The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-05
OF STRUCTURAL
IRON MEN IMPENDING
100000 Workers to Demand
Increased Wages.
MANUFACTURERS UNITING
Secret Meeting Held in New York to
Plan Concerted Resistance-Say
Limit Has Been Reached.


between labor and capital all over the
United States is impending on account
of the forthcoming demands OF the IN
ions OF structural iron workers in all
600 men throughout the country. it was
stated on good authority yesterday. are
likely to be idle on May /. through
strikes or lockouts, II the ironworkers
insist on .he general demand for higher
wages. which they contemplate making
The unions say that their present in
tention is TO make the demands and
enforce them.
1t was learned last evening that at d
secret meeting held two DAYS ago in
an uptown hotel the big structural iron
manufacturers throughout the country.
who have been comforting for the past
two weeks, permanently organized and
the organization viii probably take the
name OF The National Structural Iron
Manufacturers Association. The princi-
pal object OF the association is to fight
the demands OF the structural iron
workers in case the unions attempt TO
enforce them.
Masters Organizing.
a representative OF the American
Bridge Company said yesterday that be-
fore the newly formed organization ad-
5ourned IL formed an executive commit
tee which would appoint local commit
tees in all :he large cities. These local
y committees will be appointed probably
Yin a day or two.
THE association he said. represents
a capital of considerably over $1,000
100000. 1t is not Incorporated. as It
is not intended to be used for any bu;
defensive purposes. II the ironworkers
do not insist on their demands nothing
will happen. If they do insist on them
the manufacturers will act as a unit in
refusing them. even il they have to shut
down They believe that the limit has
been reached in making the last de
mands. and new demands will not be en-
tertained."
He said Il was understood that the
structural ironworkers in this city who
are now paid 81 a day for eight hours
work, viii demand 56h cents an hour
There had been some talk OF making
demand for uniform wages all over tn,
country bat at all events demand!
would be made for higher wages every
where. The wages paid in Buffalo a
present to the ironworkers are 30 cents
an hour. in Pittsburg the wages are 4,
cents, in Boston 37i5 cents, and in Cleve.
land Az cents
while I believe in unions" he con
tinued. 4 do not believe in forcing VI
prices until it is no longer profitable t,
build. That is what they are doing now
The manufacturers are determined t,
make a stand this spring against an,
further advances"
All Large Cities in Line.
The association took in all the larg
cities from Chicago eastward. includ
ing New York Pittsburg. Philadelphia
Baltimore. Cleveland. Chicago. MiIwau
kee, Detroit, and all other cities wher
there were structural iron manufac
turers. he said. It also included larg
general building contractors who pu
up the structural iron work or thes
there are only four or FIVE in the coun
try. The manufacturers. in case o
strikes or lockouts. he said, would TAX
every means OF protecting men employs
&c take the places OF those who wer
locked out or on strike. II necessar
the courts would be appealed 10 and in
functions on behalf or every employ
would be secured against any intimida
lion.
The Building Material Handlers
Union. with a membership OF LOO. ha
decided 10 demand higher wages in May
as Will also several other buildin
trades The bricklayers' unions. whic
have a membership OF 5000. are expects
to make demand for an increase fror
so to 60 cents an hour. They are en-
ployed by the Mason Builders AssOcia
ton The latter has taken no actio
in the matter pending the demand whic
may have TO be paid. as work is yer
brisk now. 4 representative contracto
said yesterday:
while trade is dull now in Chicago
owing TO strikes, big building year i
expected here Millions OF dollars. {
spite OF this. Will be tied up which ma
been intended for investment I'm build
Ing operations. on account OF the com
ing demands. Il shows what a goo
year Il might have been"