Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-26
Additional Correspondence Between
Mr.. J. n. Ralston and the En-
ployers' Association.


this afternoon Mr.. Parsons said he did
not apprehend a general walkout from
the work because of the employment OF
non-union plumbers. He said his case was
different from those of the other master
builders who are having trouble with
their men.
Some time ago Mr.. Parsons is said to
have declined to allow non-union plumbers
to work on the municipal building. as they
might cause cessation OF the other build
ing work by the mechanics declining to
continue on the same job with non-union-
lists. His contract for the plumbing work
is understood to be with Mr.. James Nolan
& Sons, who are said to be employing
both union and non-union workmen.
Required by the Government.
The statement was made unoficially this
afternoon that Mr.. Parsons was required to
place plumbers at work on the structure
forthwith by a government inspector, who
stated. that the work had reached that
stage where the work Of plumbers was alb
solutely necessary, and that having a con-
tract with the Messrs. Nolan he had to &C
cept such plumbers as the firm desired to
place at work there.
Whether the members of the locked-out
trades will be called off from work on the
municipal building could not be definitely
learned this afternoon. Certain labor lead
ers maintained. however that walkout of
the other crafts was probable.
At Elks' Clubhouse.
There was another interesting report in
circulation this afternoon concerning the
work in progress on the new home Of the
Elks on H street 1t is said the CaSsiday
company, contractors for this work. placed
non union men on the job this morning. and
that the carpenters and brich!a;e-s are
threatening to walk out. 1t was added that
the Building Trades Mechanics Council
had communicated with the building COM
mittee Of the Elks with the view of pre-
the work, and that Samuel Gompers has
been appealed to by local leaders to take
a hand in the lockout proceedings.
When Mr.. Cassiday was seen this after
trouble His workmen had quit work but
it was on account of the rain. he explained
Mr.. Ralston to the Employers.
A feature of today's developments in the
local labor lockout was communication
written by Attorney Jackson H. Ralston to
the Employers Association in reply to the
statement of the employers representative
as published exclusively in The Star yes
terday.
After acknowledging receipt of the COM
munication of the 18th instant. Mr.. Ralston
emphatically disclaims the idea expressed
by the employers that he has written as
unions of the city. He adds that no mem
Der of any organization has spoken to him
upon the subject.
In your prior letter, Mr.. Ralston states,
the fair construction Of the first para
graph Is that by reason of waste, unrea-
sonable restrictions. decreased efnciency
and high wages there Is today greater
cost of building construction than year
ago. 1T Is true" he adds, that in sub
seauent paragraphs you have more to say
with regard to restrictions that you con-
slider Objectionable"
He then says:
I'm response, I have pointed out and do
again that much more than to wages
or hours-and 1 may add other questions
affecting Immediately the workmen-the in
creased cost of building Is due to increased
cost of material. and that diminishing
building If building has diminished may
also be due to the high price of land. l
illustrated by the increase in the price OF
copper. which you say Is an immaterial
element in construction. Granted Will,
therefore, add others. The reports OF the
bureau of labor show that tin in December,
1906 cost on the average of two and one
eighth times as much as the average price
in 1S90-1S99: that doors cost In December,
1906 SO per cent more than in the above
period: that hemlock cost in December,
1906 SO per cent more: that common lime
cost 10 per cent more; that Oar iron cost
20 per cent more; that pine boards cost Is
per cent more; that poplar cost 81 per cent
more: that common window glass cost 35
per cent more, and you we'll know the IN
creased amount paid in this District Tor
brick 1t is to such tremendous increases
in the cost of what we may call the raw
material of building, rather than to any
question of labor. that we may refer dull
ness, II 1t exists, in the building trades
Cost of Ground Factor.
"You say that the supposed decrease
ought not to be due to the higher price of
ground, for when the price of ground is
high the owner cannot afford to hold 1t
without improvements. and the increased
price of ground naturally tends to building
construction II this were correct. 1t would
be great economic discovery. but that it
is incorrect is borne out by the experience
Of every man Of mature years, all of whom
can point out to you instances Of neighbour
hoods and cities dwarfed, twisted and even
ruined in their industrial development be-
cause Of the high price Of land
ut is true that in many cases laboring
men. unorganized equally as well as organ
ICED, and even more bitterly. have fought
against certain Inventions. but this fact
does not call for extended discussion, 1t
being borne in mind that large aggrega-
lions of capital have from time to time op-
cry should be forced to the scrap heap.
Human nature In this respect Is not Elf
ferent, whether the men be clad in fustian
or broadcloth.
you ask If think it would be to the best
interests of the building industry in the
city of Washington to give organized labor
or any other single class an absolute mo-
nopoly of the market in any necessary COM
modify. I cannot believe that you are Sc
rious in asking this question, recognizing
as you must the fact that the total aboH-
ton Of trade unions, through the open
shop or otherwise. would mean a complete
monopoly in the control Of labor vested in
your association, condition which you
implicitly recognize as not to the best in
terests of the city.
Declines to Take Sides.
You ask my opinion as a member of the
Chamber Of Commerce as to whether out
side capital will be likely to be interested
In starting new industries in a city whose
one present great industry is In the control
of the labor monopoly. To answer this aues-
ton would require careful preliminary
examination Of the assumptions of fact con-
tanned In 1t. This I have neither the time
nor the inclination to attempt. may add,
however, that as a member Of the Chamber
Of Commerce I should feel myself derelict