Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-25
STRIKE HELD IN ABEYANCE
MUCH DEPENDS UPON ACTION OF
THE BRICKLAYERS.
President of International Bricklayers'
Association Striving for Peace.
Conferences Under Way.

With practically everything depending
upon the action of Local No 1 OF the
Bricklayers and Masons International
Union. all eyes in the local labor world are
turned toward the meeting Of the brick
layers in Odd Fellows Hall tonight If
they decide to walk out 1t is freely pre-
dicted that all other trades which are
wholly or partially involved in the move
ment will also go on strike, and the fight
to a finish between labor and capital In
Washington will be begun. On the other
hand. If the brcklayers decide to continue
at work the prophet has not yet appeared
who would venture opinion on the u.tl-
mate outcome of the present unsettled con-
dtions.
President w. ]. Bowen of the bricklay-
ers International organization, who has
been in town since Tuesday has devoted
most of his time to conferences with the
officers of the local unions of other trades.
This afternoon he will participate in a
meeting between the arbitration boards Of
the journeyman bricktayer and the Master
Builders Association. and tonight he will
b. the central figure in the meeting of the
Local No. l. Bricklayers' Union.
Declines to Give Opinion.
Asked whether he thought there would be
a strike of brcklayers. followed by a gen.
Of the chaotic conditions now obtaining,
Mr.. Bowen declined to give an opinion.
Il hope not" he said land we are now
trying to avoid such an outcome 1 have
met the representatives of other trades in
the city during TIE past twenty-four hours
and we have prepared tentative plan
which may be carried through successfully
l cannot now say what the plan is. but 1t
will probably come before meeting of the
trades early next week.
Ever since his chief has been in the city
William CrOnin, business agent of the local
union of bricklayers. has been plotting Mr..
Bowen about and seeking to place him in
touch with all phases of the situation. Be
sides talking with the officers of other
trades unions and meeting with the master
builders this afternoon. it Is probable that
Mr.. Bowen will also be introduced to the
members or officers Of the Employers AS
ISOLATION. and thus secure information from
all sides of the question.
Many statements have been made con-
corning the exact contents of the letter
written to the brcklayers' union by the
Employers Association. In which the re-
quest of the union for a conference was re-
fused. copy of that letter has been pro-
cured. 1t was dated July 23. and addressed
to q. w. Elliott corresponding secretary of
the Brtcklayers Union. No. 1. Bricklayers
and Masons' international Union 61O G
street northwest city. 1t is as follows:
Copy Of Communication.
Il beg to acknowledge receipt of your
communication of the 10Th instant. ad-
dressed to Mr.. f. C. Graham. The same
was duly presented to our special commit
tee at a called meeting held this day. and
after careful and deliberate consideration it
was resolved that
Whereas pleasant relations now exist
between Brickiayers' Union. No. l, Brick
layers and Masons' International Union of
the District Of Columbia. and the Employ
ers' Association, and 1t Is desired by our
association to maintain said pleasant rela-
tons; and as Bricklayers' Union, No. I. pro-
poses to offer its kindly Offices in the ad
justment of differences which do not d.
rectly affect its organization. and which
can be fraught with beneficial effect.
due to the attitude of the various branches
of the trade who have forced the Employ
ers Association beyond the point where
conference could possibly result in our mu-
tual benefit: therefore be 1t
" Resolved. That the proposed conference
Is respectfully declined
In reply to your communicate ton and in
with the direction of the special
committee l have the honor to submit the
foregoing"
The communication is signed by E. K.
Hall. secretary.
Action by Central Labor Union.
Following the receipt Of the letter from
the employers association by the brick
layers union, the secretary Of the Central
Labor Union who was instructed at the
last meeting to write to the international
officers of the various trades unions In
viting them to come to Washington for
conference on or shortly after the 1st OF
August, considered the situation grave
that he substituted kilograms for letters,
and the labor leaders were requested to
convene in this city at the earliest possible
moment.
One of the officers of Local No. 1 said
this morning that il strike does occur
there will be a general exodus from the
city of union workmen and he exhibited
letter from firm of contractors in Chat
tanooga, Tenn, in which 1t was stated
steady employment could be given to as
many as fifty union bricklayers from the
present date to January l, 1903, or longer.