The Washington times., 1901-07-25
ELECTRICAL WORKERS CLASH.
Union and Non-UniOn Men Get Into
Trouble While at Work.

clash between union and non-union
labor which nearly precipitated a riot
and resulted in the calling out of the re-
serves of the Ninth precinct occurred
about O'Clock yesterday afternoon on
the new fat building being erected for
| Robert N. Harper, the druggist, at 3l4
East Capitol Street. No one was serious
| ly hurt, but for time pandemonium
reigned.
The trouble was the outgrowth of a
| clash between Milton Mantz. of 7l3 Four
teenth Street northwest, the contractor
| for the electrical work, and several walk
| ing delegates of the International Broth
| erhood OF Electrical workers,-local union
No. 26, led by Henry Phillips, of 1906
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest. Mr..
Mantz has had his men at work since
Monday morning, but it was not until
yesterday afternoon that the union plumb
| ers. carpenters, and bricklayers on the
building announced that the seabs :
could no longer work there. As Mantzs s
men showed no disposition to qait, 1t is
alleged that they were forcibiy elected
from the building by the union men. One
of the Objectionable men was shaken from
ladder which he was descending and
as he fell it is alleged that he was struck
by one of the plumbers.
Mr. Mantz hurried to telephone and
notified Police Headquarters that a riot
was in progress and in response the re-
serves from the Ninth precinct were de-
spatched to the scene OF the disturbance.
Under their protection the expelled work
men were about to re-enter the building
when Superintendent of Construction
johnson barred their way and notified the
police than he had been instructed by
Mr.. Harper not to permit them In the
building AS Mr.. Harper had left the city
and would not be back until late at night
the police advised Mr.. Mantz to avoid
/ trouble and withdraw his men until Mr..
| Harper could be consulted.
| Henry Phillips announced that If the
/ Objectionable men re-entered the build
! ing the entire force of union men would
at once be called out. He then left to
consult other members of the union and
appoint a delegation to wait upon Mr..
Harper and present the matter to him.
| He asserted that Mr.. Mantz had always
been unfair to organized labor and that
| he was the principal enemy OF the Eiec-
| trical Union
| eral months ago which he has failed to
! live up 10. and now we are going to tight
| him." said Phillips. In reply Mantz
stated that he formerly employed both
| union and non-union men wherever he
could get the best workmen. Several
months ago he was approached by dele
gates from the union and requested to
work union men exclusively. Thls he
said that he was perfectly willing to do
but that he had two boys who were ap-
prentices and whose services he desired
TO retain. He was told that they could
| Join the helpers or apprentices union,
and with this understanding ne signed an
| agreement with the union. Afterward he
was notified that the boys, Willie Palmer
admitted to the helpers onion and that
they must be discharged. This he refused
| to do. and the trouble resulted.
Il requested the policemen today to ar
rest the men who assaulted my employees
on the building" said MantZ, and / was
| told by them that they could not do SO
without a warrant, as they had not seen
the alleged offence committed. have
placed the matter in the hands of my
attorney, Edward l.. Gies, and have in
structed him to secure the necessary war
| rants, which he Will do at once shall
| also proceed, by injunction and other
| wise, to protect my work and my work
men, and will spend whatever money Is
necessary to do SO. / am not unfair to
union labor and am willing to recognize
the unions and abide by any reasonable
rules that they may adopt, but | will not
| permit them to coerce me into depriving
my apprentices of their means of liveli-
| hood.
Mr. Gies when seen last night stated
that after having "A talk with Contractor
Mantz he advised him to file "A petition in
equity asking that the officers and mem
| hers of Local No. %, of the Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers be enjoined from
interfering with him in the prosecution of
| any contract especially that in connec-
tion with the Harper flats. He said he
also advised Mantz to prosecute the per-
sons who interfered with and interrupted
his work yesterday. for assault III Mantz
is not permitted TO complete his contract
Mr. Gies stated that he will no doubt
claim the whole amount which he would
be entitled to IL he had done so. Mr.
Gfes further stated that he will have an
other conference with Mantz this morn
ing. and then 1t will be definitely decided
what course will be pursued to secure him
immedia te relief.