New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-03
A SUBWAY ULTIMATUM.
M'DONALD ISSUES IT.
If Strikers DO Not Return Places
JVW Be Filled.

The rapid transit COMMITTEES Of the Central
Federated Union falling to keep an appointment
for conference with view to the settle
ment of the subway strike with the rapid transit
contractors yesterday. John B. Mcdonald took
the strike into his hands FIe issued III
timatum to Chairman Holland last evening tHat
If the strike was not ended at once he would
fill the places OF the strikers.
The conference which the Central Federated
Union committee failed to attend was asked for
by Holland and was to take place in Mr.. Nc
Donald's cAice at 1880 m No committee ap-
peared. and explanation was sent to why
it did not appear. Mr.. Mcdonald then sent the
following letter To Holland:
On June 4. 1901. the Central Federated Union
and the sub-contractOrs of the rapid transit
railroad entered into a written agreement in
tended to provide for the arbitration and ad-
Justment of such differences might arise be-
tween them. AS you well know. the sub-cOn-
tractors have from the beginning fulfilled their
part OF the contract You also know that when
you have presented grievances from trades at
hliated to your central body, 1 have listened
patiently and endeavOTed to arbitrate and ad-
just the differences. and that have repeatedly
acceded to your demands in regard TO those
differences In doing / have borne in mind
that We were engaged in the construction of a
great public work. and that il was my duty and
the duty of the sub-contractors to remove every
obstacle in the way of it's speedy completion
1t is a source of deep regret TO me that after
three years and of faithful performance
by the sub-contraCtOrs and uniform policy OF
concession on our part the Central Federated
Union, without warning us, mas permitted a
strike to be declared upon the eve of the open
ing of the rapid transit railroad and after pub
lie announcement had been made that the sub
way would be ready for the operation of expert
mental trains the first day OF August
I nave no alternative, and I am Obliged to say
that If the men who are now on strike do nOt
return TO work at once their places viii be hiled
without further delay.
The board of governors of the Building Trades
Employers Association. which had letter OF
warning prepared to send 10 all the unions
which had signed the arbitration agreement.
has not sent the letter out yet. Before it de-
clares a lockout or takes any other drastic
measure IT has decided to make another at
tempt to settle the strikes in the subway. the
Trinity Building and other contracts through
out the city amicaby. 1t therefore kept back
the warning letter and sent the following letter
to each OF the unions whose members are on
strike in the subway and a letter Of similar i'm
port to the other unions whose members are on
strike buildings:
The board of governors OF the Building Trades
Employers Association, at it's meeting held TO
day august H. appointed special emergency
committee with power 10 act in the case of the
strike that has been called on the subway
work Of the members of this association
As your union is participating in this strike
YOU are hereby requested to appoint immediately
meet the special emergency committee OF the
board of governors at the rooms of the Butte
INK Trades Employers ASSOcldtOus No lilo
Broadway. on Tuesday, August 2. at .. m
All the unions involved sent representative.
and the conference lasted several hours. result
ing In the hoard Of governors ordering the
unions to send their men back TO work The reV-
resentatives of the Brotherhood OF Carpenter.
Frank Morrison and Thomas McCracken SAID
they would have TO set power from the union
first
Morrison. when seen later. said that the dis
trict council of the Brotherhood would meet
Tomorrow and act on the order. He also said
that he could not understand WHY the Building
Trades Employers Association snOUld take up
the subway trouble again, when the arbitration
committee dismissed the whole matter last WeeS
The Master Painters association had also a
meeting in the Building Trades CIuo, but re-
fused TO confer with committee or the brolh-
erhood Of Painters which called until the
ProtherhCod declared or strike OF three nun
dred painters on number Of buildings 1he
district council Of the painters VIII take the
matter up this week
Ii was reported by the Employing PlaSterers
Association that the pl1StereTs who were on
strike on the subway had returned to WORK
This was the only trade in which a strike mas
so far been declared of
TIE members IT tho board of governors -
The EMPLOYERS : association would not say las
r,is,bt whether or net the letter cf warning TO al
the unions would be ultimately sent out