The Washington herald., 1907-07-01
union MEN UPHELD
Brlcklayers' international
Body Approves Strike.
CRISIS REACHED ON SUNDAY
vice President Preace Gives All
Parties to Labor Troubles a Hear
ins-Ahects All Local Buildings
ON Which Union Men Have Been
Locked Out-BriekIayers All Right.

The Bricklayers' Union. which is ad-
mitted by both sides TO hold the key to
the present controversy. will remain firm
in the stand taken at last Thursday
nights meeting when il voted to call a
strike on all buildings where union men
had been locked out and replaced by
nonunion workers
The bricklayers will give their support
to the affiliated trades and continue as q
part Of the Building Trades Mechanics
Council They are said to be the decisive
factor in the present fight and their
weight viii swing victory.
Both sides to the present controversy,
Which has developed into a general open
shop issue, have fought hard for the sup
port of the bricklayers. the trades trying
10 get them In as an active factor and
the Employers Association trying 10 keep
them out and inactive.
Fight Around VHce President Preaee.
The crisis in this fight was reached
Yesterday. when. in answer TO tele-
gram from both sides, First Vice Presi-
N.N-4N 4 Atei-It VI AAt Al tthit WIS inter Ia
tional Union. conferred with the interest
ed parties 10 learn every phase Of the
question before decision was rendered
by the International organization.
Yesterdays series Of meetings excited
greater interest than any held since the
first strike several months ago. and all
day long mechanics Of CCery trade con-
gregated around headquarters at Cos
tellos Hall. Sixth and Ct streets north
west. and those not permitted to attend
stood anxiously on the outside. waiting
for news. The cxcitemaG;. though in a
measure suppressed. was intense. Argu-
ments were banded back and forth all
day. The fight grew warm at times and
angry voices could be heard from the
outside
Says BricIlIayers Are All Right.
Vice President Preace was the center of
all these gatherings, and every possible
effort was made by bosses and men TO in
fueuce his decision. He declined to dis
cuss what had taken place az the meet
ings, saying that he would prepare a re-
port for the interua tional executive board.
which would be presented 10 both sides
by tomorrow, or possibly a little later.
when pressed, however, he gave utter
ance TO one sentence that brought a cheer
from the men, It was; The Bricklayers'
Union is right" This means that his re-
port and the action of the international
executive board will approve Thursday
nights action.
Mr.. PreaCe had a conference with the
executive board Of the local union at Il
o'clock yesterday morning. At the same
time the executive committee Of the
Building Trades Mechanics Council was
holding meeting i'm an adjoining han To
map out the plan of action for the present
week Upon request of Mr. Preace the
two meetings We're consolidated and tha
entire situation gone over from the time
of the first lockout Of the i1urnevman
plumbers last August to the strike Of the
brjcklayers Friday.
Masters and JOurneymen Meet.
This meeting did not adjourn until :
o'clock. and all the delegates waited
around for an hour for the converting OF
the meeting arranged between the master
and tourneyman brlcklsyers, when each
was 10 present its case TO Vice President
Preace The masters argued that the
bricrlayers had violated their charter in
afiEIting with the building trades and
their contract with the master brickIayers
by participating in the strike. This was
denied by the iourneymen. who said that
the men had quit and their business agent
had not visited a single building on which
the men had laid down their tools. The
argument conferred around the first two
clauses Of the contract covering these
points. This meeting was in session until
Z O'Clock. and from the statements Of the
men and Blr. Preace, the i0urneymeu
were victorious.
Preace Gees to PittsBurg.
Mr. Preace left the city on the 10:H
o'clock train for Plttsburg, where he
has an appointment this morning
The programme Of continuing to strike
all buildings where n0nunion men are en-
ployed Will. il is said. be carried out as
speedily as possible, and the bricklayers
will 60 out with the other trades The
failure Of Mr.. PTeaCa to order a cessation
Of the strikes by the bricklayers Is re-
garded as an Indication that there is no
possibility Of the executive board not
concurring in his opinion.
The report published in one Of the
papers yesterday morning to the effect
that the electrical workers had refused
a conference with their bosses was de-
MED yesterday. It was said that owing
10 the fact that one company gave an
excursion for It's men. the meeting was