The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
TALK OF A BUILDING LOCK. OUT
BY CONTRACTORS MADE DESPER-
ATE BY WARRING CARPENTERS.
Some Of Them Say II Seems to BE the Only
Way to Bring the Rival Unions to
Terms--N Would Throw -, 900 Men
Idle and Tie Up Millions Of Capital.

Some Of Them Say IL Seems to BE the Only
Way to Bring the Rival Unions to
Terms-It Would Throw - 900 Men
Idle and Tie Up Millions Of Capital.
The extension of the strike of the Brother
hood Of Carpenters against the Amalgam-
mated Carpenters Society and the apparent
impossibility Of settlement OF the feud
between the two unions, has utterly de-
moralized the building trade in this city.
There has been talk of a general lockout
by building contractors until the two war
ring unions come to terms, but nothing
definite has been done 80 far. Theodore
Starrett Of the Thompson-Starrett Con-
struction Company, one Of the two firms
OF general contractors specially singled
out by the Brotherhood Of Carpenters for
attack. said yesterday to Sun reporter:
while there are a great many build
ings on which the carpenter work Is not
begun, there are many others In which the
new strikes stopped all work to-day.
After tho carpenters work is done there
come the steamhtters. painters. paper
hangers. kalsominers, glaciers and many
other trades, and these are thrown idle
when the carpenters strike. The situa-
ton IL 30 serious that the expedienoy Of q
general shutdown OF work on all build
ings until the two unions settle their DIFF
ferences, has been discussed. So far. COM
petition In business has prevented united
action. but matters are in chaotic state
and the question Of shut down is still under
consideration
Mr.. Starrett said that IL the contractors
could wait long enough the logical end Of
the trouble would be that the Amalgamated
Society would absorb enough tired strikers
from among the Brotherhood to man all
contracts. but this might spoil the entire
building season.
A general shut down in the building
trades would throw Idle about 1900 men
and tie up many millions OF capital. 1t
would mean millions lost in wages to tbs
mon, which they would never mako up.
a. the shutdown would cut the building
season short.
Another concern which the carpenters
have especially singled out In the fight is
the George A. Fuller Company, which has
contracts in several other cities. Ex-Judge
Mcconnell said yesterday that 80 far the
company was getting enough men to get
along with. He declined to talk about the
prospect OF lookout.
One or two new buildings on which work
was not yet begun are being delayed. as
the contractors are afraid to make start
until the trouble with the carpenters Is
ended. One of these buildings is the new
Hotel Brunswick.
At the headquarters OF the Brotherhood
Of Carpenters, in East Seventy-third street,
$4,000 in strike funds was received from
the national headquarters in Philadelphia.
The fund was distributed among the strik-
ers. under the supervision Of Frank Duffy,
the national secretary.
The strike Of the Team Drivers Union
has had the effect OF stopping work on a
number OF buildings The Building Ma
terial Drivers Union shares in this strike.
Thirty independent firms are said to have
granted the demands. but the Employing
Team Drivers Association and the Build
Ing Material Drivers Association still hold
out against them