Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-16
White HOUSE STRIKE
Painters Stop the Work on
Improvements.
A LABOR DISPUTE
BROTHERHOOD OBJECTS TO
AMALGAMATED employees.
Difficulty Between the Organizations
Began in New York Years
Ago.

Thirty members of the Brotherhood of
Painters Decorators and Paper Hangers.
affiliated with the American Federation Of
Labor. were called out on strike at the
White House this morning by Daniel Lear,
the Washington business agent of the broth
erhood. because four painters belonging to
the Amalgamated Association of Painters of
New York city are employed on a contract
in the White House On account of the
bitterness between two rival labor organt-
cations the work on the repairing Of the
interior of the White House is threatened,
as the contractors have no idea how close
the other labor organizations here are af
fliated with the brotherhood or how far
the strike may extend. 1t is stated that
the carpenters and electrical workers, as
we'll as many others, are either so closely
identified with the brotherhood to pos
siby lead to a strike, or they are in SYM
pathy with the painters and decorators.
The thirty strikers have fault to find
with Norcross Bros, the contractors for
the rebuilding of the interior of the White
House. with Mr.. S. F. French, the rep
resentative of tn contractors. In fact the
men who struck are employees of Norcross
Bros and are all brotherhood men. Their
grievance is solely against four amalgamat-
ed painters who are working on small
contract, when was awarded to Mr.. Mar
cot, New York painter.
Alleged Cause of Strike.
The facts. gathered today, are that
Norcross Bros have the contract for prac-
tically the entire work of rebuilding the in
terror of the White House. but few de-
tails were reserved by the architects. of
which Mr. McKim is the head. to be let
out to other contractors. Two of these
fyNnr t,.oa Nnrx-
with Mr.. Marcot and the other to a
contractor named Hostetter. The latter.
recognizing the bitter antagoniSm between
the anna salna ted and brotherhood painters,
brought only brotherhood men here with
him, and six of them were employed at
the White House. -1r. Norcross had only
brotherhood men also while Mr.. Marcots
four men were almagamated painters
The fight between the amalgamated and
brotherhood is of years standing. it is
said. The amalgamated is purely a New
Aork organization. while the brotherhood
controls the remainder of the country, be-
ing. stated. affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. The amalgamated
organization has refused to recognize
brotherhood cards in New York and has
run close corporation of it's own The
brotherhood soon began to retaliate, it is
stated, by refusing to recognize brother
hood men working outside of New York.
So came about the war. From that war
the trouble is transferred to Washington,
and promises to involve other organizations
and to delay UNNECESSARILY the work of
completion of the White House improve
ments. which have been pushed with great
energy by Mr.. French the representative
of Norcross Bros. So well had the work
proceeded that the outlook was ia
vorahle that the residence part of the
White House would be ready for the oc
cupancy of the Roosevelt family about the
list of October, and that the new Office
building of the President would also be
ready for him by that time.
Invades New York.
The Brotherhood of Painters invaded New
York recently and effected an organization
of council OF their own, thereby it is
understood making the first breach in the
wall that the amalgamated had for years
had constructed around the city of New
York. a few days ago James W. Arch-
bald, the secretary of the brotherhood in
New ork-the business manager, as the
position is calied-came to Washington and
laid the case before the brotherhood paint
ers OF Washington and elsewhere who are
employed under both Norcross Bros. and
Hostetter. The amalgamated men have
now telegra phed for Mr.. Healey, their bust
ness agent, and the fight promises to be one
to the finish. The heads of other orsaniza-
tons are said to be discussing the matter
with view to possible action. although
this is not known officially to the contrac-
tors.
Unable to Predict Outcome
Mr. French was unable to say today what
would be the outcome of the trouble He
has the entire matter under consideration
and is in communication with the people
most interested. He hasn't the least idea
what will be the consequences, and is not
disposed to become involved in the contro-
Nersy by aligninS himself either way Since
he began the work he has had to act the
part OF diplomat in number of promis-
ing labor disputes Throughout, however
union labor has been employed on the
building. and all reasonable demands are
said 10 have been met. A recent demand
Tor an increase in the pay of the brother
hood painters from 50 so to So per day was
promptly met, and since September l the
Z painters, decorators and; paper hangers
have received the maximum rate Nothing
has heretofore been allowed to cause any
disturbance between the contractors for
Of Washington. as, it is claimed the desire
of the contractors that the work should be
finished as promptly possible has been
uppermost
s Predicts Early Settlement.
When seen by Star reporter this after
noon Mr.. Daniel Lear. the business agent
OF the local painters union, stated that he
thought the strike would be settled within
day or two. He remarked that Mr. Nc
kim OF the firm of McKim, Mead & White
architects OF the White House. who is now
In New York city, would be in Washington
tomorrow morning, and that in all proba-
bility the difficulty would be brought TO a
close Mr. Lear said he would request q