Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-08
LABOR ROW OVER MCKINLEY
Admission to Stone Mason's Union Causes a
Disturbance.
as to the Corner Stone of
Government Building In
Il "a Chicago.

A special to the New York World from
Chicago yesterday says: President McK.n-
ley has become a union stone mason with
out application. and big row in labor
ranks Is one of the consequences.
That he might take part in the corner
stone ceremonies of the new Federal build
ing without violating labor union rules was
the motive Of Chicago Bricklayers and
Stonemasons' Union, No. q. in making
him member Now it is claimed that the
corner stone itself is not of union cut.
Architect Cobb said today that the stone
was cut by union men at the Hallowell
granite quarries in Maine, but the Building
Trades Council still insist that it was cut
by non-union men.
Tomorrow night at the meeting of the
Building Trades Council the bricklayers
will be called upon to explain why they
issued honorary membership card to
President Mckinley.
Members of the council say the political
effect Of the issuance of the card will be
tremendous. and that the bricklayers
should have thought twice before they took
such important action. The councihnen
are especially excited over the fact that
the card was issued while the fight was
being made for recognition of the Stone
cutters Union on the federal work. Those
who are opposed to the action Of the brick
layers say they have no doubt a facsimile
VI Tue cdru, winch pears the ouclal stamp
Of the Building Trades Council on It's re-
verse side, will cut an important figure in
the next presidential campaign.
The committee of the Building Trades
Council which has been endeavoring to
bring about an agreement to have the
stone for the new building cut by union
men will attend a meeting tomorrow be-
tween Chairman Gordon of the federal
committee and the finance committee of
the fall festival committee. The union
men will lay their grievance before the
meeting and make the positive statement
that ue-up Of the work will follow the
introduction OF a non-union-cut stone.
Secretary John j. Ryan Of the Building
Trades Council committee visited the site
of the building today and discovered that
the so-called non-union stone was already
on the ground.
President Sullivan of the Stonec,1tters'
Union said tonight:
In compliance with the rules of the
union, the President must refuse to do any
stone work on the federal building unless
the stone contractors sign written agree
ment to use only union-cut stone through
out the job
IF the President disregards the rules of
the union by setting a corner stone in a
non-unlon building, we will have TO 'scab'
him. We know that the proposed corner
stone Is cut. 1t was cut more than a year
ago. 1t was the first stone cut for the fed
eral building, and it was cut by non-union
men,
j. j. Ryan of the committee said that
even If President Mckinley should sacrifice
his standing in the union and set a nom
union corner stone, the stone would have
10 De torn out before union workmen would
complete the building.
Five million cards are being printed to
circulate over the entire country request
ing union men to boycott the fall festival
Il the hon-unlon corner stone Is laid.