New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-14
GOMPERS FOR EMPLOYERS
Duncan, Too, 1dUiseS acceptance
of arbitration Plan by Unions.

In a letter to the building trades unions of
this city and its neighborhood, made public last
night. Samuel Gompers. President of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. and James Duncan.
First President. recommend that the
unions agree to the plan of arbitration of the
employers association. This action. which
comes after Mr.. Gompers's investigation of the
labor situation. is virtually a defeat for the
building trades unions which have refused to
sign the plan of arbitration.
1t is also recommended that the unions which
have signed the agreement insist on the dis
bandmenr of organizations that have been
formed recently as rivals to the duly constituted
unions of the trade President Gompers also
recommends that the unions be lenient with the
members OF rival organizations and give them
a opportunity to join the union ranks.
Although seeing flaws in the plan of arbitra-
ton. submitted by the employers. President
Gompers declares it TO be all right. That it
provides for everything and eliminates the SYM
pathetic strike. This has caused the labor
troubles in this city. and it's elimination. Presi-
dent Gompers declares. is right
The letter. after stating that Messrs. Gompers
and Duncan were selected by the executive
council of the American Federation of Labor to
make an Investigation of the building trades
controversy here and to aid in bringing about
settlement says:
We held conference with as many of the
representatives of the different building trades
unions as our time and opportunity afforded,
and have learned the condition, situation and
difficulties which have FOR a long time existed
and confront the building trades. 1t is evil
dent that, quite apar, from either the business
otherwise of Sympathc strikes. that weapon
has been brought into play - extremes at other
times Tor entirely insufficient reasons, which
even the advocates now deprecate.
1t is therefore not unnatural that reaction
has set in and that which often occurs in
other conditions has come into operation now.
that is, the notion that all differences IN dis
putes between employers and WOrkmen can or
must be adjusted by arbitration. In other
words the pendulum has swung from
treme to the other. and this present extreme at
titude is accumulated 10y the action of the en-
ploying builders association and a large part
of the building trades unions OF the city OF New
York.
In our opinion. time and circumstances alone
will demonstrate that agreements with employ
ers or the maintenance Of industrial peace ana
the pursuit Of the policy of conciliation, with
every honorable effort at arbitration Of disput-
ed points and Vet maintaining the largest pos
will tend to the establishment Of moro rightful
raIa lions baxyaeu the vorkuen and their ON
poyers and the esta blishment of a larger de
gree of industrial tranquility than by any at
temptS of the coercive policy Of compulsory ar
filtration. whether enforced by combinations of
employers or by the State.
The situation shows that whether from the
reaction against the frequent sympa thetic
strikes already referred to from earnest
purpose toward the trend Of better relations
with employers a large preponderauce Of the
building trades unions have entered into an
agreement with the employing builders associa-
ton for the adjustment Of all disputes by arbi-
tratOn.
while firmly believing that the future will
demonstrate that all such disputes cannot al
ways be adjusted by this process we are conf
dent that in the main most Of them can: We
have carefully examined the plan. of arbitra-
tion agreed upon by those unions and the en-
ploying builders association. and are persuaded
that a misapprehension exists in the minds of
the members of those unions which have re-
fused TO agree thereto as 10 its terms.
The plan provides for union establishments.
the maintenance of wages and hours Of labor.
md eliminates purely the sympathetic strike.
We therefore recommend. ID that the build
ing trades unions which have either been locked
ont or have been .on strike because of their re-
fusaI to sign the plan of arbitration agree
thereto % That the building trades unions
which have signed the agreement insist upon
the disarmament of such organizations which
have been instituted recently as rivals to the
bona fide and duly constituted unions of the
trade. 90 That the unions affected exercise
leniency and afford easy terms upon which
those may return whom were members Of rival
and those who have not been
members of the bona ide unions SO affected
may he afforded opportunity of membership
upon the same terms as other non-unlon ap-
plicants.
After days OF investigation, conferences and
Of the entire subject matter and
ca rnestly DESTROYS of giving our fellow workers
of the building trades the very best service and
advice of which we are capable. we commend
L. he above to your consideration. and trust 1t
may receive your earnest early and favorable
action.
Members of the Employers Association who
saw a copy of Mr.. Gomperss address last night
declined to reply TO it. An employer said on
behalf OF the association;
The address is plainly advice to the unions
still controlled by Parks 10 try TO get in out of
the wet. The disarmament of the rival unions
in these trades woulI bring the old trades back
into their former power. The new unions, how
ever. will not disband 1t is too late
MAY BE GENERAL EXPRESS STRIKE.