The Washington times., 1902-09-17
Conference L: ghJ
Expected to f ike
at White +
CONTEST OF RI
Present New York Workmen to Be
Withdrawn and Brotherhood Members
Substituted - Subcontractor Willing
to Meet Demand, Says Mr.. McKim.

cable settlement Of the painters strike
at the White House, begun yesterday be-
cause several of the out-of-town work
men employed by one of the subcon-
tractors would not join the local broth
erhood ranks.
Thirty workmen were called out yes
terday morning. They announced that
they would not return as long as the
men objected to were continued in the
White House renovation. This led to
some apprehension that the strike might
spread to other trades, and cause the
whole scheme of improvement to be
held up, presumably to the great incon-
venience OF the President and his fam
lily. Night and day forces have been at
work to hasten the improvements to
completion, and the strike was much re-
gretted by those in charge.
Architect Mckim, of the firm in charge
OF the improvements, who had been in
formed last week of the pending diff
Guilty, believed it had been an,icably ad-
justed.. When notified yesterday of the
strike he thought that some mistake had
been made, and came on at once to this
city to investigate personally. Last
night, at the Cosmos Club, he conferred
with Superintendent French, in general
charge of all work here, and assured the
latter that the subcontractor would fur
nish men entirely acceptable to the local
brotherhood. AS soon as this is done
all the painters will. resume work, prob
ably todav.
How the Trouble Originated.
The entire cause of all the trouble is
not the wage question, as is usually the
case, but fight between rival organi-
zations Of men employed in the same
trade. Most of the men engaged on the
work are members of the Brotherhood
of Painters, which organization has
branches in every section of the coun-
try and is affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. The men to whom
the Brotherhood members objected be-
long to the Amalgamated Association of
Painters, Of New York city, which or
ganizAtion controls matters in the me-
tropolis, but is not effective, in the rest
of the country.
The reasons for the strike at the
White House, according to men on each
side. have in reality no local bearing.
but are the direct outgrowth of the
fierce struggle which has been going on
in New York city. The following state
ment was made to The Times by Dan
Lear, Of this city, who stated that he IS
the business agent of the Brotherhood
of Painters. Local No. 1868, which is the
Washington branch OF, the organization:
~ The Brotherhood Position.
There have been thirty Brotherhood
painters working here-twenty-two for
Norcross Brothers and eight for Mr..
Hostetter, who has charge of some of
the decorating work. Three men have
city, on other parts OF the decorating.
They came from that city and belong TO
the -Amalgamated Association there.
In New York the Amaigamated mem
bers demanded that the Brotherhood
men pay SIS initiation fee and join |
their organization. They have $500
members there and we have 200. They |
control the city, but no other part of |
the country. They kept us out there |
wherever they could.
when they came to Washington to |
work we said: You join our organiza-
tion and pay our initiation fee. just as
you demanded In New York They re-
piled that We hadn't Joined their organi-
cation there and they would not join
ours here. So all our men have been
called out and will stay out until the
others are Withdrawn
The Amalgamated Statement.
William Jones. of New York city. who
is the representative of the Amaiga-
mated men working on the building.
said:
Have you heard the story from the
other side? Well. then, you have heard
more than ! can tell you They have
had the first shot. They began the bat
tie. They are out and we are in. That
10 about all there is TO be said.''
The utmost friendliness was exhibited
between the representatives
of the two sides, but on the business
lines drawn they both declare they will
Dot yield an inch.
Result of the Conference.
Alter tne conference with Mr.. Nc
Kim, Mr.. French said to a reporter
Tor The Times that he expected the
whole matter would be amicably adjust
u today. The relations between the q
contractors and the workmen have been {
Dntirely satisfactory in every respect. |
md the Introduction OF an outside fac J
.ional squabble will not be permitted to
'etard the progress of the work.
''Ar. McKim assured me- said Mr..
french, that the subcontractor. Mr..
Aarcot, had no desire to antagonize the
painters, and that he would | \
ave other workmen take up the decora- {
Ions. When the general contract was
|fven to Norcross Brothers, the archi
ects reserved to themselves some of
he work, such as certain decorating. and :
his was sublet. The New Yorker who
COX the contract sent on the men who .
lad been working satisfactorily for him :
here. Since the local painters have OBJ =
ected to the Amalgamated men work
Nc here, he says he is perfectly willing r
. put other men in the places of those
ot wanted. y
Probable Effect on Renovation.
lust at present. pending the settle :,
aent Of the differences. 1t is impossible a
D say whether or not the strike will
luch affect the finishing of the work. All >
be preliminary rough painting has been n
nished and the finer work is in progress a,
the nnishing and decorating, up to the e
Enn H.,,r |