Evening star., 1907-08-03
CRISIS REACHED TODAY
Strike of Local Building Trades
Regarded as impending.
RESULT OF CONFERENCE
Master Builders Decline Invitation to
Meet Labor Delegates.
COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE
Representatives of Labor Resume Ses-
sion at Typographical Temple
5=.. Iv
Late This Afternoon.
COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE

The crisis in the local labor situation was
reached today and strike involving almost
the whole army of union building laborers
in the District of Columbia seems TO be in
evitable For many months past. ever since
a misunderstanding arose between the union
plumbers and their employers, troublesome
conditions have obtained and from the
beginning with the Plumbers the difficulties
multiplied until one trade after another was
drawn into the imbrOglio. Similarly the
members of employers affected increased
until ultimately the Employers Association
stood arrayed on one side and practically
the entire labor field on the other.
Recently a committee of ten was selected
from among the delegates of the Central
Labor Union, and their efforts were di-
rected to securing an adjustment. They
failed and then the bricklaye-s' union
made an individual attempt to work out a
solution to the difficulty. Finally the Cen
trail Labor Union called meeting in this
city which was in many respects remark
able. because the men brought to Washing
'oh "tie tiit tiiiSI Oill-tIS OI lH- ndUODal
and international unions engaged in work
at the building trades.
Basis of Journeymen's Complaint.
From the beginning to the present time
the unions rontended that the employers
were seeking to force the open shop
principle in the capital The employers
argued that the situation as it exists to-
day is entirely OF the making of certain of
the local branches Of the building tradse'
organization.
The committee Of ten of the Central La
Dor Union. the bricklayers' union and
finally the conference committee of the la
Dor leaders sent invitations to the EN-
p,oyers' Association for joint meetings and
discussion Of the situation
But the assocfa tion contended there was
nothing to be discussed, and in a letter to
the meeting of international officers of
the unions yesterday the reasons for this
steady refusal to confer were set out in
detail. In reply the conference commit
tee issued an open letter to the public
this afternoon In which the attitude of
the building trades was explained
The labor leaders are in session for
hnal disposition of the matter this after
noon III strike is declared II is prom
ised the union building trades artisans
in the District of Columbia will have the
support of organized labor throughout
the country, and it will be a fight to "a
finish.
After The Stars report closed yester-
day the Employers Association decided to
change its plan to refer the letter signed
by the numerous labor leaders and invit-
Ing a conference. to the regular meeting
or the association last evening and "a
special meeting of the board of 2oysrnors
OF the association was called instead 1t
was the unanimous decision of the board
that no necessity for conferences ex
listed. and this statement, with detailed
reasons Tor making II. We're written in
the form of a communication to the
trades representatives.
Letter From Employers.
The letter OF the Employers Association
was placed in the hands of the trades rep
resentatves late yesterday afternoon. II
was addressed to William D. Huber and
others. International officers of the Building
Trades Union. now in conference" and
reads as follows:
Your request for conference with this
association IL a surprise and leads us to be-
lieye that you not fully informed as to
the events leading up to the present situa-
tion In the building industry of the city.
There II no controversy to be adjusted by
any negotiations. The situation as 1t ex-
lsts today In entirely of the making of GER
tain Of the local branches OF your associa-
lions.
''After "a period Of dispute extending over
ysar. concerning the complete upionizing
Of The plumbing shops OF the city. and
after several srbltrstSons, Capt. James 4.