The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-26
ND. LABOR LEADER
SCORES OUTSIDERS
IN LATHER'S fight
Enters Quarrel on Side Of State
Workmen; Raps Visiting
Organizer
'SMACKS OF RACKETEERlNG'
Asserts Moore Would Exclude
State Citizens to Give His
Own Men Jobs

The question Of who shall do the
lathing on the new capitol building
had new complications Wednesday.
Disclosure that North Dakota labor
leaders are at odds with George T.
Moore, vice president Of the interna-
tional fathers union, and with group
Of outside fathers who now control
the work, was made by Roy Arntson,
state labor commissioner and presi-
dent Of the state federation Of labor.
The matter was discussed at meet
ing of the Bismarck Trades and La
Dor council Monday night but no de-
cision was reached.
AS outlined by Arntson, the Ques-
ton Is whether outside workmen, by
reason Of the fact that they control
the lather's union, will dominate the
work to the disadvantage Of North
Dakota men.
The job now has been unionized at
a wage Of 81 an hour with the secre-
tary Of the Billings, Mont, lathers
union acting as steward on the job.
This means he represents union in
terests In dealing with the contractor.
Four North Dakota men have been
given permits to work and were en-
ployed Wednesday but Arntson is
fearful that they will be later re-
moved from the Job In order to make
room for the outsiders who, he says,
have Moore's backing.
Paying Union Fees
The North Dakotans are paying 81
a day to the union and will continue
to do SO until they get their initiation
fee paid up or are ordered Oft the
work.
Arntson said the outsiders contend
that North Dakotans are not suffice
iently skilled to meet the union re-
quirements. He fears they will be
ruled out on that ground, pointing out
that it would be easy for the outsiders
to so arrange the work that the ma
tive workmen would have difficulty in
making good.
At the same time Arntson disclosed
that Moore, representing the inter-
national union, had refused to assist
in organizing a North Dakota local
union which would clarity the status
Of the state fathers. Instead, Amt
son charged, he is trying to get all
the work for the men from Billings
by use Of union influence. Arntson
said the whole business "smacks of
racketeering" and is unfair to North
Dakotans. He further charged that
the men who ostensibly are from Bill
lings are not originally from that
place but are largely from the east,
having merely transferred to Billings.
Hurts Labor Movement
Arntson was particularly bitter be-
cause Of the possible effect Of the dis
pute on organized labor in North Da-
kota. This job offered splendid op-
portunity to expand organized labor
In the state, he said, by the organiza-
ton Of new union, but the oppor-
tunity was rejected in order to favor
outside workmen over citizens of
North Dakota. In effect, he said,
Moore is preventing the advancement
Of union interests In this state for the
benefit of outsiders
The outsiders" were said Wednes-
day to be bitter against the provision
in the capitol building law which re-
quires preference for North Dakota
labor and fearful of its possible ap-
plication. They were represented as
being contemptuous Of the skill and
ability Of the North Dakotas on the
job.
Each Of the four North Dakotans
now working on the Job is from MI
not, having been sent here by the CEN
trail labor union OF that city. They
are part Of the crew which did the
lathing on the World War Memorial
building and Burleigh County court
house and also have done other work
In North Dakota.