Saturday, May 7th, was the first pay-day after the passage of the
resolution by the Bricklayers' union fixing that day for payment. When
the hour arrived for quitting work demand was made of the foreman on
each job for payment in accordance with the resolution. It was refused,
the Master Masons having determined that if the men were to strike
because their demand was not conceded, they should be given an
opportunity to do so at once. This general demand was taken as official
notification that the resolution had passed. There was a universal
expression of opinion among the Master Masons that they would refuse the
demand--because of the spirit and manner in which it was made--and that
they would stand firmly together upon the question.
On Monday, May 9th, about two hundred bricklayers quit work because they
had not been paid on the previous Saturday, but they were returned to
work by President Vorkeller, of the union, because, he said, the rule
for Saturday pay-day did not take effect until May 14th. Mr. Vorkeller
called on President Downey and asked that a conference be held on the
question of Saturday pay-day. In view of the action of the union in
first resolving that the pay-day should be changed, this request was
looked upon as very strange. But Mr. Downey notified him that he would
present the question to the Master Masons' association.
In referring to the situation Mr. Thomas Courtney voiced the sentiments
of the builders when he said the only way to settle the prevailing
uneasiness would be to stop all building at once and let it remain
stopped until the strikers were tired of it. This seemed like a harsh
measure, but it was the only sure way to success. All were tired of this
labor agitation, and as the building of residence property especially
was overdone, it was the best time he ever saw for a lockout. The
workmen were not only fixing their own hours for work and their own pay,
but now they wanted to fix their own pay-day. With so much labor
disturbance it was a marvel to him that there was any disposition to
erect a building in Chicago.
A committee from the Amalgamated Trades Council called at the Builders'
and Traders' exchange to see the executive committee of the Master
Masons' association for the purpose of talking about the strike of the
Hodcarriers. The committee was composed of Messrs. Brennock of the
Carpenters, Carroll of the Stonecutters, and McBrearty of the
Hodcarriers. They found President Downey, to whom they stated that they
had called to see if the differences could be adjusted. Mr. Downey
stated that the members of the executive committee were out paying their
employes, and that another time would have to be fixed for the
conference. He hoped the result of the conference would be satisfactory
to all, and that at its conclusion they could say the strike was ended.
The committee said that was what they wanted. Mr. Downey wanted to know
what authority the committee had in the matter, and was told that they
represented twelve of the building trades, and had the power to order
every union man in those trades off a building where the union scale of
wages was not paid or where non-union men were employed. But, they did
not desire to exercise that power, as it was more the business of the
Council to arbitrate and effect settlements than to encourage strikes.
It was agreed that a conference should be had Tuesday morning, at which
time the entire situation with reference to the Hodcarriers would be
discussed.
In order to exhibit the venomous spirit of some of the strikers an
effort was made by the union Hodcarriers and Laborers to make the life
of non-union Laborers a burden. A scheme was started for dropping mortar
and pouring water on them in order to drive them away from any job where
union men were at work.
On Tuesday evening, May 10th, the Master Masons' association met.
President Downey read a letter from the Bricklayers' Union which
contained an unqualified statement that the union would not rescind the
resolution making Saturday the pay-day.
Mr. George C. Prussing submitted the draft of a communication to be sent
to the Bricklayers' Union, and stated that he thought it was highly
proper to send it, in the hope that by courteous treatment the
differences would be settled with less difficulty. The proposition to
send the communication was unanimously adopted. The communication was as
follows:
TO THE UNITED ORDER OF AMERICAN BRICKLAYERS AND STONEMASONS--
_Gentlemen_: Notice of your resolution fixing pay-day every
Saturday two weeks has been laid before this association.
We submit to your consideration that a subject of this kind can
hardly be "fixed" by a resolution in a meeting of employes, but
should be referred to and properly discussed by a joint committee
of both employers and employes before action is taken.
