Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-04
BUILDERS THROW
 DOWN THE GAUNTLET
Will Not Sign the Carpenters and Joiners Agreement Met Last Night and Passed Radical Resolution Agreements of Other Unions Will Not be Signe d- Now Consider Themselves Free to Hire Whom Thes Please.

The strike situation looks serious to- day. It was thought that the Master Builders association and bricklayers would get together last night, but things didn't turn out that way. One Of the bricklayers said to-day that they had tried three times to meet the com mfttee representing the master build CTS, but got no show to talk it over with them. They called upon the bosses last night by invitation, but were informed by MT Gaffney that the committee was not prepared to meet them. The bricklayers are not on strike, but they are idle and cannot do anything until the hodcarriers get to work. 'sI'm satisfied said one of the masons, sthat the bosses don't care to settle this question With the excep- ton of being paid on the job, something We were not very particular about any, way, we asked nothing that we have not had for years. They made no ob- jectiQn to signing our contract last year and I see no reason why they baked at it this time unless they want ed to court trouble I don't know what way things will terminate, but I have no hesitation in stating that it all rests with the bricklayers. If they stand pat with the hodcarriers and joiners we'll win If not the jig is up with the toiners and hodcarriers. All ne- gotiations are now off, and unless l mistake my guess the bosses will make the next move toward a settlement. We have called upon them three times by invitation and got turned down, and now I don't see why it isn't up to them to show a disposition to straighten out the snarl. M
 The Master Builders association met last night and passed the following resolution:
 o o O o O O o Voted That when this meet o ing adjourns it does so to meet o o two weeks from tonight and 0 o that no agreement shall be en- o tered into with the Carpen- Q ters' union or any other unIUn Q o by this association or any mem o o Der of it which shall in any way o O jeopardize the interests of any o o workman who may return to o o work in the meantime. Q o o o O o 6 It is plain from this that the strike will last a couple of weeks, if not more, for the bosses are stiff-necked and the men show no signs of yield ing. Things were quiet all day among the carpenters and joiners and few of the others were about town. The
 picket work is being conducted with the greatest vigilance, so much so that it would be out of the question for a
 man to drive a nail, knock the corner
 off brick or put hoe In mortar
 tub without being detected. So far no Moody has attempted the feat, and it is
 not likely anyone will care to try, espe- icalIy in the mortar mixing business, for this particular branch of the busi-
 ness is being given special attention and he would be more than brave who would run counter with the men on
 guard No violence is looked for, but unless something unexpected happens the strike is bound to last long enough to create a condition of things which will be great loss to some people and
 no benefit to anybody. Nobody is but ting in and as a result the contend1ng
 forces are now so far apart that peace
 is not in sight at this time, though for
 all one can tell it may drop in upon us
 before morning. Suggestions don't ap-
 pear to count for anything at this stage
 of the proceedings, but many are ask ing why the posses ana the men can
 not agree to have all hands go to work
 pending an adjustment of the different
 disputed points. It would be a god
 plan too. and the wise heads on both sides could not employ their time to
 better advantage than in working aolng these lines.
 Rumors of a slight skirmish at the
 new plant of the B. J. Manville Co on
 Dublin street foated into the center this afternoon, but investigation
 showed that there was not much if anything at all to it. It was said that few men were working there
 this morning, but they could not be
 found this afternoon. The police had
 heard Of no trouble and some of the
 men who are out when asked about the