New-York tribune., 1904-09-02
NAY END BUILDING WAR.
ARRANGING CONFERENCE.
Men Mach Discontinued -WalBing
Delegates to Act Quickly.

The first definite indication Of a movement
looking to the ending of the present building
trouble was seen yesterday after the regular
daily meeting of the Building Trades Alliance.
Though the alliance officially refused to accept
the plan of fits president. William K. Mason. two
days ago for a settlement Of the strikes and
lockout, It learned yesterday that this
lection of the plan was merely formal, and was
intended TO convey the idea that the alliance
q body did not accept it.
The plan Of Mason was to bring about confer
ences between committees OF the individual
unions in the alliance and the individual
sociations of employers in their respective
trades This plan may yet be resorted to- After
yesterdays meeting Mason was authorized to
make the following statement:
At the suggestion Of several prominent build
ers who are involved in the present trouble a
Joint conference is being arranged for settle
ment Of the difficulty. Nothing will be accom-
plished before Labor Day, but in the mean
While the arrangements for the conference Will
go on.
Mason would add nothing to this statement.
but 1t learned from other sources that
strong feeling of discomfort has arisen among
the rank and file OF the unions at their long idle
ness. The feeling has reached such a stage that
the walking delegates say that something must
be done quickly to bring the disputes to end.
Thousands of the men who obeyed the order to
strike were thrown Idle by the lockout de-
clare daily that they want to return to work
This is admitted on all hands, and the dele-
gates ara now equally anxious to stem the tide
Of discomfort before there is something more
than discomfort. The question of formal reCog-
milton Of the alliance. It is thought. may not
be insisted on If the individual unions in tha
alliance can come 70 a settlement with the trade
associations of employers, as the Building Trades
G,InDlOVeTS' SSociatiO0 vi will deal
with the alliance as body. is willing. it is be-
lieved, to treat with its unions.
1t is thought possible that if d basis Of settle
mont can be reached an arrangement may be
mad by which the idle men can return to work
In the mean time.
The meeting of the alliance yesterday was at
tended by D. a. Post Of the general executive
board of the Brotherhood of Carpenters, who
came here from Indianapolis To see what he
could accomplish In the way of ending the build
ing troubles. He said yesterday that he has
brought check for a large sum from the na-
tional union to aid. II necessary. the carpenters
who are idle.
The peace movement, however. has not stopped
the fight on either size. James J. Daily, of the
alliance press committee, said last evening that
the Tile Layers Helpers Union had ordered a
general strike oe the helpers against the Tile
Crate and MautcI Association, composed of en-
ployers and the Employers Association.
THE Tile, Crate and Mantel Association he
said asked tho union. which is composed Of
apprentices. many of whom can lay tiles, to as
sist them by supplying men who could lay tiles
TO work with non-union men. The union held
two meetings the proposition, and ordered
tho strike instead
The helpers union Is not locked out though
the tile layers have been locked out for a num-
ber Of weeks. Sometimes a helper is able for
ears Ia lay tiles before ne get into the tile
layers union.
The Employers Association has also been
carrying on its aggressive tactics pending the
proposed negotiations for a settlement
Lewis Harding. chairman of the press COM
mittee Of the Employers Association. said last
evening that two new unions had been formed
under the arbitration plan. one a union Of
plumbers and the other union Of plasterers
The plumbers union Will have the support Of
the National Union of Plumbers and Gashtters.
which a year ago expelled Local No. ., to which
Diamond PHI Weinseimer belongs. Local No
was expelled for refusing to accept the svs-
tenn laid down by the national body for the paw
ment OF dues.
The new plasterers' union IS a BROOKLYN or
ganization. Mr. Harding said that it has prom
ised TO send four hundred plasterers to the EN-
pioying Plasterers' Association on Tuesday, and
on Wednesday the plumbers union will
supply an equal number of men.
We are making moro progress in ffIIins, the
places of the strikers than we made at first" he
continued. We have supplied men to the Trim
ity Building and the new Times Building to-day.
and have partially manned some other build
ings. We are going right on under the arbitra-
tion agreement. engaging any competent men
who care TO be formed into unions Of their re-
spective trades under the arbitration agree
ment"