Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
STRIKE NOT ENDORSED
President. Healy on Last
Nights Action.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
TREATED FIREMEN UNFAIRLY
AND UNJUsTLY, HE SAYS.
It Has Served to Prolong the Strike
Of the Firemen at Heu-
rich's Brewery.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION

Instead Of settling the strike. the action
Of the Central Labor Union last night will
only serve to prolong it, These were the
significant words uttered by Mr.. Timothy
Healy. president Of the International
Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen, in an
interview with Star reporter today.
The action of the Central Labor Union al
its meeting last night in refusing to in
dorse the strike of the f1remen employed at
the Heurich brewing came as a thunder
bolt from a clear sky to the strikers. They
had expected there would be some opposi-
ton to the strike from certain quarters,
but they had not anticipated such decidedly
negative action as that taken.
The men who walked out Of the big brew
ing plant last Thursday are now brought
face to face with the realiza alton that, for
the present at least, 1t will be firemen's
fight. They say they had hoped for and
expected the cooperation and active assist
ance Of the local unions comprising the
Central Labor Union.
I'VE knew there would be some opposi-
ton at the meeting to our strike" said one
of the f1remen but we never entertained
any idea that we would be thrown down as
we have been by brother unionists."
The strike question was brought to
contract committee of the entral Labor
Union. who had been instructed to investi-
gate the strike situation, refused to submit
a report and minority report of the same
committee was decided by vote to be out Of
order The final nail was driven when a
motion for the appointment of an investi-
eating committee of seven was by de-
cisive vote laid upon the table.
The representatives of the Heurich brew
cry end of the fight were happy today over
the outcome last night.
President Healy Talks.
President Healy when seen at his hotel
today was firm in his determination that
the fremen should not yield. He said the
strike would be prolonged indefinitely per-
haps. because Of the negative action of the
Central Labor Union. Secretary L. S.
Crown of the firemens local and another
officer of that body who was present as
scented to the declarations of the interna-
tional president
Our men are out to stay until a thor
ouSh investigation is made of their griev-
ances. as l have demanded" said Mr..
Healy 'If the delegates to the Central
Labor Union understood this matter thor
oughly they would certainly have been
fair enough to appoint committee last
night to investigate the controversy. The
hremen, who are a part and parcel of the
Central Labor Union, are certainly entitled
body, and surely it was not too much to
ask for the appointment of such a COM
mittee.
In fact the ffremen's local union had in
tended to ask the central body for an in
dorsement of their strike, but 1 advised
that they should instead ask for the ap-
pointment of an investigating committee, as
l know that If this matter is thoroughly in
vestigated Mr.. Heurich and his mouthpiece
Mr.. Tobriner. would have been shown up
in pretty bad light before the public Of
the District of Columbia. l hope the active
members of the Central Labor Union who
have this movement at heart will see that
1t will be to their interest to have such a
committee appointed as was asked for last
night, If for no other reason than to clear
themselves of the hints that have been
thrown out of corruption and unfair dealing
on the part of certain delegates. This thing
should certainly be sifted to the bottom
The action last night was certainly In the
language of the street, a dirty throw down
to the f1remen, who were really drawn into
this matter by the central body itself, which
over six months ago signed contract with
the Brewers Association which prohibits
the flremen's or any other local union af-
fliated with the Central Labor Union from
entering into any contract with a brewery
except through the Brewers Association
Action Unfair and Unjust.
Therefore. I say" added President
Healy, the action last night was most I'M
fair and unjust to our local union No g.
and and our international union are with
the local fremen and will fight this thing
to a finish. no matter how long it may
take"
Mr. Healy denied with emphasis the re-
port that the strikers would go back to
work at the Heurich plant at the begin
ming Of next week, also that members of
the engineers union have been employed to
do the firing" there in place of the strik-
ers. He said he knew as fact that nearly
all the men working for the Heurich COM
pany firemen are non-unionists In con-
clusion President Healy said:
1T was through the Misrepresentation
made to many delegates to the Central La
Dor Union that this strike was ordered to
that negative action was taken by that
body last night. There is no such purpose
on the part of the firemen. When the true
situation is understood the Central Labor
Union will be strongly in favor of the fire.
men in this strike"
be a central figure in the firemen's strike,
and his orders and directions will be as
imperative as the laws of the Modes and
the Persians.
A prominent labor leader attributes the
action of the Central Labor Union last
whole matter is a brewers fight. and en-
tirely foreign to labor organizations" The
central body therefore declined to be drawn
into a contest in which it felt that it had
no real concern.
The Firemen's Union, No. g. will meet
this evening at the Building Trades Hall
formerly Costellos) to discuss and con-
slider the action of the Central Labor Union
last night, and to consider important mat
tiers connected with the strike.