Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25
THE ARSENAL STRIKE
FIFTEEN BRICKLAYERS READY
FOR WORK THIS MORNING.
Capt. Sewell's Statement as to Their
Employment-What Mr..
spohn Says.


morning fifteen non-union bricklayers would
have been at work today on the engineer
buildings under construction at Washington
barracks. That number OF men, white and
colored, who have been placed On the pay
roll by Capt. Sewell. reported for duty at
the usual hour. Eight others called at the
construction office and were given the
necessary application papers to be filed
out.
The outlook is, therefore, that II tomor-
row Is not a rainy day gang Of about
twenty-five layers OF brick will be at work
in place Of the strikers. Nearly all of these
men were employed outside of the civil
service eligible list. Others are expected to
take out papers this afternoon and tonor-
row morning.
q did not ask said Capt Sewell to a
Star reporter today, whether the men just
employed were white or colored. unionists
or non-unionists. All l wanted to know
was whether they were capable mechanics
and could do a fair days work.
The captain manifested considerable con-
Germ about the strikers. and said he had no
grievance against Them. but would like to
see them all back at work.
Capt. Sewells Statement.
Il am afraid he added. they will stay
off SO long that their places will all be
filled, and then 1 may not be able to put
them back. 1 have really made no special
effort to get men to take the places of the
strikers. The new men are just coming in
from all directions and applying for work.
l was sincerely sorry to lose the men I had.
I get plenty of bricklayers, but had
hoped the union would have let the strikers
come back.
eff they see fit to stay out. then am up
against it and will have to get men from
any source 1 can after the eligible list is
exhausted, as 1t is. 1 blame the union for
bringing about the strike because nom
union man was employed on the job, when
that non-union man worked the same num-
Der of hours and received the same pay as
the union men.
Mr.. Spohn of the brick1ayers' union crit
icized me for not laying off Taylor the col
Ored non-unionist, and thus settling the
trouble. l could not do that without evad-
ing the spirit of the law. Taylor is a good
workman and has given no cause for COM
plant. I will never lay man off without
cause or when a reduction of the force Is
not necessary. If l could arbitrarily dis
charge men without such cause 1t would
place a power in my hands that no officer
should have.
"At the end Of this month I will have to
submit a list of changes on this work to
the civil service commission, and I am
afraid the strikers will be taken off the
eligible list, unless they are granted dis
pensation or requalify. 1 am not sure but
that if l were to put them back to work
now I would be exceeding my authority.
But would do so and trust to my action
being approved. 1 feel absolutely concil-
iatory and would like to see this matter
patched up / have no desire to make a
fight, but would like to see the men come
back. 1 want their status with the civil
service commission to remain such that
when they see fit to return 1 can put them
to work.
THE statement has been made by labor
leader" said the reporter, that should the
engineer buildings be erected by non-union
icL1 wi ha bla
union carpenters, painters, plasterers and
other mechanics to complete the struc-
lures, as they will decline to work on edl-
fees so constructed"
Captain Sewell replied that there would
be no great difficulty, in his opinion. in Sc
curing plenty of mechanics to complete
the work referred to-
What Mr.. Spohn Says.
Mr.. Milford Spohn of the Bricklayers
Union said today 1t was untrue as alleged.
that officers of the union had been dis-
charged from the Washington barracks
work and that they therefore preCipitated
the strike
"A question of principle Is involved" Mr..
Spohn added. 1T Is against the consutu-
ton of our union for our men to work with
non-alntonists There is no desire on the
part of the bricklayers' organization TO
antagoniZe the United States government
| We do not question Capt. SeweHs right
| to discharge whom he pleases or put 10
work whom he pleases. but We nave rights
| as we'll as the government in such mat
terS.
| The question of the alleged employment
| of five or more non-union bricklayers at
| the Washington navy yard may be brought
| uu at the meeting of the Central Labor
| Union this evening.
| I'VE must be consistent" said repre-
| sentative workingman today IF it Is true
| that non-union men are working with
! ,nionists at the navy yard, then in all fair
| ress and consistency a strike should be or
| dered there"
| There is no immediate danger of lay-ou
| of carpenters and others at the barracks on
| account of the bricklayers' strike.
| Engineer officers deplore the political
| phase of the strike. but say 1t cannot be
| made to operate against the administration.
| because if any other party was in power
| the laws would have to be obeyed just the
same.
| In the army" said officer. 1--WE are
| not supposed to know anything about poll
| tics Duty alone is our watchword.'