Evening star., 1925-04-20
Text of Union Statement.


The statement from the union paint
ers reads as follows:
I'VE were, indeed, very much sur
prised when we read the Sunday pa
pers, wherein it was reported that we
had asked for a poStponement of
proposed meeting with the gentlemen
VINO make up the fair wage commit
tee in reference to bringing about
some settlement of the present trou-
BILE between the employing painters
and paperhangerS of Washington and
the journeymen in these branches.
"In the first place, permit me to
say that I have never asked for any
conference with the fair wage COM
mittee, and l know of no member or
our committee who has made any
such requests, as from our viewpoint
the gentlemen comprising the fair
wage committee are not employing
PAINTERS or paperhangers, with the eX-
ception of one, Mr.. Linskey, who is a
practical employing painter and presl-
dent of the Master House Painters
and Decorators Association.
LAS far back as one cares to go Tor
information concerning labor troubles
IT has been a case of the employees
wanting something they are justly en-
titled to and the employers refusing
their request. 1t then becomes neces-
sary. in order to bring about some
Bind of a proper understanding, Tor
these two factions to get together .
iron out their differences and then
return to work in peace and content
ment. This method has been in prac-
tice all over the country, and right
here in Washington the other trades
deal with their employers when nee
essary to do so. This new departure
of dealing with a committee who nave
nothing to do with the painting trade,
the exception as stated above-Mr.
Iinskey-is not going to happen.
Rather bold statement TO make, we
know, but we believe 1t is true.
Parties Chiefly Concerned.
whenever the employing painters
and paperhangers want to meet win
the iourneymen they will find them
ready to meet any time and any
place, and 1 am quite sure that they
can handle their own analrs "llnoue
outsiders, as is stated in the papers
Yesterday as coming from the fair
wage committee.
"As for myself, am ready to step
aside at any time and let the COM
mittee of painters and paperhangers
handle their own case, and 1t strikes
me If the same position can be cas-
suned by the employing painters and
paperhangers and a meeting or these
cluded, the present unsettled condi-
tjons will be corrected and settle
ment effected that will be satisfactory
10 both the employer and the Journey
man.
when the question of outside in
terference enters into this affair,
might | ask IL Mr.. Lusk Is in the
painting business? Yet he assumes
tae position of debating the policy
of the employing painters as to how
they should conduct their business.
ONLY the other. day l read in the
papers where this same gentleman
had given the master plumbers and
steamfitters of this city a limited time
10 inform him as to how they in
tended to run their business.
DiscIaims Bitter Feeling.
I'm conclusion, let me say that we
have no bitter feelings against any
of our employers, as has been printed
in the papers. We have always had
The best of feelings exist between
ourselves, even now, when we can
mot agree on wages. We know, how
ever, the ability of some of the men
tnon-union painters) now in their en-
pIoy, who have made application to
the painters union for membership
and have been rejected because of
their inability to pass our eXamlna-
ton. In other words, their lack of
knowledge of the painting trade
would not permit them to become
members. This article is written for
the purpose of outlining our position
in this matter. We have no ak to
grind: we are fair-minded in our
opinions and are ready to meet with
our employers any time they see fit.
"WM. ]. GALLAGHER,
Gen. Organizer, Brotherhood of
Painters Decorators and PAPER