Evening star., 1868-02-20
The WorkiBgmen,s Assembly.

AAe I1eetluS OF .DlS Oreilni-
ration was held at the City Hall last evening,
]. w. Maitingiy presiding, and w. Wroe act
ing as secretary.
The credentials of John I. Young, Robert
Patterson and Michael Ford, from the Granite
Cutters L MON, were presented and referred 10
the Committee on Credentials, who reported
favorahly thereon, and they We're admitted.
Mr.. Wroe stated that the committee 70 urge
the passage of the eight-hour law by Congress
had waited on several Congressman. He was
confident that the bill would pass the Senate
On request, further time was granted the com :
mIttee to urge the passage OF the bill.
Mr.. Flynn, from the Committee on Finance.
submitted a report, which, on motion, was re-
committed TO the committee.
Mr.. j. j. Mitchell, from the Committee on
Mass Meetings, reported that the committee
had heen diligent in holding mass meetings and
organizing auxiliary labor associations They
attempted TO start a workingmens association
on the Island, but failed. There was a vacancy
on the committee, and, On motion of Mr. Mitch
ell, the filling of the vacancy was postponed
Mr.. Mitchell offered the following: g
Whereas, An association known as the
master Builders Union" has recently been or
ganized in this city, avOwing hostility to all
"IIade organizations" and declaring among
other things, the determination Of resisting the
establishment of the eight hour system in the
District of Columbia; be il therefore
Res6lved, That we, the delegates Of 13 trade
organizations here assembled, do de clare that
we will never relax our efforts until eight t
hours Is established IN the District of Columbia
and that we will use every exertiOn in our
power to counteract the influence of the "Mas-
ter Builders Union when directed against the
esfatlls hment OF the same: and further that we
pledge our undivided support to any organiza-
tons who are driven to resist the unjust exac-
lions of the above named organization.
Resolced, That the thanks of this assembly are
hereby rendered to Mr.. John F. Collins for his
able and eloquent speech in defence OF our
Trade organizations and their objects, as deliy-
cred py him at meeting of the '.Master Build
ers Union"
The Secretary, by request of Mr.. Mitchell.
read from the STARS report of the meeting of
the ''Master Builders Union" Mr.. Collins
remarks. ~ t.t
Mr.. Mitchell said the thanks of the laboriny
men were due TO Mr.. Collins for the remark
that 'sif the master mechanics would approach
the journeymen in a right spirit, there would
be no need of strife or conflict Journeymen
have rights as well as their employers"
Mr.. Beron said these men had set them selves
whom they were masters; surely not over white
men. He could not acknowledge that they were
masters over the jOurneymen.
Mr. j.. j. Mitchell said that the fact was now
before them that an organization had been
formed in this city, the ultimate object of which
was TO crush the workingmen Of the city. He
characterized the action of those men in FORM
ing the society at this time a cowardly ac-
ton. Poverty and want were now stalking
through the city, and they had taken the oppor-
tunity TO form such an organization because
work was scarce and spring about opening
Mr.. McCathran said that the disease had been
brought from over the pond. The moneyed
men would find il difficult Job TO fight the
workingmen OF this country. II it was any
satisfaction for such men to get up mutual
admiration society, and meet once a week to
tickle each other by calling themselves smas-
tiers, let them do il, but let them also keep clear
of the workingmen. That term master, he
said, had been stricken from the American
vocabulary.
The preamble and resolutions were unani-
The Committee on Finance submitted a
report, and urged the appointment of Finan-
cial Secretary. The report was adopted.
Mr.. Many moved the appointment of com.
mittee 10 draw up an address to the working.
men OF the city, urging them TO sustain the
trade unions.
Mr.. Beron stated that next summer there
would be an abundance of work more than the
journeymen would be able to do. He spoke of
the course Of the newspapers in showing to the
people the worse side OF the picture: saying they
would note every case of suffering and attempt
10 show that the distress in the country was
greater than it really was
Mr.. Mclean claimed that Mr. Beron was out
OF order in repeatedly assailing the newspa-
pers. They had not met for that purpose: but
to promote the interests of the workingmen
Ihe gentleman seemed 10 have a particular
animeslty against newspapers, but he was out
OF order in displaying il at the meetings of the
Assembly. He hoped he would refrain from
venting his spleen on newspapers The bust
ness OF this assembly was to make friends and
Mr.. Mitchell was not in favor of maxim
war upon newspapers But he thought it his
privilege and duty to correct erroneous state
ments concerning the workingmen which might
be published in the newspapers.
Mr.. Flynn said it was necessary that the
journevmen should not make war upon the
press. Ii they attempted that they should ex-
pect TO meet war in return. If they could not
treat the newspapers fairly they would not
have fair dealing in return. They depended
upon the newspapers 10 publish their proceed
ings and movements throughout the land.
Mr.. Rothwell was wholly opposed 10 the
coarse pursued by MI. Boron. The Assembly
had successfully transacted its business hereto
fore without making war any class. We
can retain the goodwill Of our employers and
others, and at the same time make a firm but
respectful demand for what the necessities of
the times requires, as also the adoption Of the
eight-hour sy stem.
The motion OF Mr.. Mainy on the matter was
laid over for one week.
Mr.. Flynn moved that the proposed amend
ment 10 the constitution providing for the cleo
ton OF Financial Secretary, and defining his
duties, be adopted. Carried.
Mr.. ID. McCathran moved that the amend
ment to the COnstItu striking out the Exec.
utive Committee be laid over carried.
Mr.. Flynn moved that the Assembly proceed
to elect Financial Secretary; which motion
was carried, and Mr.. Geo. Cook, of the Brick
layers Union, was elected.
Mr.. Beron arose and moved that the reporters
OF the press be requested 10 exclude from their
reports all remarks relating 10 newspapers.
Not seconded.
The Financial Secretary was then conducted
10 his seat by Messrs. Garfield and Mclean
Mr.. Mclean spoke of a bill offered IN the
Eoard OF Aldermen on the lUth of February,
and offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the thanks of this assembly be,
and are hereby rendered to Mr. Donald Nc
Cathran, of the Board Of Aldermen, for his zeal
in behalf of the eight hour movement, as evil
denced by the introduction in that Board of a
bill requiring all Corporation work, &c, TO be
done by the day, and eight hours 10 constitute q
legal days work.
The resolution was unanimously adopted:
and after the auditing of several bills, the as
sembly adjourned.
MASONIC MATTERS IN THE DIsTRICT.-The
yearly report of the proceedings of the Grand
Lodge of the District of Columbia, which has
just been published, shows that the fraternity
mas steadily increased in membership and
finances, all the lodges being in prosperous
condition. The following will show the
numerical condition Of the several lodges in
the jurisdiction, with the work of the past
year, &c. Number of lodges, 16 Master Masons
per last report, 2.0I4 entered, 523: passed. isl
rSlsed i64; affiliated, 90: reins tated 4S: total
Master Masons, 2,5a3 Withdrawn, $50; died 26:
dropped, l27 suspended, ]; l;expelled, !. Present
number of Master Masons, Z, 1Se; rejected. I76
Amount paid by the lodges TO the Grand
Lodge. 1851 80. The first five lodges-Federal
Columbia, Washington, Naval, Potomac and
Lebdnon-were chartered in 1911, New Jeru-
salem in 1924, Hiram i'm 1925 St. Johns and
National in lo46, W ashington Centennial in l-52,
Il. Ii. French In le53, Dawson in 1867. Harmony.
No. 20, .sthe infant" in 1867. The latter lodge
numbers already over fifty members, and
through the exertions of its worshipful master
Harry v Cole. and fS Qippt 4 anLxl