Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-20

and could not be considered. 1t is known
that several attempts have been made TO
secure the Endorsement of the orgamzauoh
for a presidential candidate, put II mas
thus far declined to be drawn into the po-
litical tangle.
The members of the knights Of Labor
in the District 1t is learned, have also
handled the political question with caution;
The knights Of Labor, like the CentraI
Labor Union, have on several OCCASIONS
adopted resolutions extending the thanks
of the organization to certain members OF
Congress for their interest in matters az
fecting the laboring element, and nave eN
pressed their disapproval OF the acuon OF
other members for alleged disregard or
labor's welfare. 1t is urged, however, that
such action by labor unions has a poHtlcai
significance and undoubtedly influences the
minds of the laboring people in the matter
Of the selection of candidates for offces
Much apprehension is expressed as to the
building operations in the District the pres
ent spring and approaching summer, when
ordinarily Washington is a scene or great
activity in such directions. The present
controversy involving jurisdiction over
stone setting, in which are concerned the
members of the International Union OF
Stone Cutters. the International Union OF
Stone Masons and the international Union
of Brickayers. is responsible, in large
measure, for the inactivity among con-
tractors employing workmen of the re-
spective crafts. 1t is known that the
award of a large number of contracts for
immense building operations are contingent
upon the adjustment of the difficulty 1t Is
suggested that, should the diff1culty con-
TRUE for an indefinite period, thereby seri-
ously jeopardiZing the interests of the en-
ployers the latter may take things in their
own hands in such way as may cause the
warning unions to regret the present DIS
pute.
The outlook for the settlement of the
local controversy is anything but encourag-
ing hitch has occurred in the negOtll
tons for a settlement by means of arbitra-
ton, and it is predicted the conciliatory
conference arranged for tomorrow evening
will not be held.
A conference was held in New York
Monday between the officials of the Erie
Railroad Company and Messrs. Ford and
Reynolds of the executive board of the In
ternational Association of Machinists, for
the purpose of considering the details and
renewal of the agreement for the ensuing
year governing the working conditions of
the employees Of the system.
The "open shop" is responsible for an
other strike in the Fox River Valley sec
ton. The machinists employed by one of
the large manufacturing companies of that
section have gone on a strike to enforce
their demands that the establishment en-
ploy only union men.
The officials of the st. Louis exposition
are concerned at present in the strike OF
a number of union machinists in connec-
ton with two of the exhibits of the fair.
1t is stated that the companies concerned
in the difficulty declined to employ union
men in the reassembing and erection of
their exhibits
The state board of mediation and arbi-
tration Of New York has just completed a
report which shows how costly We're the
labor controversies in the state last year.
The report says in part:
Zone great dispute overshadows all 9TH p
ers in the record of strikes and lock-outs
for 1903. The conflict between associated
capital and organized labor, which brought
building operations in New York city prac-
tically to standstili for several months,
without doubt, in point of numbers
concerned and losses sustained, the great
est industrial dispute in the history of the
state Outside the general building dispute
in New York city 73,S71 work people were
directly concerned in this years disputes
and they lost in the struggle over 100000
days work. Besides these there were at
least 1900 others who, though not partci-
pants, were thrown out of work and lost
more than 100000 days time. If to these
be added %, s34 who were directly and 1928
who were indirectly involved in the metro
politan disputes, with a loss OF over l,7ooOoO
days, the aggregate mounts up to over
1T 600 employees concerned and 100000
work days lost. These figures, even with
out any allowance for the Incompetence
of the record, show that 1903 was marked
by a greater disturbance of Industrial rela-
lions in disputes than any previous year.
with the possible exception Of 1885. More
than one-half of the 1903 disputes were in
the building and metal and machinery In
dustries, with f1fty-nine In the former and
forty-eight in the latter"
A question involving the relations OF the
local carpenters council to the Council or
Allied Building Trades has been submitted
to the executive council of the American
Federation OF Labor for decision. 1t Is
stated that the carpenters council, which
IL the executive body Of the several car