the twink
ling of an eye all the workmen drop
ped the tools of their trade until Gus
was safely down the gangway on the
sidewalk.
Away he went from Chicago TO San
Francisco and on his way up Market
street from the ferries he was saluted
twice within a few blocks from the
ferry By his real name and those
sturdy westeners wanted TO know
what he was doing there. A barber
was invited TO remove his whlskersi
the secretary Of the granite cutters
went with him to the Western Union
head office, from which he tele-
graphed to the headquarters Of The
Granite Cutters association what sum
they would accept TO again give him
a card. Telegraphic reply was sent
to accept $500, which Gus paid, IN
GLIDING the cost of sending the money
BY telegraph from the Pacific almosf
to the Atlantic seaboard, and thai
portion of his mis-doings was patched
up, but never again did real granite
cutters enthuse over his company mol
did they care to work under him
Moral, do right and others viii re
spect you.