Thus far the rule has been to pay up to and including Saturday on
the following Tuesday among the members of this association, and as
far as heard from no complaint of any irregularity in paying
workmen has been made. In a city as large as this, covering such
immense area, and where it is not infrequent for the same firm to
be engaged upon work on the North, South, and West sides at the
same time, two days at least are necessary to make up pay-rolls
and envelope money properly. If, therefore, the change of pay-day
from Tuesday to Saturday should be adopted, it would necessitate
the closing of pay-day on Thursday night preceding. This, we
submit, would not serve either you or us as well as to pay to the
end of the previous week. You have not given us any reasons for
your arbitrary demand for a change, and we have failed to find any
in our judgment good and sufficient. If any such reasons exist we
shall be pleased to know them. Until then we shall continue to pay
as before, regularly every second Tuesday, up to the preceding
Saturday night.
By order of the
CHICAGO MASTER MASONS' ASSOCIATION.
The communication was at once taken to the Bricklayers' Union by C. P.
Wakeman, it having been stated that the union was in session and would
receive any communication that should be sent. In about thirty minutes
Mr. Wakeman returned from his visit to the Bricklayers, and reported
that he had been received in grand shape. The hall was packed full, and
when he took his place on the platform to read the communication he was
loudly cheered. He asked the Bricklayers to lay the question of pay-day
over and appoint a committee to see if the matter could not be settled.
He was satisfied that two-thirds of those present were in favor of a
compromise. They agreed to telephone the Builders' and Traders' exchange
as soon as a conclusion was reached.
The telephone was not used, but a committee from the Bricklayers' union
called at 10:30 o'clock and notified Mr. Wakeman that the union had
unanimously passed a resolution making Saturday the pay-day, and that it
would not recede from it, but was willing to allow two days in which to
make up the pay-roll, closing it on Thursday night. The report was
received, after which a motion was made to lay the report on the table,
but it was withdrawn.
William O'Brien said the demand for pay on Saturday, if acceded to,
would result in another demand for pay at noon on Saturday and give the
men the afternoon, and then the contractors would have "blue Monday" in
fact. He was in favor of acting like men and standing firmly by their
principles, and they would command the respect of everybody. [Applause.]
Mr. Charles W. Gindele said if the bricklayers had done the fair thing
they would have conferred with the contractors before passing the
resolutions, but they had made the demand arbitrarily. The community and
the material men were watching the action of the association, and were
ready to stand by it if it stood by its members. It was only a matter of
time until the strike would have to burst, and he was in favor of
bursting it then. If it was not done the community could not be expected
to stand by them. If all building was stopped there were enough vacant
buildings in the city to house everybody. [Applause.]
A motion to not concur in the report of the committee was unanimously
adopted, which was equivalent to a refusal to accede to the demands of
the bricklayers in regard to making Saturday the pay-day.
A resolution was then adopted refusing to comply with the demands of the
bricklayers in regard to Saturday as a pay-day, fixing Monday or Tuesday
of every other week as the day of payment, and agreeing to shut down all
work if the bricklayers should strike on account of this action. There
was but one opposing vote.
President Downey submitted an agreement which had already been signed by
a large majority of the members of the association. It embraced a
proposition to stand together upon the question of pay-day, and to all
stop work, if it should be necessary, in order to maintain their rights
against unjust exactions of the laboring men. After the agreement was
read an opportunity was given for members to sign it who had not done
so, and twenty names were added to the list. The association then voted
to approve the sentiments expressed in the agreement, the vote being
unanimous.
The Executive Committee submitted a report of the doings of its members
in regard to the labor troubles. It was as follows:
TO THE CHICAGO MASTER MASONS' ASSOCIATION--_Gentlemen_: Your
executive committee does respectfully report that a committee of
three, claiming to be appointed by and to represent the Amalgamated
Trades council, and to be clothed by it with power to settle the
existing laborers' strike, did call by appointment this morning at
the exchange and met us, together with a number of members of this
association whom we asked to join us for this particular purpose.
After quite a lengthy and exhaustive discussion of the situation
said committee of three insisted:
Firstly, on the establishment of a minimum rate of wages for all
masons' laborers at 231/2 cents per hour.
Secondly, one time and one-half to be granted for all work done
over and above eight hours per day, no matter during which hours
such work may be performed.
Thirdly, for double pay for Sunday work, and,
Lastly, on the recognition of their union.
