On Friday, May 6th, Joseph Downey, President of the Master Masons'
Association, sent the following communication to D. Adler, President of
the Illinois Association of Architects. It was sent for the purpose of
endeavoring to secure the co-operation of the Architects of the city--in
view of a general strike in the building trades, which it was plain to
be seen was impending:
TO THE ARCHITECTS OF CHICAGO--_Gentlemen_: Owing to incessant and
unreasonable demands being made upon us from time to time by our
employes, causing incalculable delays, which mean disaster to those
signing time contracts, the members of this association have,
therefore, unanimously agreed to sign no contracts after May 1,
unless the words "except in case of strikes or epidemics" are
inserted in the time clause.
Very respectfully,
JOSEPH DOWNEY, President.