The Washington herald., 1907-05-08
MASONS CALLED OUT
Quit Work on Senate Office
Building in Sympathy.
IS PART PHILADELPHIA STRIKE
BuiIding Trades Alliance Expects to
Call Out Several Hundred Addi-
tiOnHI Men To-day in support of
Striking Journeymen Plumbers.
Union Plumbers Explain Trouble.

The stonemasons working on the court
Of the new Senate Office building. occupy
ing the entire square bounded by Della
ware avenue. Second. B. and c streets
northeast, went on strike yesterday. as
the result of the general lockout OF brick
layers and stonemasons in Philadelphia
This action is entirely independent Of the
general fight Of the Building Trades AL
lance against the master plumbers, in
augurated Monday morning.
Several hundred men in the local buiid-
ing trades. it is said. in addition 10 those
already out on the new Metropolitan Club
building. are to quit work this morning
by order Of the executive council which
is engineering the fight In behalf of the
jourueymen plumbers.
other Buildings Involved.
Action VIII probably be taken on the
apartment house at Thlrueth and p
streets northwest and the row OF houses
on Park road, near Seventh street, the
buildings affected along with the Metro
politan Club, but on which action was
deferred at that time on the alleged
promise that the matter of nonunion
plumbers working on them would be
Strengthened out by Monday afternoon
This time was later extended, it is under
stood. until yesterday. It is claimed by
the Trades Council! that this promise was
not kept by the contractors concerned
For this reason, it was stated yesterday
decisive steps viii be taken to-day.
The building trades men employed on
the Metropolitan Club building who went
out on strike on Mcnday did not return
10 work yesterday, and there IS no set
tlemeut in view, although there is a pos
sibility OF an agreement at any time.
Conditions are generally unsettled, the
trades. il is understood. being prepared
10 push the fight to the limit In view Of
this fact. it is probable that several
other buildings throughout the city Will
be tied up within few days.
Cause of senate building strike.
The trouble on tae Senate Office build
ing is an aftermath of the general lock
out declared against the brickIayers and
stone masons in Philadelphia May ],
when nearly 5000 men were thrown out
OF work. At that time the Bricklayers
and Stone Masons International Union
threatened as a retaIiatory measure 10
tie up the work Of the firms declaring the
lockout all over the country.
A settlement was promised iu Phliadei-
phia, and for this reason this step was
not taken at the time. The promised
settlement was not made. however. II is
said. and as a result this action now is
being taken. The briCklayers and stone
masons are affiliated and both carry a
card Of the Bricklayers and Stone Masons
international Union. but for some reason
the local bricklayers have not gone out
and IL was stated last night by repre-
sentative OF the Brennan Construction
Company, which is erecting both the
Senate and House buildings, that il Is
improbable they viii do So
IL was said by this man that none of
the other mechanics would be affected.
and that no steps had as yet been taken
by the company by which an amicable
settlement would be reached The stone
masGus who went out yesterday were
putting ia the Indiana limestone IN the
interior court. They are employed by the
H0ltshur Company. of Philadelphia. a
subcontractor, who is doing the stone
work on the -ChirUrgical Hospital,
in Philadelphia.
StilI More WaIk-Outs Threatened.
The Allied Building Trades Council held
its regular meeting last night in Burn
stine's Hall, at Four-and-a-half street
and Pennsylvania avenue northwest, and
in connection with this meeting the ex-
ecutive council held an executive session.
It is understood that reports were re-
ceived from many other buildings than
those already affected, and a number of
additional walk-outs viii occur within
the next few days If a settlement is not
reached in the meantime. There was
some talk, 1t is said. OF calling out the
men employed on the express building of
the new Union Station. but that the mat
ter viii probably be settled without ac-
tion.
It was stated by members o. the Plumb
ers' Union and of the building trades
yesterday in reply TO the statement by
the Master Plumbers. printed yesterday
morning, in which it was set forth that
the question at issue was not one Of the
open shop. but one Of the right Of the
master plumber TO run a union or nom
union shop: that this idea was entirely
erroneous; that the question at issue was
most emphaticaily one of the open shop
and that several plumbing firms were at
present running a mixed. or open shop.
This was explained by nc information
that these firms were employing members
Of the Plumbers Union who We're under
suspension. but in no sense expelled, and
consequently just as much members as if
they were in good standing. 1t Is claimed
nOn-members were working with these
men, and the combination constituted an
open shop in its most literal sense. These
men, it was said, were provided for in the
arbitration award. but failed 10 take ad-
vantage of the provision for reinstatement
in good standing without the payment Of