Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-03
Carpenters Decline to Wait Longer
for an Official Settlement of
Their Difficulty.
ANOTHER CONFERENCE FAILS,
A Special Meeting Called to Determine,
Whether the Struggle Shall
Continue or Not.
STEEL WORKERS AT DUQUESNEsSTRIKE.
Painters SQuabble That May Cause Division
in the District

While the carpenters strike has not been
officially declared off, many of the men
went back to work yesterday. 1t is now
expected that by Monday all who
can get work will be on duty.
Yesterdays DISPATCH stated that ''the
contractors were liable to force q complete
surrender of the union rules and an accept
ance of their own as originally presented. -
'That is just what they did" said Mr..
Adams, OF the Conference Committee, yes
terday, after the meeting with the bosses.
'And it was the. only thing that prevented
q settlement of the difficulty to-day"
1t was fully expected that the strike
would be settled, and in point of fact so far
as the rank and file of the carpenters are
concerned, it is settled, but the conference
yesterday accomplished nothing. A hitch
occurred over the Saturday half-holiday
scheme that will require two or three days
to adjust
The Rock Upon Which They Split.
As stated in THE DISPATCH yesterday,
the rules of both sides were thrown away
and the Conference Committee endeavored
to prepare a new list agreeable to both
sides. Two stenographers were pres
ent to record the proceedings for
future reference. The matter of Saturday
half-holiday was the point upon which
a discussion arose that lasted until
noon, when the conference adjourned with
out coming to an agreement. The men
said they were willing to work nine hours
provided they got the half-hohday, and
even went so far as to say they were
willing to lose that time. The bosses
were in favor of granting the holiday in
case all the crafts got the benefit of it, but
they declined to allow the carpenters to
quit work if the other trades were willing
TO work full time. This was the situation
when the conference adjourned.
Determined Never to Give In.
Mr.. Hamilton was seen Yesterday after
noon. He did not think the Saturday half
holiday would be adopted, as the painters
and some other trades are opposed to il. He
was very positive in his remarks that
the Builders Association had adopted a.
code of rules in the beginning that il would
stick TO until the matter is settled. The
bosses want 81 hours for weeks work and
they will insist upon that or nothing.
The Strike Committee went into session at
O'Clock in the afternoon and the meeting
lasted until nearly O'Clock. The Confer
ence Committee reported the result of their
cussed at length and it was finally decided
TO call special meeting of the Dis
trict Council to-day when final
action as to whether or not the strike should
be continued will be taken. There Is little
doubt as to the result of this meeting. The
men see the f1rmness with which all their
propositions are rejected by the bosses, and
even the most radical leaders are beginning
to realize that it is useless to lose any more
time money in fighting the case.
Agent Swartz was seen last evening. He
NfFRif 10 hat
outcome of to-day's meeting will be. "1
prefer to let the men decide for themselves"
said he. land tnat is what this meeting has
been called for, The Conference Committee
will in all probability make O recommenda-
the latter body can then do as they please
BittJr Against the Bosses.
Mr.. Adams, ofthe Conference Committee,
refused to say what he thought would be
done. He wa inclin ed to be critical toward
the master builders saying The men had
made the fairest propo1it,pos to bring about
ignored the concessions of the men but re-
fused to make any themselves.
The general impression created by conver-
sation with the men is that the strike is set
tied virtually. and that she carpenters will
all be at work next Monday. Local Union
go meets tonight, and it is expected a vote
will be taken to return TO work. The trial
of Z. A. Holmes will also take place at this
union.
1t leaked out yesterday that none of
the fines imposed upon the men
who have broken away from the unions1 are
being collected The men have taken the
stand that the fines cannot be imposed, and
they do not propose TO pay them
The bricklayers will meet in their hall, II
Fifth avenue, tonight to discuss their diff
entity Tr Is a SDacial meefiOo and will be