The New York herald., 1922-02-26
LABOR LEADERS SILENT
Official Federation Statement
Awaited on Bill of Rights
in Industry.

tee, for their part in consummating
the agreement reached in Washington
on Friday between the Federal Of
ficials and the Bricklayers, Masons and
Plasterers International Union, local
labor leaders refrained from comment
for the most part pending an official
statement from the executives of the
American Federation of Labor.
The agreement, under which de-
cree of consent will be entered in the
Federal Court for this district prob
ably early this week, ends the abuses
in the building trades in New York
end establishes what virtually amounts
10 a new bill of rights for the home
builder It's far reaching effect was
admitted by employer and employee
alike.
Credit to Be Shared.
In quarters actively connected with
the legislative housing investigation
there was, however plainly discernible
an undercurrent Of concern with regard
10 where the credit for the new order
should go Senator Lockwood made 1t
plain that the work of uncovering the
abuses al which the decree is directed
was Initiated and largely carried on by
his committee.
Samuel Untermyer, counsel TO the
committee issued statement in Palm
Beach that was considerably more em-
phatic than that of Senator Lockwood
and claimed credit for the result.
Mr. Hayward and Mr.. Podell each
contributed to the general outgivinS on
their return from Washington, stressing
the legal aspects of the decree. Chris
tian G. Norman. chairman of the board
of governors of the Building Trades
Employers Association. contented him.
self with the brief but positive assertion
that the decree would be of great bene-
fit to the building industry. at the same
time pointing out that in at least two
of the four major provisions, namely,
that prohibiting unions from acting as
collection agencies and that forbidding
them to discriminate against non-union
made material. the conferees followed
Ills suggestions
Senator Lockwood, who arrived mere
from Albany. said:
II am very glad the negotiations have
been successful. They are the COM
pletion of that branch of the work
initiated and largely conducted by Mr..
Untermyer and the housing committee.
The decree will be a splendid thing for
labor. capital and the public, and !
wish the big combinations of business
men. organized to fix prices would
adopt the same attitude as the labor
people. If so. our problem would be
very much nearer solution"
Sees Direct Slow at Unions.
4 labor leader who has followed every
phase OF the Lockwood committees
Investigation pointed out that the
activities of the Federal officials, as
reflected in the terms of the decree
had been directed apparently against the
labor unions. This fact accounted for
the reluctance of influential leaders 10
talk, particularly in view of the fact
that according to report, the orlck-
ayers masons' and plasterers' Officials
had consented to the decree without
consulting the officials of the American
Federation of Labor.
Thi- same official referred TO the
submission early this week OF the Lock-
wood committees preliminary report TO
the Legislature, and recalled Samuel
I'ntermyers frequently repeated recon-
mendatons that legislation directed
enIeiv against the labor unions as such.
or legislation designed to compel them
10 incorporate and thus come more
easily within the jurisdiction OF the
state laws. be not submitted. Tne
question was asked whether the Federal
decree was not designed to fill the gaps
that may become apparent "hen inc
Lockwood committees report ana hc-
companying legislation are presented
Nrotbor basis for the belief in some
Quarters that while not conflicting with
fhe Lockwood committees work MT.
tIavward has contrived to get some of
thc credit for a reorganization OF tne
building industry by putting teeth W
the law was purported 10 be seen IN
the statement by Mr.. Podell that
ndgo without a Jury. would have the
mower to punish any labor union Tor
"a violation OF thu decree by the inpo-
sition of fine or imprisonment OF the
officials or both.
"No Favoritism shown"
on the other hand. Mr.. Hayward de-
clared mphatically that the decree con-
templated playing no favorites tic
said:
1--WE will strike at whatever is illegal
whether il hits labor union or an
employers association.
while this decree will unquestion~
ably prove TO be a tremendous boon to
home builders, we conslder thht u
should serve an even higher and more
important purpose. and that is 90 es-
tabiish the supremacy of the law.
"Snce we have started this building
investigation we have indicted over
four hundred individuals and concerns
who were members OF employers and
contractors associations in the building
trades. over a hundred OF them have
been heavily fined and some ringlead-
crs have been sent to Jail
THE only reason we have not pro-
ceedsd by indictment in the case against
'She bricklayers is that we found that
tlltsc labor leaders had not be.n work.
ftg for Their personal pockets. as was
Tho casa with the contractors. but
rdtber' had beef servlng what they be-
ilevcd 10 be tie best interests of their
organization. or in n mistaken notion
AT their acts were legal"
ST.. Podeu made. a. statement on the
legal aspects OF the decree which some