The Washington times., 1925-04-24
WAGE
PLOT IS
SEEN
Organizer for Painters Union
Charges Capital Planned
Huge Conspiracy

wide conspiracy of organized capt.
tai to keep down wages, If not to
reduce them, was charged today
by William j. Gallagher, inter-
national organizer of the painters
union, on his return to Washing
ton from Philadelphia.
Mr.. Gallagher asserted that the
labor situation is merely reflec-
ton of conditions throughout the
country, which, he says, has been
brought about in the general
Wage-cutting scheme.
Found Similar Condition.
only recently I was in Shenan-
doah, Pa, and saw the Washington
situation duplicated there" said
Mr.. Gallagher. 1.-THE banks and
builders have lined up the subcon-
tractors and made them agree to
keep wages down.
"There are signs of this condition
elsewhere. Labor Is up against the
forces of money, but, mark my
words, If it takes the rest Of this
year organized labor will make It's
own force felt in this city and else
where, but particularly in Wash
ington."
It Is Mr.. Gallagher's belief, al
though he would not state it as a
positive fact, that the alleged anti
labor movement started with the
financial interests.
Tells Of Alleged Meeting.
He declared that a resolution
brought before an important ma
1fvo Of ha MI
the eve of the Presidential AN
paign last year. and was tabled at
the time only by the plea Of a
single member of the conference,
THE resolution was to have be-
come the first order of business
at a later meeting" said Mr.. Gal
lagher. but l don't know what be-
came of it."
Organized labor in the District
continued to build it's plans today
for an educational campaign among
the IS, 900 local members of unions,
urging them to patronize business
establishments favored by their
leaders, and affecting an approx
mate earning power Of 81 $50, 900 a
week.
Henry Miller, member of the ad-
justment committee OF the Central
Labor Union, today stated that pre-
vious estimates of labor's earning
and spending power in the District
were too low
Even at SIS a day, which is com
paratively a low wage for union
workers, the $1,000 members in
Washington, would earn very nearly
$4,000, 900 a week." said Mr.. Miller.
"Organized labor Is going to find
out where all this money is going,
and whether any of it is being spent
with people who merely use it and
its influence to defeat our purposes"
Earnings of Builders.
According to an official estimate
made by the Central Labor Union.
the organized building tradesmen in
this city earn $640, 900 a week.
Such data as this il being gath
cred for submission to the central
body at a later date, when author
ization will be sought for the opera
ton of the educational campaigns
machinery.
The possibility was expressed by
union leaders today that labor may
be asked to take similar steps in a
national way. Arrangements for
this feature of the campaign, how
ever nave not DScn "OAhcu cuI
fully yet.
The painters strike stood still
today, except for the announce
ment from union headquarters that
a force of union men had been
ordered under a contract for paint
ing the United States Chamber If
Commerce building.
The master painters. at a meet
ing last night, re-affirmed the sub
stance of an earlier resolution, de-
claring against any wage increases
at this time. and tabled a proposal
sent in by John B. Colpoys, Fed
eral mediator. This suggestion
called for a long-term contract at
a scale of $3.50 day. This figure
is fifty cents above the scale now
paid by master painters. ami IL
fifty cents less than the unions
demand.
The union will take no action on
the question Of arbitration until
next week, although the regular
will be held tonight, aSsur-
ances were given today, Mr.. Col
poys has not indicated what his
next move will be toward settling
the strike.
The master plumbers, who have
not yet stated what they intend
to do as an organization in regard
to the union plumbers request for
an increased wage, today were still
unable to state whether thay will
resist or grant the raise.