Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-27
ONE CRAFT GIVES IN.
Building Trades Strike Weakened
by Men Returning to Work.
AGENT JONES is STILL HOPEFUL.
The Amalgamated Association Elects officers
and AdjournS.
JAIL GLASS HOUSES SHUT DOWN TODAY


weakened yesterday by stonemasons return
ing to work. The men had been out fol
nine weeks, and 700 nfen had been without
work Many of them had been driven to des-
peration by reason of the fact that they had
no funds in the treasury to support them
while out. They were locked out on April
26, and they then decided to demand eight
hours and 45 cents an hour, but at least LIS
men returned to work yesterday at nine
hours and 40 cents an hour.
Over 100 of those who returned to work
are accounted for as follows: Buente & Mar
tin, 20; William Whitehead, IL; Valentine
fiji Berg, Is; Reese Lindsay, 9; Graf & Hem
merbrush, Z; II. Moore, 8; Stewart, 10;
Lauf1er, 4; Kepple, 10; O'Connor & Collins,
8; III. Woessner, 3.
1t is admitted on all sides that the defeat
of the stonemasons will go hard with the
other trades, and as they are now working
under the rules of the master stonemasons,
it will give their own union setback.
Ex-Agent Irwin Explains His Stand.
Ex-Agent Irwin, of the carpenters, when
seen yesterday said: 81 stood up in various
unions and endeavored to counsel the boys
to give up the fight. 1 knew at the time it
But 1 knew I was doing the
the best for the organization. I knew they
were making losing fight. The present
leaders know it, but they do not want to
acknowledge defeat. That's where they
make mistake. A good general would not
drag an army of men through losing battle
and not give up when he saw he could not
win. 1t is no dishonor to be defeated, and
if the men had given up when they should
have done so they would have saved their
money for more opportune time"
Mr.. Irwin clings to the position he took
when he was impeached. He will be tried
tonight by his union in the East End, for a
violation of his obligation, but he has little
fear that the result will not be favorable
to him.
The Master Builders More Confident.
President Fulmer of the Master Builders
Association, talked yesterday as though he
thought the stonemasons' defeat would
mean the overthrow of the carpenters.
'They can't win now," said he; although
don't believe the strike will ever be de-
slared of. 1t is settling itself, and
while 1 do not suppose much will be
done before the Fourth of July, 1
think that by the Monday following
all the men who can find work will be on
duty. AS for myself, have no contracts on
hands. have here (holding up plans for
building) the first set of plans have fig
ured on since the strike commenced. They
are for house that will cost about 81 400.
I feel safe in figuring on it, because if I get
the job I know can get the men to do the
work"
The Board of Directors of the Builders
Exchange met yesterday and passed reso-
luton practically resembling their former
action, which required a permit for every
sale of material, and affords opportunity to
its members to sell to whoever they please.
The business ofthe Union Supply Com
pany is said to be increasing so rapidly that
new quarters were necessary. Office room
has been secured in the Excelsior building.
Yesterday number of additional journey
men left their names at the headquarters
with the statement that they were ready to
60 into the contracting business.
All the special agents claimed yesterday
that the stonemasons' defeat would have no
effect on the carpenters strike and that mat
ters are yet in good shape.
Meetings of Various Unions.
A special meeting of the Plasterers' union
will be held to-day at 10 o'clock, and it is
intimated that they will be the next to con-
test the position of the bosses.
Bricklayers' Union No met last night,
and discussed the situatio The brick
layers at Wheeling have taken up the fight,
the local journeymen.
Special Agent Jones, of the stonemasons,
when seen last night. said he did not con-
slider their fight hopeless one. He insisted
that it had been misrepresented in some re-
spects. He asserted that his union had
So, 500 in bank, so that the strike could not
have failed for want of funds. In regard
to the number of men each firm was
reported as having, he said that Buente &
Martin have no men at work; William
Whitehead S,instead of12; Valentine &Berg
9, and not 10 as reported; Reese Lindsay 4,
instead of 9, and other firms have few
scattered employees. He thinks the
union has not lost more than 30 men, and
most of those who went to work are Italians
and non-union men.
Union 230 appointed committee last
night for the purpose of trying the charges
against E. A. Holmes. The same union will
find it necessary to bring charges against
their secretary. A. G. c. Rhodes was en-
ployed at Schuette & Co. IS, but when he
made up his mind to 60 to work again they
had no place for him. He is now working
for A. & S. Wilson.