The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-27
BUILDING STRIKE
NAY Be BROKEN
BY BRICKLAYERS
Allied Trades Look With
Concern on Meeting
Tonight.

An effort viii be made tonight by
members Of the BrickIayers' Union 10
break the building trades strike and
lockout, which has been standing since
early last summer, when the Employ
ers' Association and the Building
Trades Mechanics Council locked
horns on the open shop issue. A special
meeting OF the Bricklayers' Union has
been called, and CONSERVATION mas been
spread in the ranks OF the building
trades by rumOrs Of possible action by
The bricklayers.
Should the bricklayers vote to re-
turn to work, all the other trades
would undoubtedly follow suit, each
making the best terms il could For
some time, 1t is said. the bricklayers.
or rather one faction of them, mas been
ready TO quit the fight and return TO
work under the old conditions. Inter
national President Bowen is in the city
in response TO summons, and upon
the action Of the bCicklayers depends
the continuance or the abandonment OF
the present fight by the building trades.
Large Meeting Expected.
A notice has been inserted IN the
Washington papers, calling attention 10
the meeting TO be held IN odd Fellows
Hall This viii be the first meeting held
in odd Fellows Hall since the evening
early last summer when the bricklay-
ers. on a close ballot. declared them
selves with the other trades. and the
fight was inaugurated iu earnest
odd Fellows Hall was hired at that
time. and probably this time, to accom-
,nOdate the unusual attendance, which
will undoubtedly be too great FOR the
regular meeting place at Costello s Inc
first meeting was memorable Oues as
situation and the same condition pre-
wallis today Through their superior
strength and numbers. the bricklayers
play a large part in determining the &C
lions and the fate OF the building
trades.
AT the time the bricSlayers voted to
strike with the rest OF the trades the
decision was eXertmely close, despite
the efforts of President Bowen and oJher
trades and international officers. Inere
were two factions then, for and against
the strike These two factions are stlll
antagonistic. Recently several new OF
hcers were elected, and it is believed the
antf-strike faction Ousted some or the
slanchest supporters of the strike.
Look for Decision.
The BrickIayerst Union has not paid
any strike benefits for several weeks,
il is said. aud has not had its paid bust
ness agents in the field for an equal
period. The active bushes agents were
called in when delegates were sent to
the national convention of the trade at
Detroit. Since then other building trades
men declare the hricklayers have not
actively CO-operated In the prosecution
of the strike, but have WaVered back
ward and forward as first one element
and then the other was in control To-
night viii probably see the declaration
OF a decisive policy.
Practically all the other trades hinge
upOn the hricklayers, and should IL be
decided tonight that the bricklayeTs are
10 return to work on all struck Jobs,
the other trades win undoubtedly do
likewise. II VIII make the best terms
possible, but all Will return under the
old conditions They viii go to work
on all jobs where union men of their
craft are employed but viii not refuse
10 work with any nOn-uniOn men of
another craft. To make IL simpler
union carpenters would work with non
union bricklayers but would not work
with nun-uniOn carpenter.
This would mean practically the aban-
dOument and loss of the fight after
nearly q years hard contest The spring
building season will open up within a
few weeks. with prospects of another
active year in building construction in
the District, and this Is the turning
point on tonight's action will prob
ably depend the outcome.