The Washington herald., 1907-04-07
PARSONS BACKS PLUMBERS
Contractor Insists on Union Labor
for Municipal Building.
VIII Cancel Agreement with Nolan
Firms II Ii Refuses to Conn
ply with Demands.

If the firm Of James Nolan & Sons does
not continue the plumbing work on the
new municipal building with union men
Monday. James L Parsons. general con
tractor. win DO the work himself. even
eancaling his contract with the Nolan
firm If necessary. This statement was
made by Mr.. Parsons yesterday after
noon.
'Tf Mr.. Nolan wants to fight the labor
unions. he cannot do 1t through me.
intend TO push this work as rapidly as
possible. and believing the trades to be
justified ia their contentious. could not
act otherwise than ] did"
Mr. Nolan was silent when seen yester-
day saying that he did not care to dis
ouss the matter Yesterday brought no
new developments IN the strike situation
on the building. There were no plumbers
working but all the other trades went 10
work as usual. The strike has been gen
orally discussed throughout the city, and
although there is a general feeling Of I'M
rest and faint anticipation Of trouble,
there is a general spirit Of optimism
among those concerned. It was stated
AfA9 Attrk tiiT HiAAEfFAa@EH 81 DffttADtA
existing In the master builders organize
lions and in the Master Plumbers Asso-
citation. which were brought 10 a point by
fridays strike and the action following
it. are MT Of a serious nature, and viii
easily be smoothed over. Il is patent that
M Parsons acted contrary TO the stand
taken by the master builders when they
supported the master plumbers ia their in
sistenee that the disputed clauses in the
arbitration award. over which all the
trouble arose. be referred back to the
arbitration board for Interpretation. Il is
said that the majority vote in this in
stance Was swung By men who had no
big work on their hands II is also
said THAI a number Of the master plumb
ers do not agree IN the stand taken by
their organization, and as an instance. il
Is asserted Mr., Parsons gave the Con-
gress Han Hotel contract 70 the firm Of
Robert B. CaveTly because il had com
piled with the award BY employing union
men alone. IL is further intimated that
James Nolan & Sons is the only firm OF
plumbers with a big amount Of work de-
handing that the dispute be referred
back 10 the arbitration board.
Mr. Parsons IN explaining his attitude
s71Aftts f+f Es+4A +AtfAA A4F &ae 0aA~ DA Allc
principals IN the movement that brought
about the arbitration in the summer of
1906 and that he gave the trades his
promise that he would exert all his IN
huence in compelling the master plumbers
TO live up % the award Mr.. Parsons eX-
pressed his firm belief the journeyman
plumbers had faithfully lived up 10 the
award as handed down. even 70 the parts
thereof that had been unfayoFabie 10
them, and that they were in the right
Arbitration. be said, was she only way TO
adjust any difference, that 1t avoided
sure loss by both parties TO a strike, and
II It was sought by the employers 10 gain
more than an arbitration award allowed
them. It could not be expected that in the
future the trades would be willing 10 sub !
init any difference 70 arbitration.
At a special meeting last night of the I
Master Plumbers Association It was re-
solved 10 support Nolan x Sons. The /
meeting was a stormy one, lasting for 1
over three hours. Mr.. Parsons il is said /
came in Tor a good bit Of criticism. 1t 4
was said that his action Friday eharae- |
terized the stand taken By him through /
out the controversy. that he had acted /
contrary 10 the wishes of the organiza ton /
OF which he was member, and that he 4
was an enemy OF all employers. From /
the outset. Il was said, he has taken a 4
decided stand in favor of the trades
unions, from which he refuses TO reeede
for any reason whatsoever
Mr. CaveTiy was not present at the
Members and officers OF the
association, when seen after the meeting.
positively refused to say word OF what
had been done. II is known, however,
that several resolutions We're passed BY
unanimous vote, and It is thought that
one OF these related TO refusing to bid
on any work done by master builders
unless they repudiated the stand taken by
Mr. Parsons.