Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-06
Council Fails to Meet TODAY.

Council Fails to Meet Today.
The executive committee of the Building
Trades Mechanics Council, which has here
tofore held daily meetings at headquarters
in Costello's Hall, failed to convene this
morning at the usual hour. When asked
as to the cause of this failure to hold the
regular daily meeting a member of the
committee declared:
we did not see any use of meeting as
the bosses have decided to lock US out"
He also said 1t was probable that the
executive committee might deem IL adyis-
able under existing circumstances to call
meeting of the mechanics council be-
fore the regular meeting time. next Tues
day evening, to take action concerning the
lockout.
The Master Builders Association also
held meeting last night and decided 1t is
said. that the time for drastic action in
dealing with the troubled conditions had
arrived. The decision was reached to follow
70 the letter the recommendations of the
EMPLOYERS Association as contained in the
resolutions adopted by that BODY
member said three arbitration boards
had failed to restore harmony although
the umpires Of each were representative cit
liens and men of honor. two of them being
Judges on the bench; that the efforts of
the master builders, as we'll as of the EN-
ployers Association, had all been toward
Cancellation, but the overtures had been
spurned by the trade unions Therefore
hotnlng remained but to resort to lockout
until a full and fair resumption of cordial
relations would be assured without further
interruption of building operations.
Alleged Origin Of Trouble.
1t was also stated that the trouble in
the ranks OF the plumbers, which were at
the bottom Of the whole difficulty. would
have to be settled once for all before the
employers will consent to resumption Of
work.
On the side Of the unions of workingmen
the statement was made that there has
been well developed tendency among GER
tain OF the employers to fasten the open
shop principle upon the mechanics in the
District, and that such a step would be
resisted to the last. 1t was claimed that
the Master Plumbers Association in the
first instance sought to introduce the open
Shop IN that craft, and because organized
labor has resisted the effort, the lockout
was ordered.
1t was the opinion of several master work.
men that the lockout of certain trades
which will begin tomorrow morning will
IN snort time affect all the building
tinue the work in the absence of the locked
out mechanics after a certain point in the
erection work is reached
Workingmen contend that the plasterers
hold the key to the situation and that in
short while they will succeed in the
nature of things in blocking all constructive
operations. 1t was also said that the work
OF the bricklayers on large buildings will
be blocked by the lockout of the hosting
engineers. and on smaller structures by the
bod carriers union, should that organiza-
ton decide to enter upon a sympathetic
strike.
ranks practically all the large dealers in
building materials in the District and these
business men have determined not to fur
niSh any material for the use Of any of
the locked-out trades.
1t is said that 90 per cent Of the building
operations in this city and vicinity is under
the control of the Employers Association
and the Master Builders Association This
high percentage is not admitted by the
Workingmen, who stated further that there
was plenty of work for their brother-work-
ers in nearby cities to relieve the tension.
Offer of Non-Unionists.
There was a report in circulation today
that Philadelphia who has taken part
in many strikes and lockouts as a strike
breaker will visit Washington this evening
or tomorrow and endeavor to supply the
employers with non-union workmen of the
locked-out trades.
The two associations of master builders
In this city recently amalgamated and the
president of the combined association is Mr.
W. E. speir of the Speir Construction Com
pany.
ouI Efforts mus Tar nave tended toward
conciliation,", said one of the members of
the Employers Association this afternoon.
but as three arbitration boards composed
of some Of the most influential representa-
tive men of the District have failed in their
efforts to bring about return of har-
mony, there was but one thing left for us
to do-take drastic steps to bring about a
settlement once for ALL"
The strained condition Of affairs in the
building trades was the general topic Of
conversation in financial, real estate and
labor circles today, and the outcome will
be eagerly awaited.
THE MCKINLEY HOMESTEAD