New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
100000 Men in
BuildingTrades
ToQuit Monday
Order Goes Out as Federal
Mediators Fail to Settle
the Carpenters Strike

federal medators failed to bring the
striking carpenters and their employers
together yesterday, and in consequence
orders went out last night to local
unions of the thirty building trades to
strike work on all jobs held by members
Of the Building Trades Employers As
sociation Of New York on Monday.
About sixty large contracts in various
parts of the country and 100000 men
are affected.
Henry j. Skeffington. of Boston, and
William O. Davidge, of Washington,
representing Secretary of Labor Will
lam B. Wilson, were the Federal media
tors. They spent most of the afternoon
in conference with representatives of
the employers and early last evening
met with the eXecutiveSAcouncil of the
building trades department of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor. This confer
ence lasted half an hour At its con-
clusion the mediators confessed failure.
Nothing but miracle can stop a
strike now" said Mr. Skefington, "and
neither Davidge nor | are miracle
workers. We have done everything we
could do and will have to tell the sec
retary that there is nothing we can
see that will prevent the strike in
volving all of the trades the members
of this association employ l estimate
that the number of men that will be
affected is close to 100000.
Abandon Hope of Settlement
II leave for my home tonight, and
will keep in touch with the situation
here by phone. Mr. Davidge leaves
tomorrow morning for Washington to
report to Mr. Wilson. We will proba-
bly, be back here Tuesday or Wednes-
day to see if there is anything we can
do. Just now, however, it looks as
though they would have to fight it
out"
One reason assigned for the failure
of the mediators was the fact that only
four of the strike committee of the
employers association were on hand to
meet them. These we're Roland Taylor
president Of the associations; Hugh
Getty, G. J. Norman, chairman of the
carpenters section, and Otto White
necht. The others, it was expla aimed
were unable to be present because no.
tice of the intention of the govern
ment to send mediators was not re-
ceived until late Friday afternoon.
Messrs. Skeffington and Davidge ar
rived in New York early yesterda y
morning and went to the Continental
Hotel, where they conferred with Will
lam l.. Hutcheson, international presi-
dent of the Carpenters, William ]
Bowen and William Dobson, Of the
Bricklaycrs and others. At this con
ference the union men expressed a
willingness to take up the mater with
the employers. but they declared il
on any basis other than $3.50 day
for carpenters.
Firm on $3.50 Day
"The men will not stand for less
Hutcheson told them, "and it is of NJ
, use to make an agreement that canno
1 be kept"
After this conference the mediator
wen to the Builders Exchange il
Thirty-third Street. where they talket
e with the employers until nearly
o'clock. Meantime in the Hotel Con
tinental the executive council of tn
8 building trades department Of th'
e American Federation Of Labor ha
been called to order by John H. Don
lin, it's chairman.
), TO it the case Of the Carpenter
: was presented by William l.. Hutche
son. a member Of the board William
J. Bowen and William Dobson. Of tn
= Brickiayera, presented the case o
5 their men and Frank p. Feency, 0
= the elevator conStTuCkOIs "h" also al
on strike, told of the efforts to brin
: peace. At the close of this discus
"a ajon it WAS voted to recommend tina
l. al building trades strike in supper
, Of the men now out.
Directed Against $50 Contractors
: The announcement of this vote WI
made by Mr.. Hutcheson while the m
T. diators we're still in session with tt
n employers
n "The executive council Of the bull
:. ing trades department Of the Americs
d Federation Of Labor passed resoll
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