The sun., 1903-05-16
BUILDERS UNITE FOR BATTLE.
rs? or THEM FORM A LEAGUE
TO FIGHT THE UNIONS.
When Present Contracts with Labor On
EanizatIOns Expire There'll BE New
Deal-Employers' Purpose Told IN
strong speeches and Resolutions.

DeaI-FDplOyery furpOSe lOiu N
strong speeches and Resolutions.
The paralysis in the building industry
caused by the demands of the labor unions
was the reason for the largest and most
representative meeting Of employers in
the building trades ever held in the city.
1t took place last night in the rooms Of the
Building Trades Association, 1923 Broad
way. the object being to form central
body Of employers.
The call for the meeting was issued last
week by Warren A. Conover, president Of
the Building Trades Association. in 40
cordance with resolution passed by the
board of governors. The response to
the call was so large that the rooms Of the
association could not accommodate all
who came and some had to wait outside.
By actual count 1872 employers, repre-
senting every branch of the building In
dustry, attended the meeting.
The sentiment in favor Of a central body
of employers for protection against the
present methods Of the unions was over
whelming, and by accamation it was de-
cided that such body should be formed.
1t will represent an aggregate capital Of
from $500 900 900 to 500, 900 900 invested
in building enterprises.
The Lumber Dealers and Building Mo-
terial Dealers associations were represented
unoficially at the meeting. as they would
have found it necessary to call special
meetings to appoint delegates.
The following organizations were repre-.
sented, United Building Trades Associa-
ton. Marble Industry Employers Associa-
ton, Master Carpenters Association. Master
Lea que Of Cement Workers, Electrical Con-
tractors Association, Tile, Crate and Mantel
Association. the New York Electrical Ap-
pliance Association Mechanics and Traders
Exchange, Iron League, Employing Plas-
terers' Association, Hosting Association,
Society of Architectural Iron Manufacture
ers, Employers Association Of Roofers
and Sheet Metal Workers, Association Of
Interior Decorators and Cabinet Makers,
Manufacturing Wood Workers Association,
Lighting Fixture Makers Association.
Mason Builders Association Master Paint
ers' and Decorators Association.
Representatives OF outside employing
firms were present, and such stack Of
letters came from men in other cities who
are in sympathy with the movement that
only small number Of them could be read
| at the meeting. The George A. Fuller com
pany OF this city, which is not affiliated
| with any association, had seven OF its nine
directors at the meeting.
| The meeting was called to order by Presi-
dent Conover, who introduced Charles
| L. Eidlitz OF the Electrical Contractors'
Association as the first speaker. When Mr..
| Eidlitz began to speak the meeting room
was 20 packed that those In the audiencs
| who could not find seats were standing
elbow to elbow. Mr.. Eidlitz was received
with cheers. He said in part:
1t 10 assumed that all those present hero
building trades. and surely You must ali have
felt that sooner or later 1t would be absolutely
necessary for us to come together. lay ouf
as a unit II we intend to remain in business
and have anything to say about the way
At a meeting Of this association. held on
Monday. May II. the board ,;n 9f goyern,9hrs yer ,hs
OF So Hs' and % Possible to
devise means for meeting the labor Question. /.
1t Is unnecessary to describe 70 you wha' is
There Is not a man In this room who does
not appreciate that we have been gradually
n Chat Sa~e upon
ab 1t bss sna 1o e weH
the bar from the door, Later the chain W..
left on the outside. All these demands and
others we5s granted and n9w ~ what s
w. has made
Without Of dosp af .a ssas to n0d
render from their employers and have precti-
cally all their demands granted. sometimes es
Ths isot that %sA whiis @ thsy h.ys been o5ssn
coSnsy a. oenr tn1 6oay % Under
one head, and have stood together. suner11f
snd t0 MoT Ta Best We m q
tellieence, men Of affairs, have tried 70 oesl
with them singly. or. st best. best. as only only = onS. ~
room who has not had the thought that. Y We
could only. get together on some neutEel
terrible tide. this wave Of surrender. could
be stsmmed'
The oud % this the aas
owed Il to you and to themselves and 70 tAs
r. s:tosy q the sSidPsf BUSINESS ass:3
mG{i TS ss'{ sqiIdas atS "a p5s:ds
se 81 sa: ana ssS:
headauarters. There are REPRESENTED at the
% in the
workeIs l6 electrical Sontrsetors. u stop.
light !manuf facturers. marble men, 3 painters
| and decorators. 8 terra Gotta manufacturers.
! s elevator contractors. sidewalk and water
| proofng men. plumbers. steamfttere.
| B iron lathers. . shorers.i fixture manufact-
| urers. together with twenty others In various
| afflliated lines, strong enough, perhaps. for
ordinary conditions but not strong enough
to handle the proposition which we must now
Some changes might be required in our
! by-ls VS. In order to conduct ourselves as the
| central or gan zation Of employers. but hrst
| OF all we must have the siren 9Th. the member
| ship. and the active support 1t Ia impossible
to get q II the various employers organiza ttons
| at the present time to take action such -
eventually would be required Many OF the
aesoctations have agreements with the unions
| which must be maintained and lived up TO
! by the employer. Notwithstanding the fact
| that tho union on the slightest provocauon.
| and more often simply to accomplish ITS
| own ends, sets aside the arrangements ana
| signed agreements which have taken weeks
Of thought to bring about.
| We have the assurances OF many uAQed
that they are ready to enter an organization
| to be considered the central and governing
| power, but In order to fight the forces against
| which We are arrsyed we must have practi-
cally all those inter ested in the building trade.
To our minds II In useless to attempt this IN
| any other way than by having the ajority
| Of the members of the individual trade organi:
| cations ss members Of the central body and
| BY controlling the ma ority vote of the indi-
yidual trade organizations force the organize
| tons into line with tho central body.
| Form Z central body now gentlemen. and
! when your Individual agreements have OK