The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-05-23
RESOLUTION SCORES
STRIKE ACTIVITIES
OF TWO OFFICIALS
Skilled Workmen on Capitol Job
Ask Pair to Prove Hon.
esty Of Intentions
SUGGEST GENERAL RAISE
Propose That Highway and
Other Workers on N. D. Pay
roll Get Rate Asked
SUGGEST GENERAL RAISE

A resolution striking at two state
officials high in public life" for urg-
ing common laborers on the North
Dakota state capitol project to strike
for so cents an hour and better work
ing conditions was adopted Monday
evening by a mass meeting OF skilled
laborers on the project, who are en-
deavoring to bring the strike to q
speedy end.
More than 100 skilled tradesmen
attended the meeting, which was held
in the World War Memorial building.
One of the two state officials, the
resolution said, was an official OF
the state highway depa r t m n t,
where there has been reduction
made in wages and where only 20
cents per hour is being paid to labor
ers." The other was unofficially re-
ported to be Governor William
LANCER.
The resolution demands that
"wages of the laborers employed by
the highway department be raised to
the level Of the demands made TOR
the capitol job and that wages for
all other similar work done by other
state institutions d construction
projects also be raised to compar-
able level"
Skilled Crafts Represented
All OF the skilled crafts employed
on the capitol project were rep
resented at the meeting. A commit.
tee, including at least two men OF
each craft as we'll as five common
laborers, was named to confer with
Governor LANCER in an effort to reach
a speedy solution.
Monday nights meeting followed q
session in the afternoon at which
stewards or representatives of skill
ed crafts adopted resolution declar-
ing they are willing to resume work
Immediately under existing contracts.
This resolution declared they were
forced off the job, contrary to
specific instructions from interna-
tional headquarters OF some of the
crafts, by the picketing operations
of the common laborers. The mass
meeting in the evening was decided
upon at the afternoon session.
One of two common laborers who
attended the mass meeting is report
ed to have said in speech that
Governor LANCER told the common
laborer to stay off the job and that
he was with them to the finish.'
Expect No Audience
Leaders of the skilled laborers ex-
pressed the opinion that the special
committee named to confer with the
governor never will be able to see
him.
The strike on the capitol Job be-
gan its second week Tuesday morn
ing. Common laborers last Tuesday
walked off the job and began picket
ing operations. preventing the Lund-
Off Bicknell company and skilled
workers from continuing operations.
The strike has the approval Of the
International Union of Hodcarriers,
Builders and Common Laborers.
The Lundoff- Bicknell company has
been standing pat" on the contention
that the deadline for completing OF
the building will be extended in view
of the strike. r. M. RishWorth, chair
man of the state capitol building COM
mission, says the commission Is con-
tinuing ION the sidelines."
Text Of Statement
The complete text OF the resolu-
ton adopted Monday evening follows:
Whereas, the common laborers
have walked out on the state capitol
building job for so cents per hour
and better working conditions, and
Whereas, at meeting held Tues
day night, May l6, 1888, two state
officials high in public life In the
state attended that meeting and
urged that this was reasonable
wage and that the laborers strike
until this wage was paid, and
Whereas, one Of these state off,
cials was an official Of the North
Dakota highway department, where
there has been reduction made IN
wages and where only 20 cents per
hour is being paid to laborers, and
Whereas. the capitol building JOB
is work OF public construction I'M
dertaken by the state Of North Da-
kota, and the state highway depart
ment is also an undertaking owned
and controlled by the state Of North
Dakota,
Therefore, be 1t resolved that we
demand the wages Of the laborers
employed by the highway department
be raised to the level Of the demands
made for the capitol job and that
wages for all other similar work done
by other state institutions and con-
struction projects also be raised to
a comparable level. and be it further
resolved that no one class Of work
men engaged in state work for lest
than the wages paid to laborers II
another branch Of state service
where conditions Of work and kind Of
work are Identical"
A foot note on the resolution read
There must be consistency in al
things and economic justice for al
workers ia the state