The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-24
STRIKERS PRES'T
MEETS MASTERS
Master Builders Again Confer With
Strikers Out Of Courtesy
to Lilien.
The Former, However, Are Not San
guine Of Accomplishing
Very Much.

At the request of representatives of the
building laborers who went on strike Aug.
for higher wages and recognition OF
their union, President F. G. MCMILLAN Of
a committee this noon to confer with a
like committee from the strikers this aft
ernoon. TO-
While this action was taken with the
consent OF the members Of the association,
none Of them thinks that the conference
will bring the strike to an end. The con-
tractors have held other conferences with
the strikers and without result. They
agreed to this conference largely out Of
courtesy to- the strikers, who have i'm
ported Eg,m Chicago labor leaders expe-
rtenced IN the conducting Of strikes or
the adjustment Of difficulties between EN-
ployer and 'employe.
Herman Lilien Of Chicago, president of
the International Hod Carriers and Build
ing Laborers' union, called on H. N.
Leighton, president Of the Builders and
Traders exchange, this morning in an
endeavor to bring about a settlement of
the strike. With him were Robert Will
son Of Chicago. international organizer of
the union, and Philip Carlin. secretary
and treasurer Of the Building Trades
council.
Mr.. Liren was provided with letters
from the president Of the Chicago body
which corresponds to the Minneapolis
Builders and Traders exchange, certify
Ing to the bearers responsibility and in
| tegrity. The meeting was by appoint
ment.
Proves Open to Conviction.
While his mission in Minneapolis was
| to settle the present strike by arbitration,
Mr.. Lillian said, he had come prepared to
convince the contractors that they were
wrong in refusing to sign a uniform wage
Ia fNrl lob
recognize the Building Laborers' union.
Mr.. Leighton thereupon gave history of
the troubles leading up to the strike.
In giving this history Mr.. Leighton ap-
pears to have added to Mr.. Lilien's fund
OF information because the latter said he
had not so understood the matter when he
came to Minneapolis and that If Mr..
Le1ghton's recital was according to the
facts he did not blame the contractors for
taking the stand they have.
The call made on Mr.. Leighton was
made under the impression that he was
the president OF the Master Builders AS
ISOLATION, also, and as he was not in an
official position to entertain any PROPOSE
ton the strikers or their agents have to
make, he referred the delegation to Ran
dali Mcmillan, president of the associa-
ton.
Mr.. Mcmillan and Messrs Lilien and
Wilson met In the rooms of the associa-
ton at II 80 o'clock and the visitors
| made an urgent appeal for an opportunity
to present to a committee of the con-
tractors the arguments of the strikers. Sc
far as the contractors know Mr.. Lilien
has nothing new to offer, and they do not
expect any result from this afternoon s
conference.
Wilson's Plan Unsatisfactory.
The contractors spent part Of Satur-
| day afternoon considering Mr.. Wilson'S
| classification" plan for settling the
| strike, but could find nothing new in II
except a change Of phraseology, and de-
clined to accept his suggestions.
| The strikers have now made five at
| tempts to settle the strike, either by ar
| bitration or some concession from the
! contractors. The latter are determined
that they will not agree to pay uniform
wage for unskilled labor, and will not
recognize the Building Laborers' union