The Master Masons' Association unofficially received information that
the Bricklayers' union had passed a resolution fixing Saturday as
pay-day, instead of Monday, or Tuesday, which had been the rule for many
years. This action was not taken by the union because it was believed
greater good could be accomplished, or because it was a necessary
change; but was for the purpose of further testing the temper of the
employers and notifying them that they were subject to the dictation of
the union.
On Friday Mr. Downey sent the following unofficial communication to A.
E. Vorkeller, President of the Bricklayers' union, hoping to secure a
rescinding of the Saturday pay-day resolution, and avoid a strike:
TO THE UNITED ORDER OF AMERICAN BRICKLAYERS AND STONEMASONS--
_Gentlemen_: It has come to the knowledge of the Master Masons' and
Builders' association that at your last meeting you passed a
resolution that the members of your union should hereafter be paid
on Saturday, instead of Monday and Tuesday, as is now and has been
the custom.
There has been no official action by the Master Masons' and
Builders' association, but I have conferred with a number of them,
and am impelled to write this letter to notify you of the fact that
while we might prefer to comply with your request, we find it will
be impossible to make up our pay-rolls in time to pay on Saturday,
especially in the busy season, when some of us have from two
hundred to three hundred men employed.
We trust, gentlemen, that you will reconsider the action taken
which resulted in the adoption of the resolution mentioned, as we
are particularly anxious that the good feeling which has prevailed
between your union and our association shall be continued without
interruption. Very respectfully yours,