Evening star., 1917-10-12
Carpenters Quit Work.

moro than $50 carpenters at work on
the cantonment and other journeymen
and laborers, making total of about
$50 men, packed up their tools and quit
work.
r. H. Burdette. president of the Dis
trfct Council, was notified. He promptly
began making a thorough investigation
OF the case, and said that a meeting of
the local Carpenters Union would be held
this evening. Meanwhile. the men have
been instructed by c. H. Adams. busi-
Council. which is affiliated with the
Union Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners Of America, not to return to work
until the colored guards have been re-
moved.
President Burdette was in conference
today with the District Council and with
officials of the American Federation of
Labor. A protest is to be made to the
War Department. and delegation is to
be appointed for this purpose at the con-
ference tonight, 1t is expected by union
leaders.
Caused Much Excitement.
Az soon as news of the shooting, spread
II caused considerable excitement in the
northeast section. especially among en-
ployes of the Washington navy yard.
thousands Of whom use the car line pass
ing the cantonment site where the shoot
Ing occurred. Everything possible is
being done to suppress the excitement
The authorities, both military and civil,
are promising that proper action will be
taken. and the labor leaders are urging
caution and ordering the men to await
orders. Officers of the 1st Separate Bat
talon deplore the shooting.
The carpenters are particularly
stirred up over the shooting because
of the standing of their brother mem
ber. Mr.. Cooper was former president
of Local 100 before the consolidation
of the five locals of the L. Il. into
Local 1872. in 1895. He was one of the
charter members of the Brotherhood
of Carpenters in Local No. l. which
was the first local union Of the United
brotherhood Of Carpenters chartered
in the United States, SO that he has
been prominent In the union since
1851. He was one of the most highly
esteemed members and was of con-
servative disposition. his fellow-mem-
bers say.
Was Ill Early in Week.
Mr.. Cooper, who had been on the
sick list earlier in the week, had re
turned to work yesterday. This morn
ing shortly after $50 o'clock he left
his wife, children and grandchildren
at the family home. on J. street north
east. and started to the camp. He
reached there about Gao O'Clock and
had crossed the building line near the
Office of the P. F. Gormley Company
contractors. on his way to the entr nee
near near Florida florida, avenue ,@ and 9TH street.
guard duty. called TO him to halt
Being almost totally deaf. Mr.. Cooper.
1t is presumed, did not hear the guard S
command. and the latter sent a forty
four-caliber bullet into the left side of
his body. Mr.. Cooper reeied and fell to
the ground unconscious and almost life
less and, il is stated T. j. Martin, gen
eraI foreman on the work was ordered
away when he went to see il he could
be OF assistance and render first aid to
the wounded man.
n. K. Fawkes, a member of the office
force of the contractor, and the driver
OF bakery wagon were among those
who quickly reached the scene and
rendered assistance. Fawkes stopped
over the unconscious form of the car
penter.
There was very little sign of life
ABOUT the body. A passing motorist
took the wounded man to Sibley Hos
pital, where he died soon after arrival.
More than zoo carpenters were on
the grounds preparing to go to work
when the shooting occurred. and others
were arriving constantly. When Fore
man Martin realized the feeling among
them he counseled them to leave the
camp for the time being. and accompa-
MED many of them to vacant lot on
the south side of Florida avenue.
Crowd Gathered on Lot.
crowd of approximately 1000 men,
several hundred of them carpenters
<siiu iuoie Khan tUU OF tnenl employees
on the construction of the cantonment
gathered on the lot opposite the canton
Inent shortly after the shooting. Sew
eral OF their number addressed the men.
and II was decided that they would not
return to work today, partly as n mark
of respect to their dead brother and
partly for the reason that they wanted
TO hold a meeting in the rooms of the
brotherhood OF Carpenters at Typo
graphical Temple this afternoon. They
(ContiniIed on Second ia pn 4