Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-12
THE sTONECUTrERs' STRIKE.
No Change I'm the Situation-what q Mem
ber of the Union Saws.

No Change in the Situation-what q Mem
ber of the Union Says.
There is no special change in the situation as
to the stonecutters strike. 1t is said on the
part Of the bosses that new men will be OBJ
tanned and some are already here. The mem
bers Of :he union are Of the opinion that the
bosses will not find it SO easy to get
new men they seem to think. As one Of
them said this morning to a STAR reporter: "A
stonecutter is a rich mans luxury for the rea-
son that cut stone is a luxury. Stonecut-
tiers are only found in great centers
where this kind of work is DONE and their
numbers are not large. Even Vanderbilt. with
all his wealth. was not able to get men to take
the places Of the stonecutters at work on his
house in Asheville, NC. They are not to be
picked up anywhere.
Now. in regard to the present difficulty. As
has been stated. it has been brewing for two
years past. There is an agreement in existence
between the bosses. the stonecutters and the
brick masons. and in this strike the cutters
irving to live up TO this agreement.
In the first place, we had an agreement with the
bosses which was one of mutual benefit. Their
business was injured by having stone cut away
from this city. so we told them that as
stonecutters We would not handle such stone
On the other hand. they agreed to employ
stonecutters TO set the stone which the latter
cut. Then the question in regard to the stone
masons arose and we agreed that the stone
masons should be allowed to set all stone
except such as was laid in parallel
lines, called by some ashlar. The broken
range stone was to be set by, the masons, and we
further agreed that in cases where no
cutters could be obtained we were
willing that stone masons should set
any kind of stone work. The bricklavers
were aware of this agreement Affairs went
along for some time. but gradually stone
masons began to encroach upon the terms of
the agreement, so that it has been repeatedly
violated. We thought that it was time to take
a stand and this we have done, and we expect
to win, because We think we are right
TALK WITH MASTER sroNEcUrrER-
Referring to the claim of the local union that
he master stonecutters would be unable to OBJ
tain capable men to take their places an
officer of the Master Stonecutters' Association
stated to a STAR reporter today that they
would experience not the slightest diff
Guilty In getting as many and as
capable men they desired.
He said that arrangements had already been
completed as to the matter, and that the men
would arrive here as fast as they might be
needed. He did not deny the
sertion made by the journeymen that the local
union was composed of the most capable men
here. but said that enough competent
men were idle throughout the country
and were not only willing but anxious to come
on and take the places of the strikers here. He
said that the master stonecuters felt not the least
apprehension as to the final outcome of the
strike. and that while they regretted it, and
would prefer to continue the employ
ment of their old hands. they would
go on as they had determined to do. The dura-
tion of the strike, foolishly precipitated. he ex
planned, would depend alone upon the
local men, and if they complained of the
employment of outside men, the District men
would have only themselves to blame If they
found in the end that they lost employment
which they had enjoyed for years.