The Washington times., 1907-07-24

ARE REFUSED
CONFERENCE
Employers Decline to
Treat With Union on
Their Grievances.

The die has been cast in the lockout
strike trouble Of the building trades by
the Employers Association declining TO
grant the Brlcklayers' Union confer
ence for the adjustment OF existing
grievances claimed to exist by The brick
layers, VINO have had a correspondence
with the Employers Association during
the last ten days in which the brick
layers sought 70 secure a conference
with the master builders for arbitrat-
ing the unsatisfactory labor conditions.
1t was stated at labor headquarters. in
Costello's Hall this morning, that Sec
retary Elliott, of the BricAlayers' Union,
had received a letter last night from the
Employers Association. In which that
organization declined 70 further consider
the proposition of the bricklayers asking
for a conference and declining TO discuss
the matter further unless the bricklay-
ers had another proposition TO make.
Secretary Elliott could nor be found
but those close 10 him say that the
letter he has from the Employers Asso-
ciation is to that efsec5. At the offices
Of the Employers Association IL was ad-
mitted that such q letter had been for
warded to Secretary Elliott.
Special Meeting Called.
The determination Of the Employers
Association not to grant the brickIayers'
union the conference they asked for
VIII be the subject OF consideration to-
night at a special meeting of the execu-
tive board and arbitration board Of the
union, at Costello's Hall.
Walter J. Bowen, president of the In
ternational Bricklayers' and Stonema-
sons Union, arrived in the city late last
night and will attend that meeting. It
is probable that the meeting Will decide
that since the Employers Association
has declined to further treat with the
orlcklayers that the existing contract
with the master bricklayers is no longer
IN force and general strike of all
members OF the union will be ordered.
II was announced some time ago by
International Vice President Thornton
that II the Employers Association
SnOuld refuse 70 grant the conference
that the members OF the union would
be at liberty TO ignore the order of the
international executive board to return
70 work and live up 20 their contract
with the master bricklayers
One thing or the other will have to
be done at the meeting tonight Of the
brlcklayers. either offer another propo-
sition to the employers association for
further negotiations or order a strike.
IL there is no ground on which the
bricklayers can offer another proposi-
ton to the employers association and
they fail to order the strike then they
will be classed by all of the other mem
oers OF CRe building trades as not in
sympathy with the organized labor
movement 10 oppose the open shop.
Expect Strike to Fe Ordered.
Conservative leaders of organized Ia
Dor think that President Bowen will ap-
prove strike. The rank ard file Of the
local union is in sympathy with the fight
against the open shop and want the
strike ordered. II IL Is ordered the
building trades men say that they have
the master builders whipped. II the brick
layers refuse to aid their fellow-union-
lists then II looks as if they are whip
ped.
A strike order Of the bricklayers
would remove the necessity Of a na-
tional convention OF the building trades
craftsmen as proposed by Central Ia
Dor Union and which movement Is now