New-York tribune., 1903-07-29
ASK, FOR A CONFERENCE.
4PPE4L TO P4RKS'S UNION
Irof, League ASkS Men to ThrOsc off
Domination.

Following I'D their action OF Monday IA start
ing their men TO work individually and encour-
aging them to form unions OF their own, in case
their organizations had not signed the arbitra-
ton agreement, the Building Trades Employers
Association yesterday issued an appeal TO the
members Of the Housesmiths and Bridgemen's
Union. over whose Gestinies Sam Parks has
exercised full sway hitherto. This appeal is
made with the express explanation that the
employers believe the men have not had an op-
portunity TO express their wishes, and they are
therefore asked to attend a meeting Of their
union Friday night and elect a committee of
Eeventy-ive, who, with the officers Of the union,
shall be empowered to meet the employers in
their trade at the Building Trades Employers
Association. at No. 1.123 Broadway at noon on
Saturday. This meeting, it is hoped by the en-
ployers, viii give the men an opportunity to
see the true character Of the agreement hitherto
concealed from them by their leaders and result
In their accepting it. But whether this confer
ence is held or results favorably the employers
declare their intention Of starting work on Mon
day with whatever men they can get.
The appeal. which is signed by the Iron
League. reads as follows;
To Our Employees and Former Employees of the
Ho1sesmiths and Br1dgemen's Union of New
Al the last meeting of your union. on the night
Of July 2. there was presented a request from
the Iron League for committee to meet them TO
sent 70 meet u.s. who stated that they were appointed
with full power. We expressed to them our desire
that your union should sign the joint agreement We
explained 20 them that this in no way interfered
With the agreement your union made with the Ma
OF Structural Steel and Iron Works, of which
are members. and that the agreement we wished
until the arbitration clause in the national
NAG proven ineffective Also that the Joint
Il Is In the interests of the employers. in pre-
for trivial matters of disputes thus causing you 10
lose much time The delegates refused positively
union would never sign the Joint arbitration agree
As this agreement takes from the delegates the
power to call strikes whenever they so pleased
however. unsatisaed with their decision. believing
that their own interests prejudiced their actions
and that their decision was entirely against the
hest interests OF your union ,.,-.
Notwithstanding the fact that we are advertising
for men. we have decided before taking extreme
measures 70 ask for committee Of your ofiiceTs.
on Saturday. at Il o'clock. at the Building Trades
committee more fully the advantages of the Joint
arbitration agreement -.
meeting Of your union Friday night to that
such committee have asked for is appointed
the result Of this request on buildings Aionday
arbitration agreement
This letter. which was sent to all the mem
bers Of the union. through their old employers
who have lists Of their names. really amounts
60 giving the conservative and respectable mem
bers OF the union q chance to get together and
throw of Sam Parkss domination. The
ployers recognize that the men are in the hands
Of their leaders and also that they must indi-
cate method Of action This they have done.
u is known that in several instances unions
have met and voted to accept the agreement,
end then after the men had gone and only
few of the worse element remained the motion
had been reconsidered and lost. This amounts,
however. 70 an ultmatum. and Will doubtless
cali forth manifesto from Parks.
At the Board of Building Trades COM
posed of the representatives of the unions that
have signed the agreement for arbitration and
sent their men back TO work, the step Of the
employers in putting the men belonging TO
unions which had not signed TO work after TAX
ing their individual signature met with crit-
cism. The general feeling there that this
step was justified. The opinion of the new board
was voiced by James ]. Daily. who said:
There remains no issue on which the fight should
he continued. The attempt TO continue the strike
and keep the men Of work is the result of the
selfish vanity and ambition of certain men. Those
who try 20 keep the doing injury
30 the cause of organized labor and unionism far
more serious than that IF any other enemy. Now
az to the proposition OF the employers to put the
10 work individuals: we shall neither pro-
test nor take any Unfrendly action. All the unions
have had fair chance TO sign the agreement, and
II isn't our funeral IL they didn't