Evening star., 1907-07-01
Contests to Be Waged Unceas-
ingIy and With vigor.
IN NATURE OF AN ULTIMATUM
Statement Issued at Headquarters of
Employers.
UNITED AND DETERMINED
Regularly Organized Vigilance Com.
mittees to Capture" Non-Union
Workmen From Other Cities.

The outlook in the building trades sit
uation today was that the employers and
the unions have locked horns in earnest,
and that the contest that is now on will
be waged increasingly and with energy
on both sides.
The workingmen have regularly or
gahized vigilance committees and the rail-
road depots and steamboat wharves and
other places are said to be regularly pick
eted by members Of the several unions,
whose duty it is to capture non-union
workmen and endeavor to get them to re-
turn to the places whence they came.
A statement said to be in the nature
OF an ultimatum was given out at head
quarters of the Employers Association
this afternoon. 1t was. in effect. that un-
less the striking bricklayers decide to re-
turn to work by Wednesday steps will be
taken to import a large number Of non-
union bricklayers and employ them on the
partly completed structures In the Dis
trict.
At labor headquarters an equally strong
counter statement was made. It was that
never before have the building trades OF
Washington been so united and determined
to combat any force as they are in their
dency here. There was no sign Of yield
ing in sight among the workmen and their
leaders who were gathered about Costello 8
Hall today. and their shibboleth seemed to
be that they would fight out the present
contest to a finish.
Reference to Advertisements.
One Of the labor leaders declared that the
executive committee of the Building Trades
Mechanics Council has secured possession
OF advertisements inserted In newspapers
in other cities inviting nom union mechanics
70 70 Uyo 10 of
work here and the open shop prevails. The
pickets at the depots were instructed to re-
double their efforts to turn back all nom
unionists as fast as they arrive in the
city.
The union workmen. including the
bricklayers, who went on strike at the
District government building last Friday,
all returned to their jobs there this morn
ing, and operations were soon In full
blast The places of the non-union plumb
ers. who were deposed by Mr.. James l..
Parsons. the contractor. had not been
filled by union workmen up to late
hour this afternoon, and no proceedings
had been taken against Mr.. Parsons, so
far as conld be learned.
At Academy Of Music Building.
The statement that the work on the
Academy of Music building was to be
unionized today was denied at headquar
ters of the Employers Association.
builders said, there are between sew
enty-five and eighty mechanics row at
work on the Academy and all are nom
unionists except the carpenters. We have
more men on that work today than ever
before"
The visit to Washington Of Vice Presi-
dent Priest of the International BrickIay-
ers' Union is regarded as significant. 1t
was said today that he sustains the action
Of the local bricklayers in going on strike,
thus giving their support to the other
building trades in the present controversy.
The master builders say Mr.. Priest will
return to Indianapolis and confer with the
International president Of the bricklayers,
and that the ultimatum OF that official Is
expected to reach this city tomorrow even
ing or Wednesday morning. If it is not
favorable to the employers, a master
builder said the work of importing nom
union bricklayers will begin next Friday
I'VE can get bricklayers as easily as we
can plasterers." the master builder added.
land want TO say that it is the unions
and not the employers who are forcing the
open shop. If they want 1t, we will give 1t
to them"
May Order General Walkout.
The executive committee Of the Building
Trades Mechanics Council met this morn
ing at Costellos and discussed the visit Of
Vice President Priest to '. ashington. The
decision was reached, it was said. to pull
several buildings about town on which nom
union workmen are said to be employed.
and the committeeman started out for that
purpose At late hour this afternoon they
were still out on their rounds.
At the meeting Of the council Of the build
ing trades to be held tomorrow evening it is
said an effort will be made to make the
present strike more effective by ordering a
general walkout.
1t is still claimed in building circles that
the bricklayers hold the key to the situa-
tion. and that the visit of Mr.. Priest brought
the controversy to a focus.
There was series Of meetings and con-
ferences yesterday which have excited much
interest. 1t Is said Vice President Priest
was the center of all these gatherings and
every possible effort was made by the mas
ter bricklayers and men to influence his de-
cision. He declined to discuss what had
taken place at the meetings, saying that he
would prepare report for the international
executive board, which would be presented
to both sides. by tomorrow, or possibly
little later. When pressed. however, he is
said to have given utterance to one sentence
that brought cheer from the men, 1t was:
1.-The bricklayers' union is right" This
means that his report and the action of the
international executive board will approve
Thursday nights action. the workingmen
assert.
Master Bricklayers' Contention.
Plans were made yesterday that will be
carried into effect this week, it is said. The
Building Trades Mechanics Council held a
called session, anu tne InaSter pricklayerS
contended with Mr. Priest that the journey
men bricklayers had violated their charter
In affliating with the building trades and
their contract with the master bricklayers
by participating in the strike. This was
denied by the journeymen, who said that
the men had quit and their business agent
had not visited single building on which
the men had laid down their tools. The
argument centered around the first two
clauses Of the contract covering these
points This meeting was in session until
I o'clock last evening" and from the state
ments of the men and Mr.. Priest, the jour-
neymen were victorious.
Before leaving Washington last night Mr..
Priest Is said to have declined to order a
cessation of the strike by the bricklayers.
1t Is denied that the electrical workers have
refused to confer with their bosses.
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