Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-08
HELPERS ON STRIKE
Add to Complication in Ranks
of the Plumbers.
ACTION TAKEN LAST NIGHT
Apprentices Also Included in the
Order for Walkout.
VIEWS OF THE EMPLOYERS
Not Regarded as Tie-Up Of Local Es-
ablishments-Three Firms Said
to Have Yielded.
VIEWS OF THE EMPLOYERS

The strained situation between the master
plumbers and the journeymen's union as
result of the recent lockout by the employ
ers was still further complicated today by
the strike OF the apprentices and helpers
union. This walkout was ordered last night
at a largely attended meeting OF the boys
which was held in Costellos Hall. 9th and
G streets northwest. AS a result several
hundreds of boys failed to put in their APP
pearance at the usual hour this morning at
their several working places. This action
of the apprentices and helpers, the Journey
men say, completely ties up the establish
ments of those employers who are members
of the Master Plumbers Association and
who participated in the recent lockout
THE strike of the boys" said an officer
of the masters organization to a Star re-
porter today, will not entirely tie us up.
You must remember that nearly all of the
employers are themselves practical plumb
ers, and that If it becomes necessary We will
don the overalls and jumpers, as we did
four years ago, and go TO work with the
tools
The claim was made at the headquarters
of the locked-out plumbers this morning
that three of the employing firms had yield
ed and taken back their workmen since
the lockout was ordered.
At the Joint meeting of apprentices ana
helpers last night it said much en-
thusiasm was displayed and the lads de-
clared that they would stick to the jour
neymen through thick and thin. The jour
neymen deny that they Influenced the boys
in any degree to declare the strike, but that
the juniors themselves took the initiative
in the matter 1t now looks as though both
sides have settled down to determined
struggle.
Produces Copy of Contract.
An officer of the union of Journey
men plumbers today produced a copy
of the contract that he claimed had
been entered into between the mas
tiers and the union April Il. 1908,
and which had been signed by committees
representing the two bodies. He read the
clause In reference to helpers being allowed
to handle tools in refutation Of the state
ment Of a master plumber 1t was as fol-
lows:
No helper shall be allowed to work with
tools
The officer also declared there is nothing
In the contract which said that bond
should be given by the journeymen's
union. nor is there said he any clause
which prohibits them from organizing the
boys into unions
1--WE intend to stick to the boys he add
ed, land have shown our loyalty to
them by the fact that we were locked out
on their account. We have learned that
some of the employers have even sent let
tiers to the parents OF the apprentices and
helpers to influence them against and
to prevent them from going strike, but
without avail
One of the largest employers in the city
said today that the boys who walked out
this morning were gone forever, SO far
as he was concerned.
I'VE will never give them another
chance" he added. This applies to both
apprentices and helpers. They have de-
serted their employers-the men who were
making fight for them-and they cannot
expect any further sympathy from u.s.
May Declare Open Shop.
Mr.. Robert B. CaYerly, chairman of the
executive committee of the Masters Assoc
citation, said today that in his opinion the
attitude OF the workmen will not seriously
affect the plumbing business. as the dull
season Is now and will continue until
the first of June.
-Four years ago we stood 1t for nine
weeks during the busy season, when we
were loaded up with work. until the jour
neymen cried quits and l reckon we can
stand 1t now nineteen weeks If necessary
we will have hands here next week to take
the places of the men now out. l expected
TO be gone a much longer time, but found
the conditions for getting workmen so ia
vorable that l completed my business in
twenty-four hours"
It was stated by the master plumbers
that unless the breach between them and
the journeymen was closed by Monday the
employers will declare for the open shop.
This step, IT is believed. is rendered neces-
sary by the action of the helpers and ap-
prentices of last night it was added. The
busy season In the plumbing business was
said to be between June and December.