Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-15
TO FIGHT THE UNIONS
Proposed National organiza-
tion of Employers.
BEGUN IN NEW YORK
ro
FOR TONIGHT.
What the Labor Leaders Have to Say
of the New Move.
ment.

All available information is to the effect
that the labor situation in New York city
Is exceedingly serious and holds pOssibiii
ues OF great deal Of trouble. Differ
ences between employers and employees in
the building trades have seriously crippled
work in all Industries of that character
and threaten a complete cessation of OPP
erations unless the rapidly widening
breach is Immediately healed.
The most significant feature of the situa-
ton is the movement now foot among
the employers to organize an association
which will be allied to similar associations
to be established in other cities, the purpose
of which will be to form closer union
among employers to combat the demands
of labor unions.
Movement Among Employers.
The proposition has been advanced
among certain New York employers of
| workmen in the building trades to precipi-
tate lockout which will last for a year
if necessary, to bring the labor unions to
willingness to treat on terms more favor
able to the employers Such proposition
would. of course, be subject to the re-
quirements of existing contracts, and as a
whole is considered a radical suggestion,
but indicating the desperateness of the
case from the employers viewpoint.
A mass meeting of employers is to be
held in New York tonight at which the SUBJ
ject will be thoroughly discussed and
course of procedure for the future agreed
upon.
History of the Movement.
The New York Herald of today says: OF
the gravest import alike to every business
man in the country who employs others,
and to the hundreds of thousands of union
workingmen, is the meeting to be held in
the rooms of the Building Trades Associa-
ton tonight.
Those employers in the various branches
of the building trades, who set on foot the
movement to form an organization OF bust
ness men, which may become national in its
scope, declare that, should this action be
taken they will be enabled to resist the
innumerable petty annOyances to which
they have been subjected by the unions.
Admitting that the differences do not
hinge on the question of wages or of hours
of labor they assert they must. in other
matters. conduct their affairs to please
themselves. Failing pr this. many intimate
they may be forced to retire from business
until the workingmen appreciate that they
have gone too far.
1t was limited by members of the United
Board of Building TradSs yesterday that
mistake had been made in sanctioning the
strike of the drivers of lumber and building
materials. inasmuch as 1t forced out of
work thousands of skilled workmen. 1t
was said also, that that trouble might be
settled easily.
Action ofzVnion Carpenters. p
At meeting. oftsthe Master Carpenters
Association it was decided that no member
should bind himself to employ only union
workers. OF the fight between the two rival
organizations OF carpenters, It was reported
that scores of the brotherhood men were
deserving that organization and joining the
Amalgamated Society.
Announcing that two thousand non-union
laborers were at work in the Rapid Tran
sit tunnel. John B. Mcdonald said the
backbone of the strike was broken and that
he soon would have every strikers place
filled.
Operations on nearly two score of public
schools. which were to have been ready for
occupancy next fall, have been suspended
because of the troubles of the building
trades. Contracts for several new schools
were to have been made yesterday, but
with no prospect of having them erected.
the committee on buildings postponed them
W. weeks