Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-16
INCONVENIENCE HELD.
Contractors Agree to an Informal
Meeting With Their Men.
NO CONCESSIONS WERE MADE
Master Builders May Reappoint Their Com
mittee Next Week.
A DAYS GRIST FROM LABOR CIRCLES

| because we eApeCI W dCCOmpllSn anything,
but because they asked it," was the state
ment of a member of the Master Builders
Association, yesterday morning The same
gentleman said they could not make any
concessions, either on the question of hours
or wages, because to do so would be to stul-
tify themselves before the public.
No conference was really held. A COM
mittee of five carpenters, headed by Robert
Addy, went to the Builders Exchange at 2
o'clock in the afternoon. They were ush-
cred into "star chamber" of the Exchange,
into the presence of President Fulmer, Vice
President Powell, Secretary Hamilton and
stenographer. When they went in their
faces beamed with expectancy. Everyone
hoped that the first step toward settle
ment of the trouble that has lasted two full
weeks was about to be taken.
The meeting lasted about ten minutes.
The contractors explained that they had no
power to act, while the carpenters reported
that they had been sent by their organiza-
tion vested with all the authority necessary
to bring about peaceful and amicable set
tlement. The contractors argued that they
had placed themselves on record as being
unable to grant the demands, and if they
conceded the public would ask why they did
not do so before.
One of the carpenters suggested that the
contractors were not increasing public
sympathy for themselves very rapidly by
confessing that they went into the confer
ence for appearance sake only.
A Short Horse Soon Curried.
The conference, if such it was, ended on
rule No. of the Master Builders list, and
the following is as near verbatim report of
the meeting as could be obtained:
President Fulmer, Reading rule No. ~
"Nine hours shall constitute days work"
Gentlemen, are you willing to accept that?
Carpenters Committee, in chorus-Oh,
no.
Adjourned.
The committee then left the building and
reported to their Strike Committee that
they were unable to deal satisfactorily with
the contractors. 1t was then decided that
if the employers are to remain obstinate in
the matter and refuse to do their part to-
ward bringing about settlement, the
advice of Secretary Mcclure will be fol-
lowed and an effort will be made.to get the
better class of workmen to leave the city.
An effort was made to see the officials of
the Master Builders, but all reporters were
told that the Board of Directors had voted
to debar the representatives of the press
from admission to their rooms. The report
ers tried to argue with President Barnes
that the public was interested in knowing
the true situation, and that it could only be
secured officially at their headquarters. Mr..
Barnes saddled the responsibility onto the
directors.
Secretary Eiler, of the Planning Mill As
sociation, said last night that the planning
mill owners had decided to notify their men
to come to work Monday morning, and that
he expected at least 400 men to report for
duty, the majority of whom would be union
men.
ins Strike Benefits to BE Paid To-Day.
Local Union 23O met last night and voted
to sustain the strike by ordering warrants
for benefits for each member to be paid to-
day. 1t is understood that all the unions will
pay from their own treasures to-day.
Some will then be bankrupt, while few
can stand a second payment, and one or two
a third.
Members of the Builders Exchange state
that thorough investigation has been made
of the reports to the effect that material men
are selling lulHucI, diiu tlidb lue IuuOIS nave
been proven utterly false
Mr.. Swartz heard nothing new in the
situation yesterday. He denied, however,
that the men would agree to compromise
on 81 hours. The truth is either side
would give in to-day and settle the matter,
but they are afraid to do so. They are
afraid of their own people and the criticisms
of the public The longer the strike con-
tinues the worse it becomes. Trade in gen.
eral is feeling the restraint. Business has
been hurt, and the merchants join the citi-
zens in wishing that the parties interested
would come together and adjust the dispute.
Nineteen of the % master builders of
McKeesport have formed an association
and will form an exchange. The officers
elected by the new combine are Daniel
Stratton, President; Joseph Morgan, Vice
President; John A. Wood, Secretary, and
f. A. Richards, Treasurer. The body in
dorsed the stand taken by the Pittsburg
master builders in regard to the strike.
1t was stated last night by Vice President
Powell, of the Master Builders Association,
that an authorized conference would likely
be arranged for at the next meeting of the
which will be next Thursday
night.