The first three propositions are debatable and might have been
acceded to by your committee and this body, and if the fourth had
been understood to mean an acknowledgement of the fact that a union
of masons' laborers more or less numerous has been formed, and is
now in existence, your committee would have been ready to go to
that length. But the gentlemen wanted more--far more. They informed
us that a recognition of their union means that the members of this
association pledge themselves to employ henceforth none but
laborers belonging to their union, to grant to it the practical
control of the labor market, and to drive every laborer now
employed from our buildings, and in reality out of the city all who
have not now, or do not in near future, join the ranks of their
union. In other words, to make ourselves the whippers-in of said
union. It means that we sanction and support the aim and object of
said union, which is that none shall work in Chicago at their
calling except upon surrender of his manhood into its keeping and
at its beck and call. It means that we sanction the employment of
brute force to coerce men into their ranks. It means that we
sanction and approve of the outrages committed daily against men
now at work upon terms mutually satisfactory to themselves and
their employers.
We, the members of this association, must plead guilty, in common
with the entire community, to suffering the fundamental principles
underlying the very fabric of our government, and guaranteed by our
constitution--principles called inalienable rights of man--to be
overridden and practically abrogated by lawless bodies throughout
the land.
Thus far are we equally guilty with all other citizens in
neglecting our duty as such. To uphold this government and
constitution is the duty of all citizens. We are part of this
community, and comparatively a small fraction.
This community will awake from its lethargy and to its duty when
that time comes, and God speed the coming. The voice of this
association will give no uncertain sound. In the meantime, let us
never voluntary do or sanction wrong. We may suffer, but we can not
cope against it without the active support of the community. But
never let it be said that we approved of the methods employed
recently by trades-unions.
Your committee would not make you liable to such charge by its act,
and reports the whole matter to you for final action.
Respectfully.
JOSEPH DOWNEY,
H. MUELLER,
Executive Committee.
We, the undersigned members, who were present at the committee
meeting this morning do join in the report.
G. C. PRUSSING,
GEORGE TAPPER,
C. P. WAKEMAN.
The report was adopted by a rising vote, followed by prolonged applause.
President Downey stated that he had recently seen a great many of the
brick manufacturers and the officers of the stone pool in regard to
selling materials in case of a lockout, and they had assured him that
they would stand by the contractors in case of a general strike, and not
sell a dollars' worth of building material while the strike lasted.
The pulse of the manufacturers of and dealers in building materials was
felt, and it was ascertained that they fully realized they were standing
on a volcano that was likely to burst at any time and stop them. One of
them covered the case fully when he said they were practically dependent
upon the contractors, and if it became necessary for the Master Masons
to shut down, the brick manufacturers and stone men would support them
by shutting down their yards and stopping the manufacture of brick and
the production of building stone. They were on the eve of a strike among
their own employes, instances of discontent cropping out almost every
day, and if the producers of building materials should elect to stand by
the contractors he was satisfied the strike questions would not only be
settled for the season, but for all time.
The committee from the Amalgamated Building Trades Council, composed of
Messrs. Brennock, Carroll and McBrearty again met the executive
committee of the Master Masons' association and made its demand for the
Hodcarriers. The Master Masons were asked to recognize the union, pay 25
cents an hour and agree to employ none but union hodcarriers and
laborers. The executive committee of the Master Masons, composed of
Messrs. Downey, Courtney and Mueller, with Mr. Prussing added, told the
council committee that they would not accede to the demand. They
insisted that they could not pay 25 cents an hour to laborers, and under
no circumstances would they discharge the army of non-union laborers, as
it would be an injustice to poor men who were dependent upon their labor
for support. Mr. Courtney told them these men were not able, if
inclined, to join the union, and it would be almost inhuman to throw
them out of employment when they were faithful employes. Mr. Carroll
admitted that the Council was not ready to order the union laborers to
stop work, as there were too many non-union hodcarriers and laborers in
the city, and until these were brought into the union a general strike
would not accomplish what was wanted. He also remarked that the Council
had decided to call off all union men on jobs where non-union men were
employed, but he could not say whether it would carry out the
declaration. The hodcarriers had inaugurated the strike, and might
conclude to drop it until they were in better shape by having more
non-union men in their assemblies.