June 9th a special meeting of the Bricklayers union, was held, at which
an attempt was again made to have the code of principles of the Master
Masons approved, but it was unsuccessful. The most that could be done
was to secure the appointment of a committee to take steps looking to a
settlement of the strike. This committee was composed of A. E.
Vorkeller, John Pierson, C. J. Lindgren, P. J. Miniter and Fred Rebush.
On Friday, June 10th, this committee met, after which Mr. Vorkeller,
president of the union, called upon Mr. Downey, president of the Master
Masons' association, and asked him when he would have a committee ready
to meet his committee. Mr. Downey notified him that if he had any
communication to make it should be presented in writing, in order that
he might be able to submit it to his association. Mr. Vorkeller returned
to his office and prepared a letter, which he delivered in person to Mr.
Downey in the afternoon.
Shortly after the delivery of the letter the Master Masons' association
met in special session, with George Tapper in the chair. Five new
members were admitted, which occasioned a remark from a member that it
did not look like the association was falling to pieces, or that the
members were weakening. The report of the committee on strikes and
grievances of the Central Council of the Building Interests, adopted on
Tuesday, June 7th, was read. It was received with applause.
Mr. Downey then announced that he had received a letter from the
president of the Bricklayers' Union, but before it was read he desired
to make a statement in order that his position and the letter might be
better understood. He said that on Monday evening, June 6th, Mr. A. E.
Vorkeller, president of the Union, had called at his house, where they
had a friendly chat. Mr. Vorkeller had then asked him how the strike
could be settled, and he had informed Mr. Vorkeller that when the Union
indorsed the platform of principles adopted by the builders they could
arbitrate all questions of difference that were subjects of arbitration.
On the following morning Mr. Vorkeller had called on him and suggested
that he would bring with him four Union men to meet a like number of the
Master Masons at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to have an unofficial talk
on the subject, it being agreed that no members of either executive
committee should be present. Finding that he could not have one person
present at that hour he had sent Mr. Vorkeller the following note:
FRIEND VORKELLER: It will be impossible for me to meet you before
3:30, owing to one of the men I appointed not being able to meet
before that time. I trust this will not inconvenience you in any
way. Yours, respectfully,