| Show AKBITHATION AND REASON Mr GEORGE R CCSTHXG president of the bricklayers and masons union in a statement state-ment called out by the publication of a I rumor that his organization would co out on strike denies that there is any such intention in-tention on the part of the union Among other things tho gentleman says We are not a striking organization we arbitrate our differences and we always > succeed infixing in-fixing matters satisfactorily We have never had a strike When we asked for a reduction of hours of labor we gave contractors con-tractors six months notice and will give the same time in case of other demands and shall endeavor to keep the good will of the public and the record we have made of being the most conservative union in the city adhering strictly to the principles of justico and equality between employer and and employee These sentiments indicate that Mr Cusn ixa is tho right man in the right place His words breathe that spirit of conservatism and that sense of justice which should always actuate labor unions and employer We arbitrate our differences and we always succeed in fixing matters satisfac I factorily 11 There have always been differences differ-ences between employers and employees and it may be doubted that there will ever be harmony between them for long periods Capital is grasping grinding and more or less oppressive and labor isjealous These conditions seem to bo natural and essential essen-tial But there is a sense of justice and of right in all classes Neither tho wealthy nor tho poor are inherently and determinedly deter-minedly unreasonable Taat disagreements disagree-ments so often occur is duo to tho fact that the reason in men is not appealed to their passions being the governing power There is not enough reliance upon arbitration One makes a demand which may bb just and the other declines to accede without considering the righteousness of tho request The result is injurious to all concerned whereas if disinterested parties had been called in to hear the cause of the dispute > 4 y in their coolness of judgment they would have rendered a decision that would be helpful help-ful satisfactory and just to the disputants The sense of justice in the average workingman work-ingman is so keen that if it be appealed to in the proper manner and right spirit he will not often go wrong to the injury of his I employer nor do we believe that those who employ men take delight in being harsh oppressive and unreasonable If arbitration ar-bitration were resorted to more frequently there would bo fewer strikes fewer lockouts lock-outs and capital and labor would both be the gainers They are essential to each other neither can get along without the other and when they are fighting both suffer The course of the bricklayers in the matter mat-ter of giving ample notice to employers of any change in wages or rules is also to bo commended It is in the power at times of workingmen to simply ruin contractors whose estimates are based on the price of labor and material at the time they bid for work At other times when there isa surplus of labor employers have it in their power t9 coerce good men and inflict a great wrong It would be no moro unjust or cruel for men to take advantage of the scarcity of labor to demand and enforce higher wages than for a contractor to cut down the pay ofhis men when the labor supply is in excess of the demand Both I would be wrong and both would be pro vented if wise arbitrators were called In and the justice that is in men rathnr than their baser passions were appealed to THE HEKALD commends the bricklayers brick-layers for the fairness of their position as defined by their president The platform plat-form is one upon which employers and employees em-ployees who aro disposed to bo reasonable and just should bo able to stand without crowding each other |
