The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-17
Big SPREAD FEARED
IN BUILDING STRIKE
Additional Thousands May Be
Affected by Walkout of
100000 To-day.
ARBITERS ARE HOPEFUL
Ninety Per Cent. of Projects
Paralyzed Are Govern
ment Work.
ARBITERS ARE HOPEFUL

There are possibilities Of today,
strike OF building trades employees ex.
tending TO the undertakings Of oths-
than those OF the New York Building
Trades Employ ers Association. IN which
1t originated. Last night labor leaders
proposed to move against contractors
who are said to have lent union help
to the builders association.
II the strike spreads it will throw
out Of employment large number Of Ia
borers above the 100. 900 estimated in TO-
days scheduled walkout No definite
action had been taken against other
contracting concerns up to last night
The matter is expected to come up to-
day in the labor caucuses
Stating that he believed the building
trades strike would he mediated within
a few days, Henry ]. Skeffington, special
commissioner of Cancellation from the
Federal Department of Labor, left the
city last night for Washington TO confer
with L. S. labor officials over the New
York dispute. Mr.. Skeffington. who
was sent to New York with Walter n
Davidge, United States Commissioner ~
Cancellation to urge against the building
strike, conferred yesterday with labo.
men and employers.
The employers association statsd
through Ronald Taylor. president Of thA
builders. that the organization would not
consider the demands of the strikers IN.
I'll the carpenters had fulfilled the,
agreement to return TO work.
Carpenters stand Firm.
The striking carpenters, in whose hr.
to strike to-day, insist they are viola,-
ing no agreement. and that they fulfilled
their contract with the building trades
employers when, after having struck Last
November, they returned to their iohs
until Saturday at noon. at which tims
they left off work. The carpenters 50
they will not return TO work until na1
So day. an increase of 81 Over The.
present wage scale.
'"But I believe. In spite OF the unyis''
ing stand OF both factions" said NJ
Skeifington last night. that the still"
will soon be called off. Either the W."
Labor Board will mediate, else the en-
ployers and labor men will get togetheg
among themselves"
The fact the Executive Council ~ 'h'
American Federation OF Labor will CONE
here to hold a meeting Is taken TO have
an important bearing on the Situate
and also that the influence of the counc
may be exerted either to extend The
strike or to bring pressure to bear for a
adjustment Added to this possihi'i'
Is that Mr.. Skeffington on his return 10
the city Tuesday may accompany tho
War Labor Board. which will come T."
event the building employers agree with
the labor people to mediation by th.s
body.
PREVENTION by the Federal board because
only TOUR members of the builders ass.
citation were present when the con','
ence was held with the Washi'r
ton conciliators Saturday afternoon. FL
teen members compose the gove-ni's
board OF the association, and decsio
of the majority Is necessary before 'H'
employers can give assurance on 'r
War Labor Board proposal OF a-b.'fa-
ton.
General Strike To-day.
The general strike will hegu
morning. II will be instantaneous her-
! but II is not expected to reach It's beg O.
in other points OF the country until IA .
later, due to the sowness in getting 80
strike machinery into operation. Tive
ty-five thousand OF the 100. 600 men es''
mated TO walk out will he men empoye
on construction JOBS mere. Operations ~
the New York employers ase-n'jaf
are being carried on IN many Of the big
gest cities of the country, notably Ro'
ton, where the bulk OF construction wor,
will be paralyZed by the walkou'.
1t is figured that 200 undertakings VT
be affected, 90 per cent. Of which ~.
| Government works. The striking wor'.
! men will be lathers, carpenters. painters
plumbers, bricklayers. maso0s, hois'tnH
| engineers and all basic structural trades
| laborers.
Members OF the executive council n
the national labor federation began a.
| irving last night for the meeting to-f0
| Daniel j. Tobln. treasurer of the ~
tional body and International preside
| of the Transfers Union. and Jacob
! Fisher, international president q 'he
BARRIERS, registered at the ContneN"
| Hotel late yesterday.
While the striking builders and -
! labor executive council are In sesso. "
| conference OF the employers is eNpec'"'
to be held to-day in the quarte~s - ~"
New York Building Trades EmnloTe-.
! Association, at 81 West Tnir'y-t.'r"
| street. The Federal Intervention p'
posal of Mr.. Skeffington and NJ. Dardis
will then be put before the building
| tractors.