The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-02
LABOR MOVEMENT.
Meeting Of the Master Mas0ns-The Brick.
layers strike for Eight Hours.

Meeting Of the Master NIas0ns-The Brick.
layers Strike for Eight Hours.
An adjourned meeting Of the master masons of
New York and vicinity was held at the Merchants
Exchange No. 81 Liberty street, yesterday. There
was very large attendance Mr. ]. T. ConOver pre-
sided
The Secretary read the minutes Of the previous
meeting which were approved.
Mr.. Ross, as one OF the Executive Committee Of
three appointed for the purpose of carrying out GER
tain measures, reported that all the necessary
structiOns had been obeyed. A meeting had been
held last evening" and he should add that through
out the proceedings considerable enthusiasm was
evnced. Almost every one present expressed his
views and 1t was eventually decided that each
branch should call its organization together when
report would be furnished OF their united action.
He would add that the committee earnestly requested
sympathy and support in order that the time should
be extended.
II was then moved and seconded that the roll be
called, and that each member should make state
ment TO how his employees were working or
whether they had any brickayers engaged.
The following master masOns then reported as fol-
lows:-Mr. O'Brien said he had several masons at
work at ten hours but no bricklayers. Mr.. Walsh
observed that twelve or fifteen brickiayers were
none Herbert, none; St. Clair Il Allen, men working
eight hours: Stewart Il Co.,, German division OF
brcklayers going to work; Owen Morant, nobody
but his foreman, who worked eight hours and then
stood over the laborers; A. Ross bricklayers, but
but stonemasons; ]. s. Conner, no brickiayers,
few masons working at ten hours; Fletcher, two
~ ten hours Webb son
at ten hours: Andrews, ten bricklayers and masons
working at ten hours-(hear, hear-J. J. Carey,
stonemasons, laborers and twelve bricklayers, work
ing at ten hours-(hear, hear)-Burche, no brick
layers; 0'Reilly stonemasons and aborers; Houstn,
twelve brickayers and stonemasOns at twelve hours;
Vaughan, bricklayers and masons, at ten hours:
Paul, two brickayers and ten masons, nj ten hours
lhear, hear1-A; A. Andrews stonemasons, working
at ten hours: Mclean n Son, st0nemasons and four
brcklayers, at ten hours, In BROOKLYN; Hanna, eight
bricklayers, working at ten hours. The master
masons having thus made their several statements
in regard TO the working OF the bricklayers,
Mr.. Ross observed that the report now presented
was on the whole very encouraging. Tie would say
that nothing now remained on the part OF the
master masons but to be firm. Let every man stand
M and carry out the intention of the body and not
yield under any circumstances. He considered there
was room for congratulations on account or the very
satisfactory statements Just made and the best safe
Mr. Dom remarked that there was one other ele
mcnt besides irnrness required When the subject
was fairly understood by the people int rested In
this matter the men would show at once how far
they appreciated 1t. He had been iourneyman
himself fora considerable period, aud had therefore
good opportunities Of seeing how such matters were
worked. Now, II was apparent that considerable
number Of the parties employed were sensible men,
but a large number had been drawn into the matter
10y class of men that were trying TO get up strikes.
lie never struck In all his life, and the reason was
that men who undertook to get them up were never
turbance. But he should observe that strikes did
not take then as they do at the present
day. The best reason to suppose that the
master masons would succeed in this instance was
because they ought TO succeed. They knew
that the bricklayers were inuring themselves
by the course they were pursuing AMI II
behooved them TO arrest II rs soon possible. When
the community were told In . plain statement jusl
what the diflicuty was he believed the men would
be ashamed OF II, because II was an invasion of
common private right. Certainly the jolrncymen
would not all ow the master masons To interfere with
their private rights, and the same action should he
followed towards them. lie submitted that the
master masons should give the men the wages but
".
AFTER some further observations II was moved and
seconded that the original resolution adopting the
ten hours system instead OF eight he adhered 10.
Mr.LANE wished TO state that he had never snc-
cumbcd TO the eight hours work, although II had
been so stated IN morning paper
The meeting then adjourned till Friday.