The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-09
DEMANDCLOSED SHOP
coNrINuEp FRoM pAcE oNE.


delegates and union officers. owing to the
announcement that the present building
trades trouble would be taken up at the
meeting
Delegate Brinkman asked that the regu-
lar order be suspended soon after the
meeting was convened, and the delegates,
who had been sitting in expectancy. sup
ported his request. Secretary De Nedrey
read the preamble and resolutions. He
was frequently interrupted by applause,
communication from the Brotherhood
% Carpenters and Joiners was also read,
which outlined their position and thr
reasons for their declination to Join the
building trades.
Including those whose vote made the
passage OF the resolutions unanimous
we're the delegates from the Brcklayers,
the Brotherhood of Carpenters, and the
Steamhtters unions, the three building
trades who have not supported the fight
against the open shop
Warns These Three Trades.
Former President Brinkman arraigned
these trades for hiding behind the "sham
Of a contract" and warned them that,
although apparently it was only a small
matter affecting a few trades. really
It was a powerful movement that would
spread. and marked the beginning of a
great effort by a great and thoroughly
organized machine to crush trades union
ism and its principles. II believe in con-
tracts he said, land believe they should
be lived up TO; but would never live up
10 any contract that had as its object
by one of the contracting parties the de-
structlon Of the others.
organized labor will fight 70 the last
ditch and before they are driven to the
poorhouse the employers will be driven
to bankruptcy. You need a closer al
lance, and no organization has a right 10
stand of on account Of old sores. This
IS a great fight. and you must stick to-
gether until It is fought 70 a finish, and
then II you wish It you can settle the
differences among you. CThis was said IN
reference to communications from the
Brotherhood and the hod carriers) You
may think this is a small fight but It is
the crucial point in the progress OF or
ganized labor in this city, and every
other city on this continent. 10 which It
viii spread IL not crushed here"
Time for Action.
Secretary De Nedrey declared that they
would meet the employers on any ground,
that the time was now ripe for action, and
they would not tear down the bulwarks
that had been erected by years of labor
in the cause that had tended TO the gen
eral advance Of prosperity. but would
burn their bridges behind them and fight
for the maintenance CT their principles
and the resultant prosperity.
Delegate Rodier was even more en-
phatic than those preceding him.
Copies Of the resolution VIII be printed
and sent to each local with request FOR
their return with the action taken on
them
President Torch read a section from
the constitution of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor bearing On the powers Of
central bodies in calling a strike. in
which It was stated that no trade hav-
Ing an international body could be called
out without the consent Of such lnterna-
tional body. He recommended that the
International officers Of the three unions
who had remained out be te!egraphed
Immediately by the secretary. This was
approved and President Torch appointed
the following committee provided for in
the resolutions adopted: J. H. Brinkman
sam De Nedrey, John J. Purcell J. W
Considine, Frank McKenna. James J. Nc
Cracker. \. c. Sprague. J. G. Schmidt
c. W. Winslow, and F.. L. Mcclellan
Bricklnyers Go Back 10 Work.
At the special meeting Of the Bricklay-
ers' Union, held IN Costello's Hall. # was
decided 10 return to work pending the
outcome Of a request for a conference
with the Employers Association of the
Building Trades. Second Vice President
Thornton and the arbitration committee
OF the union held q meeting with the Mas
ter Builders Association yesterday 10 dis
cuss the situation, but they were in
formed that the matter was out OF the
builders hands now and they would have
tC confer with the Employers Association
Of the Building Trades. Consequently.
under instructions from Vice President
Preece, such a meeting has been re-
Quested. at which It Is said the employers
will be asked if they favor the open shop
Upon the reply will depend the bricklav-
ers' action. II the answer is yes. ii is said
the bricklayers will. with the consent Of
the international organization. immedl-
ately go on strike for a third time with
the full moral and financial support of the
international
One weeks time limit has been set for
this meeting. and If the employers do not
agree 10 the meeting within this time the
international officers will leave it to the
local union TO do as it sees fit, which. in
view of last weeks action. VIII be to go
on strike. Mr.. Thornton left this city for
Wilkesbarre, Pa. on important business
late yesterday afternoon, but with the
assurance that a telegram announcing the
conference before Thursday will bring
both himself and First Vice President
Preece to this city, and If such a tele-
gram is not received they viii be here on
that date