The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17
tary Duffy Says They viii Refuse
to BE Bound by Decision.
TROUBLE REVIEWED BY UMPIRE
QUESTION OF JURISDICTION RAISED
BY THE CARPENTERS.
An Insinuatfon that Samuel GOmpers
Circles Considerably Stirred.

p. ]. Downey. umpire of the dispute be-
tween the United Brotherhood of Carpen-
ters and Joiners of America and the
Amalgamated Woodworkers' International
Union. yesterday submitted his decision to
the committee of five from each organiza-
ton. He found In favor of the woodwork
ers. Mr.. Downey decided that the ques-
ton of jurisdiction. although a perplexing
one, was unwarrantably raised by the car
penters. and that the woodworkers should
have control of the men who work within
mills and shops on wood with machines,
and the carpenters exclusive control of the
men who work buildings and at the
work which is generally known as carpen-
ter work. The great contention between
the two organizations was raised by the
carpenters, who insist that they have the
right to organize all workmen who work
with wood, either inside or outside of fac
tories. The woodworkers rebelled against
this, and maintained that the jurisdiction
OF the organization of carpenters ends at
the factory door.
THE DECISION.
Umpire Downey's decision covered many
pages of typewriter matter, in which he
reviewed the main points of the question
as developed in the four weeks session of
the conference. The decision, based on his
opinion of the merits of each point raised,
is as follows:
After a careful survey of the situation
and in accordance with the evidence and
testimony produced and In view of the fact
that the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America did give the Amalga-
mated Woodworkers control over the wood
working trades enumerated in the consti-
tuition Of the Woodworkers International
Union, i hereby decide that all wood
workers in planning mills. furniture and in
terror finish factories come rightfully un-
der the jurisdiction of the Amalgamated
Woodworkers International Union, but the
members of the said union shall not be con-
ceded the right of jurisdiction over mill
wrights and stairbuilders who work on
buildings or in the putting up OF store and
THE United brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners shall have absolute jurisdiction
over all workmen on new and old build
ings and the putting up OF store and office
fixtures.
"It will be understood that this decision
does not interfere with any local agreement
that may now exist or be entered into here
after, nor does IL affect. interfere with or
abrogate any agreement made with the
Amalgamated Woodworkers and other
unions concerning the jurisdiction of other
trades that may be employed on finishing
vanishing, wood carving or painting OF
wood and cabinet work in mills. factories
or buildings.
TROUBLES REVIEWED.
Mr. Downey reviewed the troubles be-
tween the woodworkers and the carpenters
before announcing his conclusions in the
decision He said the present organization
| known as the woodworkers was an ANAL
gamation OF the International Furniture
| Workers. organized in 1873. and the Ma
chine woodworkers' International Union
organized in 1890. which was consummated
| in 1895 He cited the agreement of the
| woodworkers and the carpenters I'm 1887 b,
which the carpenters recognized the right
| of the woodworkers TO Jurisdiction over
| machine woodworkers. and also the conces.
| sion made 20 the Machine Woodworkers
Union By the convention held In Indianap'