The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
BUILDING TRADES ON
STRIKE TOMORROW
Federal ConciliatOrs Fail to
Get Employers and Work
ers Together.
100000 MEN WILL BE IDLE
Construction Work, Including
Government Contracts,
Will Be Halted.

Although special efforts were made BY
washington, Federal conciliators were
unable yesterday to ward Off the strike
Of all building trades unions, which will
begin tomorrow morning on the con-
struction projects of the New York
Building Trades Employers Association.
The strike win be extensive in scope.
throwing approximately 100, 900 men out
Of work. $4,000 Of whom are New York
ers. II will affect $50 employers of Ia
Dor. and anywhere from $50 to 200 works
of construction now in progress, 90 per
cent. OF which are Government under
takings.
Carpenters, plasterers, plumbers paint
ers. fathers. hoisting engineers. sheet
metal workers. bricklayers, stone cutters
ana an basic structural trades laborers
will go out. 1t Is proposed as a sympa-
thetic move in behalf OF the carpenters
who went on strike in November for a
wage increase of 81 a day.
The strike will extend to western New
York. Massachusetts. Alabama, Ohio.
Louisiana and wherever buildings are
being erected by the New York Building
Association and sub-contractors.
Federal Mediators Fail.
While Henry J. Skeffington of Boston
and Walter d. Davidge Of Washington,
commissioners. of Cancellation from the
United States Dspar tn.ent OF Labor, were
comforting with members Of the govern
Ing board Of the New York Building
Trades Employers Association yesterday
afternoon in hopes Of foresfalling tho
impending strike the executive council Of
the building trades department of the
American Federation Of Labor was In
session in the Continental Hotel formu-
la k~~ Arllr -. ~. MAJ
dtators went from the conference with
the employers to the headquarters Of the
lnbor men to be told that the strike had
been recommended and would 60 into
effect Tomorrow.
''The Department OF Labor 10 mani
Testing such deep interest in the strike"
said Mr.. Skefington, because there are
already too many men idle in the coun-
try. Added to this the Government Is
seeking to stimulate building. and II II
to the best interests Of the nation that
nothing happens now which will inter-
fere with construction work"
The two factions. employers and en-
ployees, were appealed to on patriotic
principles The labor authorities as
sured the mediators that they were will
ing to have Intervention by the Federal
War Labor Board. but the Building
Trades Employers Association could
give no DEFINITE assurance because OF
the absence at the conference OF Inn
portant members of the governing board.
The Continental Hotel was crowded
with International presidents of the
unions which will be involved in the
strike. Tho executive council of the
building trades department of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, which recon-
mended the strike, 10 composed Of John
H. Donlin, president of the plasterers
union: George Hedrick, painters: WILL
lam J. McSorley, lathers; James Hama
han. hoisttns engineers; John J. Hines,
sheet metal workers; William L. Hutch
eson. carpenters and joiners, and Will
lam ]. Spencer, secretary OF the execu-
tive council.
Ronald Tavlor. president: Hugh
Getty. Otto Whitenecht and C. J. Nor
m and represented the Builders Trades
Employers Association at the confer
ence.
VIII Meet Here To-morrw.
The executive council OF the American
Federation OF Labor. which will meet
bore tomorrow at the call OF Matthew
Vol, acting president, will take action
on the walkout. according to John
Roach, general organizer. Among the
international presidents OF unions In at
tendance at yesterdays strike sessions
were William lIowen OF the bricklayers !:
William !. Hutcheson. carpenters; Will
lam ]. McSorley. fathers: f. j. Mac
Gibbon. pIasterers; Frank Hines sheet
metal workers; Milton Snellings, hoist
ing engineers: Frank Feeny. elevator
constructors William J. Spencer. plumb
ers: Samuel GREGG, masons, and p. j.
Morrin, iron workers.
Mr.. Sheffington and Mr.. Davidgo will
start for Washington this morning 10
make personal reports to Secretary Of
Labor Wilson and to confer with the
War Labor Board They will return IN
the carly part of the week TO help Gov
eminent authorities in the attempt to
arbitrats.