The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-10
LABOR WINS STRIKE
AFTER ACTIVE DAY
Painters Are Victorious in
Strife at Library.
ARBITRATOR NAMED TODAY
Fifty Men who walked Out Mon
day Because -Four of Their Com
panIOns Were DOcked for Broken
Slab of Marble Posted Pickets.
Threatened 20 Effect other Cities.

Following day or ACTIVITY, iANoifihs
the placing of a Gordon Of plekets around
the Library of Congress and the ex-
change OF kilograms with labor leaders in
Philadelphia and New York. organized
labor scored another victory last night.
when an agreement was reached to sub
NIT to arbitration the questions at issue.
pending which the men were locked be
cause they were alleged to have broken
a marble slab.
Who the arbitrator will be has not yet
been determined, but some one salts
factory to both sides viii probably be
named to-day.
OF short Duration.
The strike was Of short duration. but
for a time it threatened TO spread TO all
of the cities on the eastern seaboard
where Black & Co. the subconuactors
for the painting ct the library. employ
men.
The painters were called out because
when the pay envelopes were rendered
Saturday four OF the men were told that
deductions had been made in their sala-
ries because they were the last to be
seen in a iavatory in which a marble
slab was found broken. It was presumed
they were responsible for the damage.
The men refused to accept the envelopes
rendered them and reported the facts to
the union together with a disclaimer of
any. responsibility for the damage Act
ing upon the Information. Hugh b. Dig
rey, business agent Of the Painters sand
Decorators Union, No. 96S, was directed
TO call the men or the job Monday morn
ing unless payment IN full was made for
the past week. As a consequence the
forty-five men quit work.
In response to advertisements yester-
day morning. a number Of nonunion paint
ers presented themselves at the library.
but. in anticipation Of their arrival. the
union had placed pickets at every ap-
proach and as the men arrived they were
informed by the pickets Of the situation.
and, IN almost every instance the new
men left without applying for the places.
Three Got Through.
But three men succeeded in getting
through the lines. It is said. and they
were employed.
When this fact became known to Mr..
Digney he telegraphed TO the officials
of the Philadelphia union and received
assurances that all of the men In the
main shop of Black & Co would Quit
and declare a boycott on the firm if any
nonunion man was put to work on the
library job.
Similar assurances were received from
the New York unions, where the con-
tractor is said to be engaged in extern
sfYe operations
In the course OF the afternoon Mr..
Digney had a lengthy conference with
the local representative of Black & Co.,
advising him Of the situation from the
unions point Of view, and stating that
If any union man had damaged the prop
erty, and it could be proven, the union
would compel the person or persons in
vOlved to make payment, but that in the
absence OF incOntrovertable proof the
right Of the contractor TO withhold the
pay of any Of the men was denied.
Upon this showing an agreement was
reached to submit the matter 10 an arbi-
traitor. each party agreeing to abide by
such decision as he should reach. This
agreement was submitted to the execu-
tive committee Of the union at a meet
ing held in Costello's Hall. and later in
the evening word was received from the
main office OF the contractor confirming
the action OF his agent here.
As q result, work on the library viii
be resumed this morning and pushed as
rapidly as possible