Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-17
Meeting Of the yourneymen PIasserer..

Last Dlght meeting OF the quincy "sen ios-
terers' Association was held ut German Hall,
to take INTO consideration what action is ne
ces sary in consequence of the refusal OF the
employing plasterers 10 give them the advance
TO hye dollars per day, which they nave ae-
manded. AT eight O'Clock the presldent-Mr.
Barr ett--called TO order, and Mr.. J. T.. Gin
acts d as secretary
Messrs. Robert Cross and Matthias Hows
were admitted 10 membership.
Under the head of new business, the secre-
tary read the following copy OF letter, which
he hsd prepared and forwarded to the Is alti-
more plasteIers and similar associations in the
WAsHINeroN, ID. c., Monday, March IA,
1s6s.-hr. Tomds Dtllen-Sir: Our association is
on strike. The bosses are combined against
ne, and have refused TO give tie demand OF five
dollars per day; bnt we have every confidence
in our ability to make them come to terms. We
may have 10 walk about for week or ten days;
but all will come right in the end. i think il
is the intention of the association, in the event
OF failure TO get the five dollars, to form our
selves into cooperative society, and under
take the work ourselves. So, with our best
wishes to you all, we are fraternally yours.
JAMES MORROW, Cor. Sec.
The letter was approved and ordered to stand
a. a portion Of the minutes.
On motion, the Chair was authorized to ap-
point committee Of three to draw up and have
published in the daily papers astatement Of the
causes which have led to the strike.
Mr.. Robert f. Gill submitted the following
preamble and resolutions:
Whereas at a regular meeting of the Jour-
HeyHlen hSSOCldtlOu, utlO III tue SUI
OF December, 1867, it was resolved that after
the 18th of March, 1865, the members of the
ISOLATION would demand SIS per day; and
whereas this same was duly published for the
benefit OF all concerned; and whereas, further,
the master plasterers OF the city Of Washington,
failing 10 notice the same in any spirit of con.
Citation with the association for the purpose
of efecting an amicable arrangement with the
same Therefore be it
Resolred, That the Chair appoint a committee
of five TO contract for work TO be done by the
ASSOCIATION.
Resolred, That the above be published in the
morning and evening papers of Washington.
Mr.. Morrow moved to amend by inserting
that the monies of the ASSOCIATION be put into
the hands OF the committee for the use Of the
association.
The resolutions were adopted, but subse-
qnently Mr.. Cohens moved a reconsideration
of the vote as be thought ii inexpedient to rush
through such matter without affording to the
meeting an opportunity for discussion.
The vote was thereupon reconsidered, when
Mr.. Cohens proceeded to address the meeting.
The bosses, he SAID, had determined that they
would not give five dollars per day; the Jour-
neymen had determined that they would not
take less. What was to be donel The matter,
he thought, was very grave one, and it be-
hooved the journeymen plasterers to calmly
consider the situation before rushing into
headlong action. He hoped to hear a free in
terchange Of expression on the part of his fell
low workmen and that the preamble and reso-
Mr.. Tanner urged the Association to stand
firm in the position they had taken. On a
former occasion of n similar character some
members had been weakened and did not
hold out. Let there be no such yacillation
now. Let the matter be settled right away,
whether the rights Of the journeymen were to
be adhered to, or they were to assume a posi-
ton and then recede like children.
Mr.. Rosenby opposed the passage of the res.
olutions; first, on grounds Of unconstitutional
ity; and second, that it inexpedient to
place the funds of the association in the hands
of individual members.
Mr.. David Mahoney, ST., advocated the
of no Tharo
ciple involved in the matter. BY divine regu-
lation the plasterers had been com PEELED to
suspend operations during the cold weather,
and now that warm weather was upon them,
and they could work, he hoped such prices as
would be remunerative would be required.
Mr.. Hobbs objected to the resolutions on the
ground that the master plasterers could not
afford 10 pay at this time five dollars per day
to the journeymen. There was very little work
| TO be done in the city, and he feared that the
effort TO get such an increase would be futile.
1t was plain that the bosses could not pay the
demand, if they We're disposed TO.
Mr.. Robert Muir offered the following reso-
luton as a substitute for the preamble and
resolutions introduced by Mr.. Gill
ResOiced, That any member or members of
this association who may undertake work
during this strike may be allowed to do so
without ceasing 10 be member Of the associa-
ton.
Mr. Stephen Gill warmly opposed the reso-
| luton, and read an article from the constitu-
ton wherein boss plasterers are positi yely pro-
| hbtod from being members of the Journeymen
| Plasterers' Association, which provision would
| be flagrantly violated should JOurneymen be-
gin TO contract for work on their own account
| Whenever a member Of the association took
job on his account, where assistance was
| quired, he ceased TO be a journeyman, and
could not. therefore, longer remain constitu.
| tioDal member.
| This objection was answered by the char,
| Mr.. Muir, and others, who thought the extreme
case ut issue justified the dev iation proposed,
| from the general rule. The journeymen plast-
| erers We're now on strike, and had been met
tao of haa l,xya
| TO give them work at the fair prices which had
been demanded 1t was fair, they thought, to
adopt any meas lures they saw fit for the pro-
| teCuon OF the mselyes and families, and if the
constitution inter fered, the emergency justified
| the ignoring of that instrument.
Mr.. COhens took the same view Of the subject
| The substitute resolution was clearly out of
| order, and he hoped the original paper would
| be adopted.
| The chair reiterated his assertion that the
! Association should not be deferred from adopt.
| ing measures for their benefit and protection,
| because there might be barriers in the consti-
tuition. Such crises as these went far beyond
late war to ignore the Constitution of the United
| States in order to put down the rebellion, and
| why should the plasterers, when their exist
ence was at stake, allow the constitution to
Mr. Stephen Gill addressed the Association
in opposition 10 the Chairs views and in sup
port Of the constitution. The constitution had
| already been violated three times in two weeks
and if we 60 on in this way, where the thi n z
TO end The proper way to accomplish the OBJ.
iect al set forth in the resolution was to offer
an amendment which could be considered at
another meeting.
| MI. Il. Edmondston regarded the resolution
out of order, and hoped both the preamble
and resolutions, as substituted therefor, would
be laid on the table.
Mr.. Mahoney regarded the cooperation tea
ture a visitation of the constitution: an in.
strument hch he thought should never be
trifled with SO long as the Plasterers' Associa-
ton was an organized body. There was q
principle at stake, and we should adhere to il
The n sole ton was at variance with the stand
that the jC urneymen had taken in striking 20
wit that hey should strike for their rights as
Journey men and not as bosses.
Mr.. Edmondson renewed his motion TO Law
the " hole matter on the table, but decided op-
position was manifested thereto. and q half a
| dozen or more members attempted to speak at
the same time.
Mr. Morrow was recognized by the Chair and
| prooe' d. d TO address, the meeting He thought
| the master builders had acted in bad faith TO.
everything they could to make themselves
| independent. Five months ago the Journey.
men Plasterer's Association had notified the
| employers that they should demand Is per day
| after the 18th of March, which timely notice
| they had taken advantage of, finished up their
Jobs, and then turned their workmen adrift
Many of the contrac tors had already been doing
work based upon the So prospective demand
| while they had only paid $3.50 and 81 per day
| He was opposed to sticking by the constitution
now only when il would subserve their pur.
poses. II that document stands in the way of
l the success al the made by the lOurnav