Evening star., 1907-07-07
DISRUPTION OF THE FORCES
Prediction That Proposed Action Will
Result in Rival Union.
FIGHT ON THE OPEN SHOP
Order to Return to Work Issued by
International Officers Likely to
Cause Trouble.

There were indications at labor headuuar-
ters last night that revolutionary tactics
will be adopted by certain Of the building
trades in opposition to the action of the
executive board of the International Union
of Bricklayers in ordering the members of
the local Bricklayers Union to return to
work on the buildings on which they were
employed when they went out on a sympa-
thetic strike. 1t was evident that some of
the local bricklayers were not pleased with
the action of their international officers.
and several of them declared the return to
work order would not be obeyed.
Significant omens of the alleged existing
discomfort and threatened revolutionary
tactics were in the calling Of special
meeting of Bricklayers' Union. No 1, for
tomorrow evening at Costello's Hall. and
the general order issued by President Lorch
and Secretary Sam De Nedrey, command
ing the delegates to the Central Labor
Union to be present at a meeting OF that
body to be held in Topographic Temple
tomorrow evening. when. It was declared,
business of the most pressing Importance"
is to be considered.
1t was said last night that an effort will
be made at the meeting of the Bricklayers
Union to repudiate the order of the inter-
national executive board and remain on
strike, in the meantime noting an appear
to the national convention of the interna-
tional union. In this movement. IT Is
added, the action of the bricklayers will be
supported by the Central Labor Union.
with the American Federation of Labor In
supporting distance in the background
Trouble Predicted.
1t is generally believed from the action Of
officers and leaders of organized labor
last night that trouble Is brewing. 1t was
said that considerable indignation exists In
the ranks of the brcklayers. because. 1t IS
alleged, International Vice Presidents
Priest and Thornton came here at the re-
quest. not of the journeymen's union. put
because they were sent LOT Dy lne Hds.ei
brickayers.
One of the labor leaders declared last
night that nearly all the members OF Brlck-
layers Union. No. l. OF this CITY are
native Washingtonians. and that they are
believers in local autonomy; that, having
the only organization Of bricklayers IN the
District they should be allowed TO govern
.ocaI situations and conditions without IN
terference from the executive board 1hey
also claim that being internationally al
fiiated with the plasterers, who have been
locked out By the Employers ASSOCIATION,
and with the stone masons, they cahno.
work on Jobs from which either or poln oi
those trades have been excluded.
One of the bricklayerS declared last nlent
that Vice President Priest whlie IN tnlsscily
informed the officers of the union they were
right in ordering the strike against the open
shop.
"Some of our members are therefore ex-
asperated," he said. because Mr.. Priest
evidently changed his mind after leaving
the conference he had with US.
Another significant matter was polnteo
out in connection with the trouble that Is
said to be probable and that was the pres
ence here of Frank Ryan. president OF the
Union of Bridge and struc-
Va 10 iS
in connection with the lockout of his crafts
men by the employers. 1t is expected ne
will attend the meeting OF the Central La
bor Union tomorrow evening in additlon 10
the session of the union of his trade
Citizens Alliance Probable.
A report was in circulation in labor cir
cles last night that attempt Is being
made to form local branch OF the Citi-
.ens' Alliance in Washington. This report
served to add to the interest in the situa-
tion.
A master builder said he did not believe
all the members Of the bricklayers union
would vote to repud.ate the order Of the
executive board against the sympathetic
strike.
'.If the explosive members attempt such
move" he added. "it Is my opinion the
movement will result IN the disruption OF
the union or the formation Of a rival union.
the members of which will remain true to
the edict of the international executive COM
mittee."
Several members of the Central Labor
Union did not hesitate to say that the
urgent call for the attendance Of all dele
gates at the meeting tomorrow night Of
that body meant that the miscellaneous
trades will enter the contest on the side of
the building trades. One Of them regarded
the future situation as "a fight to a finish
against the open shop in the District
1t is said a meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Building Trades Mechanics
Council will be held at Costelos Hall to-
morrow morning. and that the master
builders will meet also tomorrow at their
headquarters, 1881 G street. The outlook
last night was anything but harmonious