The Washington herald., 1907-08-04

AS forecasted in The Washington Her
aid yesterday morning. the convention 1
OF national and international officers of /
the building trades and the representa-
tiYes Of the local unions and the Central +
Labor Union yesterday voted tentatively 4
TO declare a general strike against ali I
members Of the Employers Association, /
Master Builders Association. or any /
other organization or Individual maintain
ing a so-calIed open shop or working any I
nonunion men.
This strike order is subject to final /
ratification at a meeting called for 10 /
o'clock Monday morning.
Members OF the conference and the 10
cal and international officers declined last ]
night to discuss the matter, or to make /
any confirmation. Tt is positively known, I
however. that such action was taken.
Five Hundred Men Affected.
It is impossible 10 state with exactness I
Just how many men will 60 out or how 1
much and what quantity Of work will be +
affected, but taking as basis the total /
Of 10,000 building trade mechanics in this /
city, II Is believed by the leaders in the /
local labor movement that fully 800, and I
possibly more, men viii be called out on 4
work controlled By the members Of the /
Empowers Association. The amount OK \
money which viii be involved as re-
suit Of these men going out is roughly es-
timated as about 100000.
All last night there were conferences at I
headquarters al COstellOs, and at the 1
National Hotel, where a number Of the /
international officers are stopping Final /
action was not taken yesterday afternoon, I
it is believed, pending the ratification OF 1
the action by the executive boards OF the 4
various international organizations. All 4
evening the international officers were In 4
communication with their headquarters. /
and First Vice President Preecc, Of the /
Bricklayers' Union. was IN conference /
with Grand President Bowen over the /
ong-distauce telephone.
BrIckIayers Decide 10 Go out.
The bricklayers. the key to the situa- I
ton and in large measure the bone Of 4
contention between the Employers As /
sociation and the building trades, who 4
have been Waverlng between the two fac /
tions for the past two months, have /
finally cast their lot with their fellow /
general strike order IS made effective. /
The United brotherhood of Carpenters 1
and Joincrs, one Of the biggest OF the /
local organizations. which, Ike the brick 4
layers. had stood of. have also Joined 4
hands with the Building Trades Mechan- !
les Council
This action IS said 70 be q direct result 1
Of the refusal OF the Employers AssO- /
ciatlon Of the building trades 10 hold /
conference with the international! officers. /
There IS little, If any. doubt that the 4
strike order win be finally ratified Mon |
day morning with the full consent Of the /
international executive boards.
Text of strike Resolution.
The strike resolution. as learned last /
night. is as follows:
Resolved. That the international 1
and national officers Of the several
building trades, in convention assem-
bled, hereby order "a general strike OF 1
the members OF their several local /
unions engaged on work on all build
fngs under construction in the District
Of Columbia By members Of the EN-
pl0yers' Association, the Master
Builders Association. or any other or
ganizatiOu whatsoever that is now OF
may hereafter employ nonunion labor
in the several building trades;
THAT the members Of this conyen-
ton. individually and collectively.
pledge that members Of their respec-
tive unions Will refuse TO work on any
building, OF buildings, where nOnuniOn
labor is employed until such time as
every man so employed on such build
ing shall have fuII paid-up card Of
the union Of his craft.
THAT each international and na-
tlonal delegate pledges the moral and
financial support OF his organization"
Delegates Vote Unanimously.
This resolution was unanimously adopt /
ed by the delegates, who cheered its pas
sage. The question Of an answer to the /
letter from the Employers Association. /
declining a conference. was the first bust /
ness taken up at the afternoon meeting 4
in Typographical Temple. 1t was agreed /
that. under a ten-minute rule, every
delegate present be allowed 10 speak on /
the subject. outlining the views If his \
organization. The resolution was then I
presented and sent TO the committee on /
resolutions for consideration. A recess |
was taken for three-quarteEs of an hour 4
and At o'clock the committee announced I
ttldl lL was lEduy 70 ItpOIk.
A special emergency committee Of five /
was appointed to look after the situation, |
and it is expected that the strike will, in 4
part, be made effective Immediately fol- |
lowing ratification of the strike order |
Monday morning.
Ten Days of Grace Is Granted.
Although there was general Indignation |
at the refusal Of the employers to hold |
a conference, it is said that in order |
TO prevent any accidents or financial loss. !
a time allowance has been made. ex-
tending TO Saturday. August 10. for the |
making safe of all buildings affected |
THAI is when a strike is declared on any |
buiI6.ng, the men will remain at work /
long enough to make the building safe /
before laying down their tools
Hasty preparations are being made for |
a long SIEGE and the setting up of strike |
headquarters is under way. Already the /
election Of a strike committee is being
considered. Contrary to expectations. the /
international officers did not leave town |
tonight, and with but one exception an |
nOunced their intention Of remaining for
the meeting Monday. Several cities and
nearby towns, where local builders have
the contract for construction work have
been communicated with, and as soon as
the strike is on here it is probable that it |
will be extended.
Municipal Building Not Affected.
The new municipal building, on which |
two strikes have already been declared. |
owing 10 the presence of nonunion
plumbers, will not be affected by the new
strike order, as James L. Parsons. the |
builder, after ordering the nonunion |
men from the work, has steadily refused |
to let them return Most Of the other