Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-12
NOW FOR NEW B0ILD|NCs
Carpenters Stiks Which Has Been
 on For Two Years is Settled.

Peace has been proclaimed be- tween the carpenters and joiners and the master builders and the axe buried so deep that 1t is not likely to be dug up again during our time, if ever. After hearing this one would say that both parties should be wreathed in smiles to-day, but a Democrat reporter didn't find things that way when he called at the head quarters of the carpenters and join CTS union on South Main street this morning and found Agent Smith and dozen or more others in very ugly mood. They admitted that the strike is settled and that men were returning to work, but not on the conditions reported in the morning paper. It appears that the bosses and the men had an understanding that the terms of the settlement should not be published and on this account Agent Smith said that he was sorry he could not give them out, but he did feel constrained to say that the report as published was incorrect.
 Later on some of the joiners look ed up the reporter and stated that the basis of the settlement was that the men return to work at $3 per day for eight hours with the under standing that non-union men now on jobs should be given certain time to join the union. The men were so angry they could scarcely control their feelings and one of them got so bad he pitched into B. R. Kelsey without gloves. Pm strong re- publican" he yelled, ''too much so perhaps for my own good, but I'll be hanged if want Ben Kelsey or any political party to make capital out of the carpenters and joiners. He had no more to do with settling that strike than you had" The mat | ter of wages and hours were the | principal bones of contention, but l see they were not taken into consid- eration at all in the final adjustment of the question. Is that so? The rest of the gentleman's re- marks was a trifle too hot to be ap- piled to paper and besides it may be just as well to leave them where | they were uttered.
 The following statement was issued I from the headquarters of the union 1 this afternoon:
 In January, 1904 the Carpenters un- | ion appointed q committee to meet q I like committee of the Master Build- CTS association, to arrange conditions for the coming year or longer. Both l committees met in joint sessions, and agreed on all points until they reach ed the question of wages. The union demanded | raise of the minimum
 rate from $2.50 to $2S0. on which the | first split came, they adjourned to
 meet again. In few days the secre-
 tary of the Master Builders assoca-
 tion sent letter to the union stating | that unless the agreements were
 signed by Il given date all communi- cations should cease.
 The union rejected the proposition. | The carpenters stopped work and
 sought employment elsewhere. The Master Builders association
 secured the country from Philadelphia
 to MaiIn with paid agents. looking | for strike-breakers, with false state- ments. that there was no strike and
 that union and non-union men were
 working in harmony" and all labor troubles were settled and other mis- representations succeeded in bringing
 some carpenters and many wood butchers here, the most of whom re- turned home disgustel
 The Master Builders association determined to down organized labor
 kept up the fight.
 In the spring of this year the Ma
 sons union seeing that the work was
 retarded for the want of. competent carpenters asked the Master Builders | association for n conference. to try to adjust the trouble. which they ilatly refused. The Masons' union voted ] not to work with non-union men, 1 which action was almost universally continued to date. Early in the sum- mer some members of the Business Mems association spoke to the car penters' representatives. asking them to use their influence to adjust trou- ble which we did. and they turned the matter down completely. What move MT Kelsey has made himself l cannot say. but know he did not make himself known to the carpen- ters.
 About n month ago some of the
 largest employees of carpenters asked us to submit q proposition to the em- blowers. that we settle on these terms. | That eight hours constitute day. a minimum of S3.00 per day. no dis elimination on account of the union. The union accepted the terms and will
 abide by 1t.
 In the two years and four months. that the strike has been on no act of violence has been committed. or other
 unlawful net that any person tunless
 one versed in the technicalitics of iaw) could object to no political intiu' ence was or can be used with the union and no politician can make in diyiduaI capital in the union which is composed of voters of all shades oi
 politics.
 In regard to the tide of emigration that is about to set in can We expect much of if from men who are rcceiv. ing from .Jc to $l.5O moro than they
 can get for the same work in Water bury.
 HAP WARD.
 Il n