The evening world., 1919-02-18
BUILDING STRIKE
NOT OTDEVELOP|NGAS
UNIONS HOPED FOR
Settlement Seen as Both Sides
Agree to Submit Differences
to Baker and Wilson.

! The building trades strike. whose
programme was to tie up construc-
tion work from coast to coast and
perhaps interfere with reconstruc-
tion In devastated France. has not
developed as its leaders predicted 1t
would. In the whole country, ac-
cording to the best figures obtain
able, only a few thousand workers
have quit.
The experience OF the George A.
Fuller Company No. l75 Fifth Ave-
nue., which employs 10000 men and
has contracts in all parts OF the
country, is illustrative. r. c. Whi-
ting. general manager. said to-day:
"Not more than 100 OF our men have
struck. | believe that about 1900 men
in all Greater New York have gone
out. Whether our contracts will be
affected or not is a question depend
ing, OF course. upon the developments
in the strike situation. 1t may be all
settled within few hours
Both sides have agreed t3 confer in
Washington tomorrow with Secretary
OF Labor Wilson and Secretary OF
War Baker, and an early settlement
is expected. But William L. Hutche-
son. President OF the Carpenters
Union, delivered a final shot at the
employers to-day as follows:
I'VE will never send our men back
to work for members OF the Building
Trades Employers Association at $3.50
a day"
The union delegation TO Washing
ton is composed Of william Bowen.
President OF the Brick Layers; Peter
V. Cook, President OF the Plasterers;
Milton Smelling, President OF the
Hoisting Engineers; John J. Donlin.
Chairman OF the building trades divi-
sion of the American Federation OF
Labor. and Robert p. Brindell. Chair
man OF the Building Trades Council
OF New York.
Samuel b. Donnelly, secretary of
the employers organization. said the
delegation representing the employers
would be chosen this afternoon.
Both delegations are expected to
TO TO Washington tonight, and prob
ably will meet the national officials
to- morrow.
In addition the Executive Commit
tee OF the American Federation OF
Labor will go in a body to Washing
ton tonight for a meeting there to-
morrow. 1t Is not known whether
this committee will take part in the
conference with Secretaries Wilson
and Baker.
Speaking for the employers this
morning, Secretary Donnelly said the
threat of the unions to cause a Nation
wide strike and to extend 1t TO Flu
rope was "a gigantic BLUM"
THE strike was called for Mon
day." he said. This is Tuesday, and
less than 5000 men have gone out in
the whole country. They are trying 20
cause Intervention in the name of pa
1
triotism, to avert national calam-
ity. The threat is the biggest wind
since the night OF the big wind In
| ireland"
Men in close touch with the build
ing situation say the meeting may
disclose that the War Department has
changed its attitude toward the pre-
valllng rate" OF carpenters pay here.
Contractors have asserted that the
Quartermaster Department upheld
them last fan In their refusal TO pay
more than $3.50 as the prevailing rate
Of wages. but since then II is UNDER
stood an inquiry has been conducted
among contractors as TO the amounts
actually paid.
Because many Independent con-
tractors have been paying $3.50, and
because many OF the questionnaires
sent out went to union members who
also do contracting work, employers
are afraid that a majority may be for
the $3.50 rate.
A strike Of elevator constructors
was declared to- day at the army base
at 56th street and First Avenue
South Brooklyn. Army officers de-
clnod to reveal the number OF mer
out The strikers ask AN increase II
pay,