New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-03
FIRM AS THEIR BRICK.
MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT YIELD.

DEALERS AND BUILDERS FRETTING UNDER THE
PINCIf-IIopING FOR AN ALLIANCE.
The attendance at the Building Material Ex-
shange yesterday wus unusually large for though it
was not expected that much business would be
done-and indeed no deals for building material
worthy of mention took piace-there was an impress
sion abroad that the dealers in the city would unite
with the brick manufacturers in their attempt
to boycott the New-York and Brooklyn markets.
When the walking delegates bOycOtted the Ver-
plauck's Point yards the dealers showed no in
clnation to succor the distressed manufacturers
and refused outright to handle their brick. but
the present boycott established by the Manu-
facturers Association is working such ruinous
havoc with the dealers business that it is only
q matter Of days when they will he forced to join
forces with the manufacturers shut up their
yards
By aking sides with the manu- facturers at once,
it is said the baleful effect of the boycott would
be felt Immediately by the trades unions, and the
arbitrary policy Of the walking delegates would
become unpopular that the boycott against tile
Verplanck's Point yards would be raised IL Is
felt by dealers and builders in the city that Il
delay in bringing the present trouble to close
will prevent the manufacturers from storing their
fall brick for the winter and spring ira e. which
must necessarily check building operations, raise
the price of brick and force buyers TO all tie III
convenience of establishing business relations
with a multitude of little yards throughout tie
country If, however, the dealers would release
the manufacturers from their present contractS,
thus stopping all supply Of brick TO the city. the
blow would fall directly upon the shoulders OF
labor and indirectly upon the delegates. recon-
irht no forced and n calamity
avcrted.
The dealers at their meeting yesterday seemed
10 divide themselves into two factions The one
feeling assured of the stability of the Manu-
factucrs' Association and it's ability to cripple
seriously if not indeed stop all building opera
tions in the city, disposed to throw its ill.,
Auence on the side OF the manufacturers while
the other, cherishing hopes that the brickmakcrs
would not hold together if the market were kept
alive for another week or ten days with sucker
and contract brick, were for keeping the manu-
facturers to their contracts, and INDUCED in en-
aggerated stories of the supply of brick that
could be had outside Of the association. The
general manner of the dealers yesterday was from
q manufacturers point of view promising For
the first time since the brick trouble began they
seemed to realize that they had to work ont their
own salvation. Men who have been strutting
about the floor of the Exchange for the last
week with their hands tucked easily under their
coat-tails and an assumed look Of pleased in
difference on their faces could be seen gathering
into knots gesticulating earnestly, and not afraid
to own that they were falling little short in
their deliveries. A leading manufacturer was
watching the scene with Tribune reporter.
what do you think they will do to-day, asked
the reporter; decide to help you?"
Decide, no. 1t will take from four to ten
days for them to do that. There are some few Of
them who are in sympathy with us out of prin
ciple, but the rest must be approached through
their pockets. They are losing money now. and
will find their business practically stopped in n
few days. with the prospect before them Of q
crippled winter and spring trade. AS soon as
they see that we are not to be discouraged they
will join in self-defence. and the matter will
be settled, l believe, without difficulty. The
dealers are really more in our way than the dele
gates. They are the men who give the delegates
strength. When the brick handlers refused to
receive any Association brick few days ago, and
the dealers discovered that their usual trucking
and servile methods Of meeting the demands Of
the union men Of to avail to CHARM the
mighty dollar into their pockets, thcy turned about
at once, and began to look about for non-union
uen to fill their yards with tie result of frghten
obnoxious measure had been in existence one day.
These dealers, with their carters and handlers, are
the obstruction in the way Once get the boy
cotted brick tn the buildings and the difficulty
Is settled in my mind. The bricklayers
anxious 10 lay it, and week of idleness will
completely cure the carpenters. Most Of tho
trades unions out Of sympathy with Tie present
conduct of the walking delegates though they
would like to see them win this fight if it could
be done without throwing so many men out of
employment
The builders will hold meeting today, but it
is not thought that their policy in the affair will
H. changed at all. The builders have contracts
with their men binding them not 70 strike on ;u-
count of any outside trouble among the labor
unions. The builders also bound to certain
stipulations in these contracts, and say at the
agreement has been honorably cairiel out Oh 10th
sides for the last four years. A prominent builder
said Yesterday that he thought if the boycot,ed
brick was delivered TO them by the dealers the
deadlock would be broken.
Il feel sure" he continued, "thut the labor
ing men in the city won't strike for such an ab-
surd reason. The victory, suppOsiD9 it W re won,
would be too dearly bought. Think ot it, lOO,-
900 fnen out OF employment because. Tie brick
manufacturers won, discharge all their nonunion
men and fill their places with knights OF Labor
be scenes 1t the bIickyards IN the city ycstfr-
day were not SO animated as usual. II said
that the supply Of brick had fallen of TO the
extent Of 800, ,OQh day Only five brc!, bargcs
we're reported as arriving yesterday. Three Of
these contained contract brick and the other Two
Were from sucker y;rdk
he manufacturers pointing with triumph to
me action Of the delegates In accepting the brick
from the boycotted yards hat was delivered
ABOUT week ago " the firm Of Char les X. Weeks
!S Brothers, dealers doing business in Bridgc-st
Brooklyn. Their whole policy. they say, seeins to
he a care Of bluff" Whenever O stlnd 10 made
against them and some Of their men threatened
with loss of labor, they yield and come u terms,
The reason assigned by the handlers and cart:rs
for accepting the Verplanck's Point brick in this
case is that the walking delegates neglected to
notify the dealers that il was not To hc received.
Isaac A. Iloagland, buying agent for Canda H.
Kane. returned from his trip TO Boston ycstcr.
letters which he haG received from small brick
manufacturers in New-IondOn, Conn, Fisher
Island, New-Jersey. Long Island and other PLACES.
Offering brick at reasonable rates. Mr.. Hoagand