The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-20
SUGGESTION MADE
FOR ARBITRATION
TOBE SUBMITTED
Lane and BOwrOn Make Eff
fort to Bring Clashing
Interests Together
ANSWERS WILL BE
GIVEN TOMORROW
All the Big Buildings in Town Were
Deserted Yesterday When Allied
Crafts Struck in Sympathy
With Carpenters

That the strike in Birmingham involving
every class of construction workmen viii
be settled amicably is the general opinion
following a conference with Judge Lane
of the department of justice, James Bow
ron and representatives from both sides
of the controversy.
| AT O'Clock yesterday the conference
started and within an hour and halt
an agreement had been reached by both
sides to the controversy to submit the
question of arbitrat ton to their respective
| members
| That it would require IS hours to get
an answer whether the matter will be ar
bitrated was the information given Judge
Lane. meeting of the workers will be
held while the builders will also have a
meeting and at these two meetings the
replies to Judge Lane and Mr. Bowron
will be formulated
Hope to See Settlement
! That the good offices of Judge Lane and
| Mr., Bowron will result in a settlement
| of differences was the opinion of most of
those who participated in the conference
The conference was Informal and unof-
| fetal, according to Judge Lane, and was
| suggested by a committee of the carpen-
ters who called at the city hall yesterday
morning. Those who met Judge Lane and
| Mr.. BoWron informed them that they did
| not have the authority to agree to ar
bitraton without consulting their organ
| ization.
Judge Lanes Statement
| Following the conference Judge Lane
made this statement: II am reasonably
| sure that the strike involving many
classes of worImen will be submitted to
board of arbitration, and | certainly
hope the result will be an amicabe ad-
| iustment of these differences. | was very
| much impressed with the representatives
from both sides to this dispute. They
appeared to be men of wisdom and entire
ly conservative.
"They told me that they did not have
authority to agree to a settlement by ar
bitration, but would gladly take the mat
ter up with their respective organiza-
tions and answer with IS hours, which will
be Wednesday afternoon.
AT this time l am very sorry that a
strike is on here. It is very unfortunate
and | am sure there is some way to ad-
Just this affair Our big buildings should
be rushed to completion, and our work
ingmen should be taken care of properly,
and | think to submit the questions in
volved to three reasonable men will be
fair TO all concerned. If the questions are
submitted one member of the board will
be selected by the trades unions, the other
by the builders and the third will be Sc
lected by the two chosen. In that way l
think a fair and equitable board can ad-
just this matter.
II sincerely trust that all men in Bir-
mingham interested in peace and pros
perity for our city will join in the sug-
gestion to settle this dispute without the
loss of any great amount of time
Will Submit Proposition
Following the conference with the com
missioner of justice. Mr.. Bowron and
the representatives of both sides of the
strike went Immediately to get in touch
with their respective associations, and it
was stated that by tomorrow afternoon
the answer will be submitted. 1t is con-
fidently believed that both sides will
agree to the settlement by arbitration
The strike which was in effect yes
terdav morning involves members of the
ca rpenters' union, plumbers, electricians,
plasterers bricklayers and ironworkers.
The carpenters have been on strike for
several weeks asking for an increase in
compensation. Their strike was not a
serious menace to the general building
h.. o. laA
other allied unions joined the carpenters.
It is understood that imported non-union
men have taken the places Of many car
penters.
The svmpathetic step here yesterday
morning uueted for the first time in
many a year the sound of hammer and
saw of workmen. The large hotels,
apartments and the jefferson County
bank skyscraper were all deserted.
Universal Topic of Discussion
The strike and it's probable effect on
the prosperity of the city and its people
was the general topic of conversation
yesterday, and while there were some
strike sympathzers, the action of the
unions which had no grievances in strik-
ing was almost universally condemned.
The hope was expressed that the sub
mission of the matter to arbitration
would settle it quickly and that work
on the buildings now under CONSTRUCTION
would be speedily resumed 1t was stated
Yesterday that the contractors for the
Jefferson County Savings bank building
had granted every request or demand
made by the unions and that not one
of their employees had any grievance
whatever. 1t is generally known that
up to this time the contractors OF this
building have broken, the record for
quick construction and that had IT not
been for this interruption the building
would have been completed earlier than
the contract calls for.
Strikers Claim Principle Involved
1t is understood this condition prevails
on every other large job and in the dis
cussion of the various phases of the
strike there We're many who expressed
the opinion that the strike of the unions
other than the carpenters was mis-
take.
On the other hand. the strikers declare
that a principle is involved that vitally
affects unionism that 1t is fight be-
tween labor and capital and that condi-
lions made the strike necessary at this
time.
officials of the Master Builders associa-
tion and kindred organizations giving
their side of the situation. They insist
that they have dealt fairly with the
unions in all matters coming before them
prior to the strike They DENY state
ments made hv the Officials of tho p,,ild