Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-05
ARE. OUT ON A STRIKE
Large Number of Men at Munic-
ipaI Building Quit Work.
ALLEGATION OF open SHOP
Claim in Regard to Firm in Charge of
the Plumbing.
VIEWS OF CONTRACTOR PARSONS
Thinks Action Of Building Trades AL
lance Was Proper - To Re-
sumo Operations Tomorrow.
ALLEGATION OF open SHOP
VIEWS OF CONTRACTOR PARSONS

One hundred and forty men, in
Guiding bricklayers, carpenters, fire.
proofers, stonecutters, steamftters,
ironworkers, hosting engineers and
hodcarriers, who were at work at the
municipal building, went on strike
this morning.
The occasion for the strike was claim
that the Arm Of James Nolan & Sons. in
charge OF the plumbing work. is conduct
Ing an open shop Mr.. James L. Par
sons, the contract In charge of the work,
decided that the Building Trades Alliance
had acted properly in ordering the strike.
so he directed the non-union plumbers to
leave off work. The result Is that the
men who went on the strike will return to
work tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Parsons told a Star reporter this
AFTERNOON that he thought the firm of
plumbers had not properly Interpreted
the findings Of the board of arbitration in
the matter OF the lockout; and that It had
not the right to employ union and nom
union men together.
Mr.. Parsons said he thinks the master
plumbers are required by the decision of
the board OF arbitration to get rid of
their non-union men. but. he added. the
contractors claim they have the right to
work union and non-union men together.
Note to Plumbing Firm.
Contractor Parsons says he called the at
tention Of the firm of James Nolan & Sons
to the possibility Of his having strike
upon his hands. addressing the firm a note
as follows:
Il am informed that the plumbers en-
ployed by you working at the municipal
building are non-union men. If such is
the case you are not complying with the
findings of the arbitration, and If such
men are kept employed 1t will interfere
with the progress of my work. I therefore
request that you employ such workmen
as you were working when I made the
contract with you"
Text Of Reply.
The response Mr.. Parsons received was:
I'VE beg to say that we must decline to
allow our business to be interfered with by
the opinions or the arbitrary and unauthor-
lied action Of your other workmen
1--WE are abiding the decision of the
board of arbitration. Our action Is not
causing any delay in the prosecution Of the
work. The delay. If any, Is caused by the
attempt of your other employees to dictate
how we shall conduct our business.
I'VE decline to withdraw our men en-
piOyeQ OH the WOrh because tney are not
really responsible for the trouble
IF you order our men to leave we shall
hold you responsible for any damages
thereby sustained by u.s."
After the strike was announced today
another note was sent by Contractor Par
sons to the firm OF plumbers in which de-
mand was made for the withdrawal of the
men in question. The demand not being
complied with Contractor Parsons ordered
the plumbers to cease work, and they
obeyed.
Conclusion Reached by Board.
The conclusion reached by the board of
arbitration, which was composed of A. S.
Worthington. ]. ]. Darlington, Stanton ].
Peelle. Jackson H. Ralston and Joseph c.
Sheehy, was that contracts of June 8,
1902. and Of April H. 1908 with the shop
rules adopted Hereunder dated November
6. 1903. are held to be in force, notwith-
standing the departures therefrom by either
of the parties thereto. Under said con-
tracts and shop rules. as shown by the
Interpretation put upon them by the par
ties at the time. the individual members
of the Master Plumbers Association are
not compelled to employ union men to the
exclusion Of non-unlon men, and the men,
bers Of Local Union, No. g. are not re-
Quired to work for members of the Mas
ter Plumbers Association to the exclusion
of non-members of such association or for
members of said association who employ
non-upnion men in the District Of CO.