The sun., 1900-06-28
END OF STRIKE NEAR.
Action Taken by Bricklayers' Union
In Chicago.
HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE.
Began In October Inst Year, and
Fifty Thousand Men Are Said
to Have Been Idle
Since Then.

Chicago, June 27.-The Brickiayers'
union has withdrawn from the Building
Trades Council. 1t is said this marks
the practical ending of the strike that
has been in progress for months tying up
building operations in Chicago. 1t lasted
from October, 1890, until June, 1900, in
volving loss in wages to laborers in
and within radius of 100 miles of Chi
cago of over S150,000 day. About So
900 men are said to have been idle most
of the time.
Not since the great railroad strike of
lS94 has there been strike in this coun-
try which approached the proportions of
that among the building trades in Chica-
go. 1t began practically Oct. /, 1899.
but for more than a year prior buildings
had been constructed under unsatisfac-
tory conditions and at cost vastly
higher than was warranted
The building trades unions have had in
Chicago for a number Of years central
body known as the Building Trades
Council. Each union is represented ty
delegates, the number depending upon its
numerical strength. The business agents,
or. as better known, the walking dele
gates" together with the presidents of
the local bodies, are the representatives
Of the council. The formation of this
latter body was originally intended to
assist IN the enforcement of the working
agreements entered into between the affil-
lated unions and the unions of the con-
tractors by whom the men are employed.
The council has supreme power over all
the unions represented in it. 1t passes
on all agreements entered into by employ
er and employee, and while it confined
its work to the simple protection of its
members the contractors found no fault
with it. New demands, however, were
constantly made upon the contractors
and granted until, it is said, investors no
longer felt that they could afford to
build.
Eject of Strike Widespread.
The effect of the strike was wide
spread. nearly all classes of business
being injured by it.
The breach became so wide between
the contractors and their men that there
seemed to be no way to bring them to-
gether. But finally, through the efforts
of Martin B. Madden, the Building
Trades Council appointed committee
of 81, one from each trade, to meet him.
He outlined a plan of arbitration which
has since become known as the Madden
plan" and which was adopted as the
proper method of settling difficulties of
this character by the National Building
Trades Council at its annual session in
Milwaukee. 1t seemed to meet the ap-
proyal of the committee of 33, and Mr.
Madden was authorized to appoint a
committee of seven contractors, mem
bers of the Building Contractors Coun-
Gil, to meet a like committee to be ap-
pointed by the Building Trades Council
This joint committee undertook to settle
the difficulties.
After series of meetings, lasting near
" 80 days, an agreement was reached in
February, the understanding being that
it was to be ratified on the one hand by
the Building Trades Council and on the
other by the Building Contractors Coun-
Gil, The committee adjourned, all hay
ing signed the agreement. which was
aftcrward approved by the Building Com
tractors Council. but it was never acted
upon by the Building Trades Council.
The failure of the latter body to ratify
the agreement widened the breach, and
all overtures toward bringing the con-
tractors and the men together again
seemed to be unavailing. Mr.. Madden
never lost faith, however, and continued
to work quietly and effectively to bring
about a feeling of harmony and to se-
cure from the men such concessions as
were required before the contractors
would again negotiate. The men at last
expressed a willingness to eliminate all
the obnoxious working rules, allow the
employment of apprentices. take the limit
off the days work and permit each man
to do all he would in a working day.
They conceded the right of the con-
tractor to employ and discharge whom
he pleased and agreed to reorganize the
Building Trades Council so as to do
away with the arbitrary rules and, final
ly, that all disputed questions should
hereafter be referred to joint board
of arbitration, whose decisions should be
final and binding, and that, pending the
arbitration OF any disputed questions,
every man should continue at his work.