Thursday, May 19th, the conference of the Building Trades held a second
meeting, and the committee on platform submitted a report which was
discussed by the members and slightly amended. As adopted it was as
follows:
In order to carry into effect the platform adopted by us, your
committee recommend:
1. That from this time forth the signature to the following code of
principles by the employe be made a universal condition of
employment by all building interests of Chicago, viz:
I recognize the right of every man to decide for himself, without
dictation or interference, when he shall work or cease to work,
where he shall work, for whom he shall work, how many hours he
shall work, and for what wages he shall work.
I recognize the absolute right of the employer to decide for
himself, without interference from any source, whom he shall employ
or cease to employ; to regulate and manage his business with
perfect independence and freedom, provided, only, that he deal
lawfully, justly and honorable with all men.
I recognize the right of every father to have his son taught, and
of every son to learn, any lawful trade as on a plane with his
right to a knowledge of reading, writing, or any other branch of
learning, and should be subject to regulation only by the laws of
the land.
I hereby pledge myself, in all my relations and intercourse with my
employers and fellow-workmen, to maintain and live up to these
principles.
Your committee recommend, second, that the same code of principles
be presented for signature to every employer with the pledge
therein changed as follows:
I hereby pledge myself to maintain and live up to these principles
in the prosecution of my business, and to lend my aid to the full
extent of my influence and power for their maintenance and
protection among my fellow employers. I further pledge myself not
to employ any workmen except upon his signature of this code of
principles.
Your committee recommend, third, that this conference recommend to
our respective organizations to request of each of its members to
employ such workmen only who recognize the inalienable rights as
above set forth, and evidence their position by subscribing their
names thereto.
Your committee recommend, fourth, that public announcement be made
at once that business will be resumed on or before June 1, with
this code of principles as a basis.
Your committee recommend, fifth, that a standing committee of one
member from each of the building trades, Real-Estate Board, and the
Illinois State Association of Architects, to be known as the
central council of the building interests of Chicago be appointed,
whose duty it shall be to see to the carrying out of these
principles; that it shall have a sub-committee of safety, whose
province it shall be to see that ample protection to all is
afforded; with sub-committees on grievances, strikes, arbitrations,
and such as may be found necessary, but that it work always and
solely for the maintenance and protection of the principles herein
laid down.
Your committee recommend, sixth, that an address to the workingmen
of the building trades and to the general public be prepared,
setting forth your action and your reasons therefor; that fifty
thousand copies be printed and immediately distributed.
Your committee recommend, seventh, that the declaration of
principles be printed at once and circulated for signatures.
Your committee recommend, eighth, that a fund be created to defray
the expenses of this central council, and that we request each
association here represented to transmit to the order of George
Tapper, chairman, the sum of 25 cents for each of their members,
and that individual contributions of people interested in this work
be accepted.
The committee was instructed to have the report printed in six
different languages for general distribution.
A meeting of the Master Masons' association was held the same day at
which objections were made to that portion of the platform which require
the employe to _sign_ an agreement to abide by what had been laid down
as the principles of the employers. It was regarded as impracticable and
the association refused to approve it, deferring action until there was
a full meeting.
The Carpenters' and Builders' association met in the evening and
unanimously approved the platform presented by the Conference of
Builders, although some objection was offered to the clause requiring
the employe to sign his name.