Saturday, June 4th, the Illinois State Association of Architects met. In
calling the meeting to order President D. Adler read a letter from the
executive committee of the Builders' and Traders' exchange thanking the
Association for the stand it had taken upon the labor troubles. He said
that those present knew the demoralized condition of the building trades
and the low character that they were drifting to in regard to the
workmanship of mechanics engaged therein. It was becoming almost
impossible to replace good men, because the trades-unions arbitrarily
prevented the education of a sufficient number of apprentices to replace
the good and competent mechanics, who appeared to be rapidly dying out.
The difficulty was staring them in the face that soon they would not be
able to secure competent mechanical skill at all. It was the architects'
duty to assert the right of every American citizen to work at any trade
he pleased, without interference from the walking delegate. It was the
architects' duty to assist every young man who desired to learn a trade.
There was more at stake in the contest than their own immediate interest
as architects--more than the mere stoppage of work. The architects
should strengthen the hands of those who were battling for the freedom
of American citizens.
Mr. John W. Root offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
_Resolved_, That the Illinois State Association of Architects
heartily indorse the general principles set forth in the recently
published "platform and code of principles" adopted by the
Builders' association and the Real Estate board of Chicago, and
that we will use our utmost endeavors to see that these principles
prevail in all building operations in Chicago.