The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-23
STRIKE NEARS END
IN BUILDING TRADES
Men Decide to Return TO
Work Under Conditions
That Formerly Prevailed.

After a year OF bitter strife. the
backbone OF the local building trades
strike and lockout was strained to the
brea'dng point last night. when Brick
layers and AIasons' Union, No. J. with
100 members voted on a secret ballot
10 go back 10 work under conditions
that existed before the present strike
was decla red.
This action followed closely upon the
announcement from the building trades
department Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor yesterday that the strike
would be continued with renewed vigOr
by all the local unions. All the inter
natter n officers of the building trades
! locals bad been in session in Washing
ton for three days. and while there
was no SCI meeting for the considera-
ton of the local strike. there were sew
eraI conferences on the subject and the
local men were given assurance Of sup
port. II was later announced by the
international bodies that they would
support the Washington local in a more
vigorous campaign than ever. This in
cluded the brickIayers.
Members Disseminated.
Ever since the inauguration Of he
strike last summer, there have been
many Discontinued members in the
ranks of the bricklayers. and owing TO
their EFFORTS the local body has fiuCtu-
ated and gyrated back and forth. Sew
eral meetings have been held recently
with a view to calling the strike or,
but each time such a move has been
frustrJ. ted by the International officers.
Last nights action Of the Bricklayers
will not be Official and cannot be fol-
lowed until IT is ratified BY the eXeCu-
tive committee Of the local. The execu-
tive committee is ip session today, and
viii probably ratify the vote. Grand
President Bowen. Of the international
Brtcklayers Union, who has been In
Washington almost continuously for
several weeks, assured the members of
the local that should enough Of them
wish TO remain out on strike to justify
- he would continue 10 finance the
hight. The vote, however, was over
wbelmingly in favor Of declaring the
strike on, and IL IS probable this vote
viii be ratified and the bricklayers VIII
al return 10 work.
Want Old Conditions.
Not one OF the trades that return to
work will submit TO the open shop in
their respective craft. but Will go back
under the conditions existing before
the strike was called. That is. union
bricklayers viii work with non-union
carpenters and painters or other craft,
but 10 union bricklayers will work with
non-unton man of his own craft
The strike has been costly for both
sides and the unions have spent thou
sands or dollars. Many outside men
have been brought 20 the city and with
dull building season, the city is flood
ed with mechanics. 1t is hoped 10 rem
edy this condition through g gradual
adjustment.
VIII Not Interfere.
Secretary Spencer, OF the BUILDING
trades department Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, who, together with q
number Of international officers. has
taken al interest IN the local strike.
said to4ay that his department would
not eIdeavor to influence the brick
layers to resclnd their action Of last
night, Unless appealed TO. The brick
layers are not directly affiliated with
lne A .eIlean Federation Of Labor. Mr.
Spencer explained. but in an issue Of
this kII i has the moral support of an
the International bodies. Il IS under
stood -haJ The various international Of
ucerS no have been in the CITY in con
terence several days promised the men
additional announcement and co-ODera-
ZION, but the proposition 10 remain out
longer on strike was voted down The
action only lacks approval by the ex-
ecutive cOmmittee OF the international
Association of Bricklaysrs, which will
probably meet IN Indianapolis within a
Few days and hear report on the local
situation.
A local union official present when
the action was taken last night said
today: The majority of the men
seemed dissatisfied; the times were not
IN inc nrst place, and the depression
al over the country had made il harder
On the men. 1t was easier TO import
mont M N labor, for people were out OF
work all over the country. had general
business been good the employers would
nave been forced TO yield at once.
Got Worst Of IT."
Some of the bricklayers believed that
we have been getting the worst OF il,
and thar the other trades were not so
ready u call off their men from work
as we were. Accordingly. some OF the
workman Of the other trades would con-
tinue u work while the bricklayers in
variably struck. The men, therefore.
voted last night to return to work under
the OH conditions, which is somewhat
Ia the nature Of a compromise, in thar
the bricklayeTs HSiu agree 10 work Ia
open shops using nOn-G@-on labor from
the other trades, but viii not work with
e non-union bricklayer."
The opinion was expressed in labor
circles this morning that the other
trades would probably hold meetings
early in the coming week, and possibly
take acton similar to the bricklayers,
which would mean virtual end TO the