Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-15
TALK OF ILIEGALITY.
Fear That Carpenters and Contractors
Are Liable for Conspiracy.
CONFERENCE CALLED FOR TODAY.
Master Plumbers Suddenly Abolish Their
Apprentice Rules. +
MORE MONEY FOR THE COKE STRIKERS

A new feature cropped out in the building
trades strike yesterday. The rumor was
circulated among the men a few days age
that the eyes of the strike leaders were cen
tered,upon the material men, with view to
catching them upon charge of conspiracy
if it could be proven that they refused to
furnish material to legitimate contractors
There has been considerable talk on both
sides ever since the strike commenced to the
effect that the Builders Exchange and the
Building Trades Council, by reason of reso-
lutions passed in both organizations, had
committed unlawful acts, and the penalties
they had fixed for the violation of the same
could not be collected.
President Fulmer, of the Master Builders
Association when seen by DISPATCH re-
porter, excused his organization for its &C
| tion, by claiming that the workmen were
equally guilty, if conspiracy it was, for
keeping the apprentices from working when
they they were willing to proceed. NJ. F..
Frank also thought it was unjust and stated
that he intended to notify his apprentices
| to-day to come to work, and if they did not
do SO they might consider themselves re-
lieved. For the purpose of throwing legal
| light on the subject an interview was sought
| yesterday with r. B. Ivory, of the we'll
known law firm of Hunter, Ivory & Beatty.
| Mr.. Ivory said:
A Legal Opinion as to Conspiracy.
'Tf understand your questions, they are:
First, Is it conspiracy for the members of
the Builders Exchange to enter into q COM
pact not to deal with or sell goods to any one
who grants the demands of the carpenters
for eight hours, whether he be q member of
the exchange or not? Second, Is 1t conspir-
acy for the members of the different me-
rlOnleS' ff.Qdaa enter into COM
pact to refuse to work with non union me-
chanics or with union mechanics who work
nine hours?
"You should remember that these ques-
tions can hardly be answered intelligently
without a very thorough examination OF the
authorities. Without such an examination
my impression would be that these compacts
are clearly in restraint of trade, and there
fore illegal. They could not be enforced;
nor could penalty for breach be collected
penalty should be paid by any one who
failed to live up to such a contract.
Conspiracy is the agreement of two or
more persons to do an unlawful act, or to do
lawful act by unlawful means, whether the
act is committed or not. 1t has been decided
in Pennsylvania that all contracts in re-
straint of trade are unlawful and void.
at would seem at first blush that this
would settle the question. But there are
other phases of the matter that would have
a great deal to do in deciding the point. If
these compacts were mad made voluntarily aSa . and
tered into for any dishonest purpose or with
dishonest motives, would think they would
amount to conspiracy.
III, on the other hand, such compact was
made for self protection and not for the pur-
pose of self gain, and entirely without NAL
ice, the matter would present quite differ
ent aspect. am free to say, however, that
were the counsel for any such association
/ would not advise them to enter into such a
compact without first making thorough eX-
animation of the matter, for fear that the
members might be liable under an md1ct-
ment for conspiracy"
Carpenters and Contractors to Confer.
A conference will take place at 2 o'clock
this afternoon between the journeymen car
penters and contractors. As the latter have
been given no power to act, the only condi-
tion under which settlement can be reached
will be for the men to concede their demands
for eight hours, thing they are not likely to
do, and of course the conference Will not
The journeymen plumbers met last night
and received the following communication |
from the bosses:
PTrTsBURG. May IA.
To Local Union No. q:
GENTLEMEN-Ata meeting of the Master Plumb |
ers' Association of Pittsburg and vicinity, held |
Wednesday evening, May 13, the rules heretofore |
existing between the Master Plumbers Association
and the Journeymen's Association, known as the |
rules, were declared void Very truly |
yours, GEORGE SANDS,
Secretary. |
The journeymen feel they have been dealt |
with unjustly and refused to recognize the |
communication. The press committee gave |
out the following statement after the meet |
ing adjourned: "On March II last, our ap- |
prentice rules we're adopted, in accordance |
with a recommendation by the Master |
Plumbers National Convention at Denver. |
They were printed and posted in all shops. |
Now, one of the parties to the agreement at
tempts to break off the negotiations, a thing |
which we consider is very Unjust to u.s."
The apprentice rules referred to required |
the boys to work five years before being |
classed as jouTneymen, and the men claim |
their rules were adopted for the benefit of |
the bosses.
The strike at the Government building was |
ended yesterday by the discharge of the OBJ
jectionable carpenter.
Agent Beck stated last night he had made
to furnish slate roofers'
for any eight-hour contractors,
and any quantity can be secured by apply |
ing to his headquarters, 5S7 Smithfe1d |
street.
Samuel Gompers returned to New York
last night. He said circulars would be is
sued at once to the various trades to ascer-
tain which of them shall be next in line for
eight hours, instead of the miners. He is
confident that the eight-hour strike here
will be successful.