Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-08
ORGANIZED LABOR
DECLARES STRIKE
Rricklayers and Carpenters
Turn the Tric'I."
ARE ON WAITING ORDERS
Mechanics Ready to Obey Command
of Walking Delegates.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR
Significant Signs Today at Head.
quarters Of Both thu Employers
and the Workingmen


The general strike of the build
ing trades of the District is on
At the close of an executive session
of the strike committee of the
workingmen this forenoon the
business agents OF the carpenters
and bricklayers made the rounds
OF certain structures in course of
erection and ordered the workmen
to walk out on strike. Up to a
late hour this afternoon the follow
ing walkouts had been ordered:
All the bricklayers and carpenters
from Contractor Cassidy's Jobs, the
Elks' Home building. 9I9 H street,
and St. Cyprian's Hall, 18th and
{ streets southeast; all the carpen-
tiers employed by Contractor Pres
colt on the Academy of Music, and
all the carpenters from the big
apartment house being erected by
the Speir Company at Ist and B
streets. Others will be called off
later this afternoon, it is stated. A
long struggle is said to be in sight
between employer and employees.
The die is cast and the long deferred
strike of the building trades of the District
has been declared. The bricklayers and
carpenters turned the trick"
This remark was made today by labor
leader at headquarters in Typographi
Temple. 1t was based upon his information
that the walkout of all the trades mad been
scheduled for this afternoon.
The situation was gravely discussed at a
number of buildings where workmen were
expecting orders from their leaders, notably
at the Elks Home. 919 II street.
I'VE waiting ORDERS the foreman
of bricklayers explained. and we will quit
the job whenever the walking delegate
comes around and orders US off,
Simi ar conditions were found at num-
Der of partly constructed buildings. The
workmen We're also discussing the decision
of the bricklayers and stonemasons last
night to join forces with the other building
trades in what they term the fight to a
finish against the open shop In the District
of Columbia y
There were signs of preparations for war
at both the headquarters Of the Employers
Association and the organized worknGmen
today. The executive committee of the
DullQlnS trades heiQ a long executive SeS-
sion this forenoon in their quarters at
Typographical Temple, and when the time
for adjournment arrived the newspaper men
were informed there was no news to be
given out.
Business Agents Active.
However, after adjournment there was
great activity among the business agents
Of the several crafts. and 1t was reported
that they had gone to the buildings on
coll ffcy,,
to notify them to be ready for the strike
order and to lay down their tools the mo-
ment 1t Is received Whether this order
will be promulgated tomorrow morning I'd
the men called off at once. or whether IT
will be deferred until Saturday morning,
could not be learned. But one thing seemed
certain. and that was that the strike Will
soon be on in earnest and that 1t will be a
determined fight on both sides.
I'VE Wall fight this matter of the open
shop to a standstill, now that we have
determined to go into 1t unitedly, said
an officer of one of the building trades
I'VE have no white flags to fly. as I
have said before" declared an officer of the
Employers Association. This fight has
been forced on US by the arbitrary and
tyrannical action of certain labor unions,
and We will fight 1t out
The officers of the organization of en-
ployerS were as busy as bees at their head
quarters this afternoon preparing to import
non union bricklayerS and carpenters into
the District to take the places of the strik-
ing members of those crafts. One of the
officers declared they would get all the men
they may need to carry on building opera
tons to the end of the present season.
In Effect Today.
1t is reported that the strike committee of
the building trades at its meeting today de-
cided to have the bricklayers and carpen-
tiers called off from the buildings being
erected by certain members of the Employ
aft hat
calling off will be continued tomorrow and
Saturday until all union workmen on work
controlled by members of the organization
of employers will be on strike.
AS soon as the officers of the Employers
Association learned that bricklayers and
carpenters were leaving their jobs this aft
ernoon steps were taken to have non-union
workmen sent here to take the place or the
strikers. AS an employer expressed il:
I'VE are keeping the telegraph wires hot
with our orders for men,
1t was reported late this afternoon that in
view of the proposed importation or nom
unionists here by the wholesale the build
ing trades will establish a comprehensive
system of picketing, in charge OF a VlSi-
lance committee.
There were also reports affoat concerning
the organization of rival trades unions and
the establishment of cooperative building
constructing companies by the working
men.
Strike Order Endorsed.
At an overfowing meeting Of members
of the bricklayers' and stone masons'
unions held last night at Odd Fellows
Hall. the decision was reached after a
rather stormy session to go on strike with
the other building trades 1t was also
voted that the bricklayers and stone
mnsons' unions, which have maintained
their individuality for years and consist
emily refused to join the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, should do so. A ref
erendum vote has been taken Of the $1,000
bricklayers and masons in the United
States and the vote has been so even to
date that it is considered likely by the
local men that the result of last nights