New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-11
NEW FOE TO AGREEMENT.
My. EXTEND STRIKES.
Chief of Iron Workers Sends Pro
test to Employers.

Frank Buchanan president of the Interna-
tional Association of Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers, was in this city yesterday TO investi-
gate the troubles leading up TO the issuing of the
arbitration agreement Of the Building Trades
Employers Association. He is against the agree
ment. although he is not IN harmony with Sam
Parks and if the agreement is not modified. he
may start I'm to order strikes throughout the
country against the members Of the employers
organization.
President Buchanan, at the Ashland House
last night made public letter which he sent
TO the employers. in part follows
In tile latter part of April agreements
reached. through the activities TO very large eK-
tion. between The employers of bridge and struct;
NeWYoTS PR di Boston Chicago. PITTS
burg, Buffalo and other large cities These
other. The agreement executed as applicable TO
The New-York jurisdiction was reached by com com
League J. NJ Cornell; s. p Mcconnell, of the
lie American Pridge Company The agreement
was one that covered all the working rules reguiatI
iron workers determined the rate Of wages. pro
months and executed in the latter part of
April OF his year.
DISAGREEMENT WITH PARKS
Very frequently it has been given out that t. there here
Parks. one Of the business agents Of the House
ta orsan3lat Slu m some extent this was true
There have been differences between the president
samuel Parks one OF lne principal differences
etgo51 azsfio a s he aereeent which has
been alluded 10 so far IN this letter MT. PARKS
opposition however were not known TO the presi-
Gent of the international organization -. IT.
agreement executed the Building Trades EN-
agreement as between the different union organiza-
tons OF New-York City and the Building Trades
ceptance Of that agreement by each Of the unions
tbs insstence OF a new agreement vas oir9Goe as
TO any other Of the unions. II has necessarily
citation of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
Union that if an agreement made in the latter part
Of April could be ruthlessly OveTTidden within
so short time after its execution. that
agreement with employers would be of little value
They felt that they needed demonstration the
part Of the employers that the agreement which
that if modification Of that agreement was desired
They believe, as believe they had a right to
that the signatores TO an agreement upon the
Htitution of agreement in its place. by force of
arms by the power OF lockout or by any n.y. otheT
simple negotiation, and If in the end Its modihca.
the agreement should stand.
/ think it only. fair to our organization to say
that. since the signing OF the agreement, as the
president of the organization, have on several
20 by the employers, and have insisted in each in
agreement by the members of the union. In many
instances already employers VINO We're parties 10
the April agreement have taken advantage of and
reaped benefits from it by d, manding and receiving
an immediate response on the part OF the national
officers, that the members of the union should
comply with all its terms. . -.
signed. N April the officers of the organization
Of course as much right to insist upon its obscry
were as much interested in bringing about the re
lation between the employer and employe which
iockouts as the employers themselves. and that
was. TO very large extent, the great inducement
10 the April agreement.
AGREEMENTS THAT CONFLICT
President Buchanan said that the arbitration
agreement of the employers conflicted with the
present agreement between the Housesmiths
and Bridgemen's Union and the National As
sociation OF Bridge ard Structural Iron Manu-
facturers and Erectors. He said he could not
see how harmony could be brought about by the
union's accepting this arbitration agreement
He said he believed the union could not con-
sistenty agree with the employers.
Our present agreement he said provides
that there shall be no sympathetic strikes in
trade disputes That means disputes between
rival unions or matters of that kind only
The arbitration agreement provides that there
be no sympathetic strike for any reason
This is only Of the points in which the
bitratioT agreement conflicts with present
agreement. If the employers sought the best
means of bringing about harmony in the build
ing trades, they should have called for joint
conference with the unions before making any
such agreement The present agreement does
not bring about harmony"
Otto NJ Eidli'z, chairman Of the board of
governors of the employers association, said
last night that the association had received the
letter, but he refused to discuss it,
In all probability" he said, "a statement will
be issued Tomorrow in renIv TO this letter"
President Buchanan has been looked upon all
along by the employers as conservative man.
His decision against the arbitration agreement
is looked upon as significant.