Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-07
Encouraged by Carpenters Ap-
proVal of General Strike.
BRlCKLAYERS MAY FOLLOW
Joint Session Today of international
Officers and Agents.
STRICT SECRECY ENJOINED
Statement Issued by Employers Asso-
citation This Afternoon Regarding
Agreement Proposed by Men.

Agreement Proposed by Men.
The members OF the building trades
unions expressed themselves today as jub
LIANT over the action OF the two Organiza-
lions of carpenters in voting last night for
Il general strike. 1t was the opinion of
labor leaders as expressed this afternoon
that a general strike may be ordered to-
morrow. provided the BricklayeTs' Union
at its meeting tonight a Odd Fellows Hail
decides to follow the lead of the carpen-
tiers and vote In favor OF a walkout.
The executive committee of international
officers and the business agents of the local
building trades held a long joint session at
Typographical Temple this forenoon which
continued from $50 to II: 80 o'clock. 1t is
under stood that the conferees discussed the
work of those workingmen who went
among the employers Yesterday and en-
deavored to induce them to sign the agree
ment TO employ only union workmen in the
future. The action of the carpenters in de-
Gliding to combine in general strike was
discussed. 1t is said. and plans laid for the
proposed strike tomorrow IN the event that
the bricklayers join forces with the other
buildings trades.
# was also said the press committee of
the executive committee was discharged be-
cause certain information OF an executive
nature had appeared In the newspapers, and
that certain of the committeeman favored
more secrecy as to the movements and
plans of the unions OF oranized labor.
Declared to Be Not Final
The statement was made by a carpenter
today that the action of the members of
the Brotherhood and the Amalgamated AS
sociatiOn of Carpenters last night In decid-
ing in joint session IN favor Of strike was
not iinal Uut that the question will now
have to be submitted to the two rival as
socat.ons individually for ratification. He
expressed doubt as 10 whether the brother |
hood would vote in favor Of ratification.
We are waiting On our oars. SAID |
IL Dor leader this afternoon. to see what
action the brickiaycrs VII take tonight |
Should they vote - valk ont, then a gen |
eral strife VIII he declared and ii viii be |
q fight to a finish between the labor unions
a I'D the Employers Association for and
against the open shop in the Dstrict'
Should the bricklaycrs decide not 10 go out,
then believe the other building trades Will
make the fight without Their assistance
Employers Statement.
In connection with the agreements that
are being cir, uIated Ion signatures by the
members of the executive committee of
wcrkingmen. the Employers Association
this afternoon issued the following official
statement;
eff there ever has been any doubt in
the minds Of the public as to She real
object of the fight being waged by the
labor unions of this city their declara-
ton in the press Of Tuesday has surely
cleared up that doubt. Read the contract
they are going 10 force the employer to
sign. 1t says they shall agree to dis
charge every non union man in their
employ and agree to employ nothing but
union men thereafter. and that the uni
Versal card system must be e3iorced.
This agreement is and has been the only
question at issue. and not the open shop.
A. the press of Tuesday Will tell ) on, II
is the contract of the iron-ciad type, but
contains nothing new from what has been
previously c"ntended for by organized
labor; but if the crpenters and bricklay-
ers decide to go out on strike we Will
then he compelled to make the open shop
our platform. We are stiil OF the "plhloli,
however. that the brotherhood carpenters
and the bricklayers Will not permit the
radical element To draw them Iato this
trouble and make them the catslaw to
take the chestnuts out OF the fire
Depends Upon Bricklayers.
AS thu order IF The carpenters union
t. strike OF not to strike depends largely
upon the br.cki-S~rs action tonight il re-
mains 10 b. sen whether ne brivElayers
Will unload the entire responsibility from
the mechanics trades council onto their
own shoulders aud ASSUME The leadership
becomes i general strike by all The other
traces as cited i'll tbtIr contract with the
master bsickla! ers We are also anxious
To know whether he national presidents
vfu iudoISe tle breaking of this trade
agreement. rne employers are auEiousIy
awaiting tho. publication Of the list of en-
IlOyers VINO VIII sign this contract. as
d. not believe that any on" would b" so
CDWarGIy as to permit the trades unions
10 scare them into signing such paper
This statement was signed lay +. X. Han.
ROT NY. I'rTNr low - !
u was the opinion OF an officer OF one Of
~. labor unions that the strike managers
'are giving tie employers TOO much line
lie said.
II our people are going to strike why
don't they start the bah. They are giving
tn employers time TO go over the country
" -n q fine comb and collect all the non
III. IA workmen from Washington to Jeri-
'Ao. \ good general always opens the attack
promptly aud never waits to give his adj
NciSa'y time to bring up his reinforce
mt at hc."Te beginning ;he battle"
IL, GLOWING communication from Mr..
Andrew Mt'gay has been received by The
Sta.
Nj. Murray's Position.
Allow me space 10 correct a statement
appearing in Tuesday evenings issue Of
SoEr valuable paper as coming from one of
tie most prominent members of the En-
rioy ers' Association. In it he states that
Contractor MeGregoI's business 10 in the
l;tla.s "f one of Eis employees who is Il
mernb"r 90 a trades union.
rs am rhe empioyr referred to. I
think i: right that ] should let Mr. Nc
Grosor's friends and he public know my
position la this matter and IN deny the
Sta t'meht that ! am member Of a trades
union. When Nh. McGr,Eor went To Scot
land. leaving his business ~ my hands.
resigned from men bcIship in The union
10 which ! belonged. desiring TO be in a
position where | could act impartiallv in
my employers interests should trouble
arise. and ! have cudeaNored to conduct
Mr. McGgegur's business as think he
would have done. ! have taken no mart in
This controversy, on. way or the other
simply attending to my own business aud
Sc far have had no trouble on the work"
Action of the Carpenters.
~ the joint meeting OF the members of
The brotherhood OF Carpenters and the