30,000 locked out : $b the great strike of the building trades in Chicago
John Locke · en
The exact circumstances that have brought about the present
blockade of business in Chicago may not be absolutely identical
with the issues that have caused similar disturbances in other
cities, and they may not be exactly reproduced in the future in any
other locality; but the root from which they spring has been
planted everywhere, and while the plant may be good and worthy, it
is a matter of the greatest concern to all that the growth from it
be carefully watched and held in check, lest it assume such rank
and oppressive proportions that other interests, equally valuable
and necessary, be overgrown and choked. It is sometimes necessary
to prune a vine of rank and unhealthy growth, in order that it may
bear good fruit. We apprehend that the experience of the builders
of Chicago in this crisis will be of great importance to builders
in other cities, and we hope to utilize their experience in such a
way that general business interests will be better protected and
preserved in the future, the proper purposes, opportunities and
interests of organizations of workmen maintained and encouraged,
and that the individual workman himself, whether he be connected
with organizations or independent of them, may be placed in a
position where he may exercise unquestioned his rights as an
American citizen.
In this endeavor we ask the co-operation of all business men,
particularly those whose affairs bring them into direct contact
with the difficult and perplexing questions incident to the
employment of labor, and the community generally, for the public as
a whole has an immense stake in this question of individual
liberty. We have endeavored to make our inquiries in a
disinterested spirit, and, in pursuance of this purpose, have given
hearings to the employing builders, the Bricklayers' Union,
non-union workmen, manufacturers, merchants, bankers, architects
and business men generally, believing that we could only consider
the question fairly by listening to all sides and opinions.
The result of our investigation leads us to report as follows: