New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-05
KNIGHTS AID EMPLOYERS.
TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
Organization VIII Supply Men to
Fill Places of Boilers.

The building trades war, the settlement OF which
'5 being delayed through the tactics of the Parks
faction of the Housesmiths and Bridgemen's Union
may be ended sooner than was looked for. it was
learned yesterday. by the entry of the Knights Of
Labor into the field. For some time the order
which had been diminishing through the rapid
growth OF its rival, the American Federation OF
Labor. has been endeavoring TO build itself up
again II leaked out yesterday that this is the rea
son for the visit Of General Master Workman John
W. Hays and committee of his General Executive
Board TO this city. 1t said yesterday that they
came here by arran gement with members of the
employers association. that they held conferences
with employers yesterday. and that more confer
ences would take place to-day.
It was said By the Knights yesterday that they
stood ready to supply men in trades the unions Of
which had not signed the arbitration agreement of
the employers association, to work under the
agreement The programme of the knights is to
form local assemblies of the men thus supplied
which will adopt the arbitration agreement.
About fourteen years ago or so the order con-
tanned between 100000 to 100000 members through
out the country, but it has fallen TO membership
of about 125,o0o while the American Federation Of
Labor which has been absorbing the Knights. has
now membership Of at least 100000 The Knights
latterly have been growing again. and the building
trades dispute here Will be made the occasion for
determined effort by the order to regain its former
fcothold. Its strong point in this city time
was its control of the building trades. which We're
practically all in Building Constructors District No
der union after union left this district. which, how
ever, is stiI in existence.
General Master Workman Hayes, who is stay
ing with other knights, at the Broadway Central
Hotel. will return to his headquarters in Washing
ton next week. he believes He was visited yester-
day by Daniel OLeary inspector Of factory licenses
who Is a knight Of Labor. and others
When seen last evening Mr.. Hayes said that. be-
lteving the arbitration agreement was absolutely
fair. the Knights were ready to supply to the
,Ir-ar-
lief yesterday that the House Shorers and
Pile Sheathers Union and the proposed house
smiths union of New-York, which VIII come under
the arbitration agreement, viii be under the wing
of the knights.
Mr.. Hayes would neither admit nor deny that
this was true Asked if the new housesmtths' or
ganization was TO be a knight Of Labor body. he
smiled and said he not prepared TO answer
the question. but he seemed anxiccs to know
where the president Of the Housesmths' Union.
which was disbanded several years ago. after a
strike, before the present Housesmths and Bridge
mems Union was formed could be seen
We can supply all the tronvorkers needed. %
Mr.. Hayes said THE plan of arbitration is the
hest of It's kind ever offered to the unions and
those who have rejected II have made fatal mis-
take. The Knights Of Labor have always stood
for arbitration. 1t is their cardinal plank"
The unions OF the present DAY ara not big enough
world The Capitalization of capital into vast
trusts is ineyitabls and cannot be stopped. The
Gould your order with its diminished member
ship supply enough men in all the trades which
asked.
1T could most positively he said. And the
order will not stand for the breaking of agree
ments. When dispute in which Knights con-
cerned is left 10 arbitration, the Knights must &C
| cept the decision whether it is for or against
| them. We are incorporated under the laws of the
United States, so that agreement with US is
binding
The press committee OF the employers associa-
ton announced Yesterday that some more iron
| of house shorers was able TO supply all the men
needed
John Crotty, delegate of the plumbers union an
! nounced yesterday that his organization had re-
! teCted the arbitration agreement.