Applications for the small stipend promised by the Union to men out of
employment grew to be more frequent. The demands were not met with the
promptitude which the idle men thought should characterize the occasion,
and some of them became loud and emphatic in their protestations against
what they said was unfair treatment. They became so earnest in their
expressions that they were called to one side and cautioned to not be so
bold as to give the Union away. Many of them heeded the caution for the
time being, but as they filed out of the office they were very angry
because they got no money, claiming that they were needy and had as much
right to assistance as anybody. One of them boldly and rather roughly
asserted that "the whole thing was bursted," and the managers were
"making a play to keep the men together," but he thought it would play
out in a few days.
One of them who was well posted on some historical facts, made the
following statement: "In 1883, at the time of the strike, the
Bricklayers of Chicago got $13,000 from the International union in aid
of the strikers. During the same year the Chicago union was assessed
$4,600 to assist the strikers in Pittsburgh, but the assessment was
never paid. The union then withdrew from the International union and
became an independent organization. The cash in the treasury of the
union has been exhausted, and if the lot is sold there will not be
enough money to pay up the claims for relief to date. The International
union has refused financial aid to the Chicago union until the
Pittsburgh assessment is paid, and all other assessments made since
then, amounting to about $17,000. President Darrow, of the International
union, has written a letter to the Chicago union notifying the officers
that if they will join the International union again and agree to make
good all back assessments, he will send the Chicago union $5,000. If
they do not accept this proposition and join now he will establish a
branch of the International union in Chicago as soon as the present
strike is over, if not sooner. The Chicago union will not accept the
offer, and where is it to get assistance from? If it kept faith with the
idle men it would require $10,000 a week to sustain itself. Under such
pressure the union can not be expected to hold out very long."