The Washington herald., 1907-03-26
CRISIS IN LABOR War
Meeting Tonight Not Ex-
pected to Avert Strike.
PLUMBERS ARE SUPPORTED
Father stanford May BE Umpire.
Judge De Lacy Named as other
Possibiliiy-Open Shop Question
One Under ideration-Jonrney-
men Object TO Interpretation.

II Is improbable that the impending
crisis in the dispute between the Master
Builders Association and the B-lilding
Trades Alliance, growing out Of the dis
pute between the master and jeurneyman
plumbers as 10 the Interpretation Of ar
ticies and OF the arbitration
award viii be seriously affected by 90
nights meeting of the building trades.
II was ino,cated yesterday that the
trades would probably take no decisive
action at this time other than to stand
pat in their support of the journeyman
plumbers. who are members Of the or
ganization. Il is assured that they will
not permit the award TO so back to the
arbitrators for Interpretation, as desired
By the master plumbers and the master
builders.
This will leave the whole mattlr at a
standstlIl as every one OF the five organi-
cations concerned viii remain firrn and
wait for something to happen.
| The basis Of all the contention is a ques-
ton of the open shop. This the building
trades positively refuse 70 recognize. They
say there has been no open shop in the
/ city for years, and the arbitration award
does not allow one, and they will not per-
nit it under any consideration.
Strike Considered Probable.
It was stated by prominent member
Of the alliance yesterday that they would
have gone out last November, when there
was temporary halt in the arbitration
proceedings. had they not been assured
that the open-shop question would not be
/ considered that it was merely a question
Of the violation Of the contract made be-
tween the master and journeyman plum
bers II this stand Is maintained, the only
possible result viii be a strike OF the
building trades.
The question Of the selection OF an UNI
pire to act with the conference committee
OF five members from the Master Plumb
ers Association, and FIVE from the
Plumbers Union, provided for In the old
contract, has also become matter OF dis
pute. 1t was provided By the arbitration
board that an umpire be elected before
the expiration of thirty days. or the
board, as a further award. would appoint
one. Last Friday. the master and Jour
neyman plumbers held conference at the
request of the master piumbers TO en-
deavoT TO agree upon a selection. Each
party has submitted four names. and
Father d. J. Stafford, OF ST Patrick
Church, nominated by the master plumb
ers, and Judge De Lacy, Of the Juvenile
Court. nominated by the jOurneynen.
have consented to serve If elected. The
masters made the proposition that the
umpire interpret the disputed clauses.
JouFneymen Make Objection.
This proposition met with immediate OBJ
lection from the iourneymen, who consist
entity maintained that there was no need
Of an Interpretation, as the articles IN
question were clear and they were willing
tc abide by chem. And further, that this
umpire, under the contract aud award.
was only 70 sit on future disputes that
might arise and could not interpret the
award under which ne was elected. This
difference Of opinion completely blocked
every attempt at an election. as the vote
was always hve and FIVE. The thirty DAYS
allowed for the election will expire on
Wednesday,. and in view OF the deadlock.
il will probably fail 10 the board TO an
point an umpire What bearing this viii
have upon the dispute over the Interpre-
tation Of articles and 8 it is impossible
to state.
The appointment Of the umpire may pos
sihiy bring on a crisis. but if II does not
the expiration of the time allowed for the
reinstatement. upon request, of those
members Of Plumbers Union No. ex-
pelied during the lockout. will It is said
This VIII run the conflict thirty days
longer or until April y. three days be-
fore the local building boom is generally
launched.
1t was stated by members OF the Master
Builders Association yesterday that they
all have strike clauses In their contracts
and do not fear trouble.