Evening star., 1907-08-03

Oyster was agreed upon by the Building
Trades Alliance and this association as
and award was rendered May 20 last,
directing those unions then on strike for
the purpose of compelling the discharge Of
all non-union plumbers in the city, to
turn to work. This award was ignored.
Alleged Defiance Of Agreement.
mo union returned its men and since
then the unions in several other trades have
called out their members in defiance of It,
and in some cases in violation of trade
agreements and on sympathetic grounds
only. No question Of wages or hours has
arisen in any trade.
After waiting reasonable time for the
unions to return their men to work this as
sociation decided that building operations in
the District of Columbia must proceed with
such men as were willing to work. No at
tempt has been made in any trade to secure
Independent or non-union workmen where
the union in that trade has not first struck
and refused to allow its members to work
THE future policy of this association will
be the same as that thus far followed. We
shall endeavor at all costs to see to 1T that
building operations in the city are not un-
duly delayed, and when any workmen union
or non-union, refuse to work on any of our
jobs for any cause, we will fill their places
with men who will work. Above all we
will be absolutely loyal to such new work
mon honesty. We do not intend to inau-
gurate any movement for decrease of
wages or longer hours or any other condi-
ton not now obtaining.
You will readily see that under these
conditions there is no occasion for any con-
ference.
(signeO Yours respectfully,
Board of Governors Of Employers Asso-
(ia nj ba nf
trict of Columbia, by
''E. X. HALL, Secretary"
Situation Not Discussed.
The regular meetingof the association was
held last night. but it was declared the sit
labor representatives for a conference was
not discussed further than along the same
INES indicated in the earlier action Of the
board of governors.
William Bowen of New York, general
president of the International Bricklayers
and Stonemasons' Union. who has been in
Washington the past week, left for his
home last night. He said he had done
everything in his power to secure some sort
of settlement of the existing difficulties, but
without avail. and he has turned over the
local situation to First Vice President
Fierce of the same organization. Mr..
Bowen will return next Thursday to deliver
a farewell address, he having announced
his intention to retire, and to refuse TO
again hold office at the head of the inter
ma tional union.
Mr.. Gompers' View.
Samuel Gompers. president Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, said last night
that he was disappointed at the refusal of
TIE employers to grant the requested con-
ference.
'If this be true" he said, Il think the
mistake of their lives. Even if they We're
in the right in the beginning of the con-
trOversy. it is due the unions that one final
joint meeting be held in an endeavor to
straighten out matters The whole object
Of the meetings now being held here is to
try to adjust the differences eXis.ng be
tween the employers and the employed and
j think it fair and right that the employers
should take hand in the matter and work
with the International officers in an en-
deavor to secure peace.
Open Letter Issued.
Following the receipt Of the letter from
the Employers Association the labor lead
ers' conference assembled this morning. ard
the following open letter to the public WIS
issued by the press' committee as express
ing fully the attitude of the building trades:
ITO the Public:
For several months past there have. been
controversies existing between the local
building trades and their employers and
after repeated efforts on the part of the
employees to bring about a settlement hav-
ing failed, at their request a committee
of ten was selected from among the dele
gates of the Central Labor Union of the
District of Columbia to see IL they could
not bring about an adjustment of the trou
BILE letter sent by the committee
to the Employers Association asking that
il take up the matter with them, but be-
yond a simple acknowledgment of its re-
ceipt no attention has been paid to the loca
committees request. Then it was that the
committee decided to call a conference of the
international and national representatives
of the building trades of the United States,
and see IL they could not bring about a
settlement. Invitations were sent out and
nineteen or more than two-thiFds Of the
trades responded, and upon the opening
of the convention in the city addressed a
letter to the Employers Association signed
by all the officers of the bodies rep esented
asking for a conference with the Employ
ers' Association.
Employers Criticised.
This Saturday morning a reply was re-
ceved in which the association declares it
cannot rec any reason for conference. In
other words, the association has been dis
courteous enough to say to the men in the
la Dor movement. whose sole aim is to secure
better conditions in life for those whom
they represent that we do not care to meet
you; we don't care to adjust the trouble; thai
the pleasant relations heretofore existing
hetweep ourselyes and emDloyea haS zone