The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-18

The Master Plumbers association has
agreed TO accept the unions wage sched-
ule. and at meeting 10 be held this
afternon IL is expected that the associa-
ton will take steps toward effecting
settlement of the strike 1t is known
that the majority OF the association are
willing to accept the union demands. and
already Ave members have signed the
union agreement and put nearly 30 of the
strikers to work. The signers are ID.
Holmes. p. oConnor. NJ f. Murphy, /.
T. Hudson and ID. McPhail. The first
four signed late Saturday afternoon and
Mr.. McPhail signed this morning. put
ting his old gang of eight men TO work
and four extra men.
MR.. 'MERRIwEATHER'S VIEWS.
Frank Merriweather. chairman OF the
executive strike committee of the Plumb
ers' Local IS. made the following state
ment TO The News representative this
morning:
There about so plumbers on strike,
which is less than half the number that
went out May /. our agreement has been
signed by over 80 master plumbers or
this city, and we expect to receive sew
eral more signatures today. Negotia-
tions. so far as the union is concerned.
are off with the association, but We ex-
pect to receive the signatures OF members
of the association individually. our CO.
operative enterprise is operating in full
blast. and has rs men at work today. No
work is taken from customers OF those
who have already signed the agreement.
but the union sop is ready 10 receive
all other work
I'VE have not secured a shop as yet,
but are taking all orders at our head
quarters I'm the Labor temple, Washing
ton street. We have secured an option
on two centrally located shops. but have
not moved into them as yet. because In
the event OF q complete settlement OF the
strike we will have no use for the CO.
operative shop"
THE CARPENTERS TROUBLE.
The union carpenters have now secured
a total OF about II signers To their agree
ment and have the situation completely
tied up so far as association shops are
concerned. Members of the association
have made attempts TO import carpen-
ters but In no case has II been successful.
There are now but 270 carpenters on
strike and this number will be materially
diminished today. Twenty carpenters
were put TO work by one signer OF the
agreement this noon and "a are ordered to
20 TO work tomorrow.
The strikers held their daily roll coll
meeting this morning in the headquar-
ters at the Old Infantry building, Dor
rance street. The men reported 20 a man
and listened TO an encouraging address
by Frank Merriweather, business agent OF
the Plumbers Local ~.
MIR. Kearney. business agent OF Local
GO. had little TO give out this morning
but stated that the strike was progress
ing very favorably as far as the union
was concerned and he had little doubt OF
an ultimate union victory through II
might be a matter OF some time before
the association yielded.
Mr. Kearney and Mr.. Quinn, interna-
tional district organizer. have been very
active OF late. and have the situation we'll
in hand The Master Carpenters asso-
ciation holds its regular meeting In the
Elks' hall Westmoinster street, this af-
ternoon. but neither side expect that the
meeting will bring about any important
changes in the situation. Carpenters
union. Local 972. meets in the Labor tenn
pie this evening.
HOLDING CONFERENCES
The strike OF the Structural Iron Work
ers. Local No. 37. is progressing favorably
and conferences are being held between
tho interested parties TO effect a settle
ment. william J. Powers business agfnt
Of Local 81. when Interviewed this morn
ing by The News representatives said
that "A conference was TO be held this
afternoon. which might effect settle
ment for part 81 the men on strike. but