Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-21
TALK OF A STRIKE
Trouble Over Issues Before
Board of Arbitration.
CONTENTION OF PLUMBERS
Doubt Of General Tie Up Expressed by
an Employer.
THE OPEN SHOP A GRIEVANCE
Meeting Of Joint Committee Of Trades
Unionists - Conference With
Master Builders Desired.
CONTENTION OF PLUMBERS
THE OPEN SHOP A GRIEVANCE

The report that q sympathetic strike of
the building trades unions Of the District
Is contemplated. based upon the action
taken last night at a meeting of the joint
trades union committee OF thirty-two men,
bers, was generally discussed today by tn
terested persons. 1t was intimated that the
strike might be called for next Monday to
assist the journeymen plumbers in their
contest with the Master Plumbers Associa-
ton.
Leading workingmen today declared that
the master plumbers are endeavoring to
wipe OUT the Plumbers Union. and that
in order to bring about that contamination
they had caused their so-called non-unt0n
employees to form what Is termed an AS
senbly OF the knights of Labor" 1t was
also asserted that the master plumbers
were pledged to the ''open shop" which. 1t
was declared. II carried into effect, would
mean the death OF unionism here, so far as
the journeymen plumbers are concerned.
This matter of the "open shop" as
prophesied in The Star: seems to be the
rock on which the arbitration proceedings
may split. The present halt In those pro-
ceedtngs Is said to be due to the inability
Of the attorneys representing the several
sides Of the controversy to come to an
agreement on that question. with the now
organized former non-uniOn plumbers as
the principal stumbling block.
Conference Desired.
One of the principal steps taken by the
joint trades union committee last night
was to ask for q conference with the mas
ter builders. The decision was reached
after much discussion that the chairman Of
the committee. Joseph A. Daily. should
communicate with President Charles A..
Langley of the Master Builders Associa-
ton and ask for conference Friday even
Ing in order to give consideration to the
open-shop question.
This Communication was received by
President Langley this afternoon, and
later in the day he may make reply after
comforting with the officers Of the two
Master Builders Associations.
1t Is the opinion of members of the sew
eral employers associations with whom a
Star reporter talked today that the build
ing trades will hardly hazard a strike un-
der existing circumstances and thereby. as
one of them expressed it, forfeit their right
to the confidence of the employers of the
District as well as of the public generally"
AT the outset" continued the employer,
who Is not a plumber. lit was agreed be-
of the building trades and the master
builders that all questions at issue between
the master plumbers and the journeymen
should be settled by the board of arbitra-
ton. This board was to represent both
sides. two members were to be selected by
the journeymen and the same number by
the masters. the four thus selected to choose
q fifth or umpire member. This has been
accomplished, and the board. of arbitration
Is in existence to settle whatever matters
in dispute may be brought before It. - =.
: One of the principal contentious at the
very beginning Of the trouble was over the
open shop. and that is matter the board
of arbitration must settle one way or an
other. The master builders cannot settle 1t.
= Agreed Upon Terms. - -
1.-THE journeymen plumbers and the mas
tiers both agreed to decide by the decision
of the board on all questions brought be-
fore it. No stated questions were men
toned, although 1t was generally considered
that the matter OF the open shop would
come up for important consideration.
Now it is said the trades unions propose
to enter upon a strike even before that or
any other question has been decided by the
arbitrators. I do not believe the organized
workingmen of the District will take any
such arbitrary action as is said to be pro-
posed"
1t was intimated that In view Of the agree
ment of the workmen's representatives and
master builders to abide by the decision of
the board Of arbitration and allow the
board to settle any matter in controversy,
that the master builders and the other en-
any attempt to bring about strike In the
building trades at this time.
It Is denied by master builders and mas
ter plumbers alike that no Original sched-
uie' of matters was to be arbitrated by the
board.
Another meeting OF the joint committee
Of the trades unions will be held Friday
evening. when the matter OF strike or no
meantime it is said the officers OF the two
master builders associations win get to-
gether on the proposition that has been
submitted to them.