The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-04
Journ@ymen BrlcKIayers.

/ JOurue ymen nT1ckI6ycTSs
.t From the New York san. July as
4 A large and enthusiastic meeting of opera
tive bricklayers was held last evening at De
mitt Hall, corner Of Second avenue and
Twenty third street, Mr.. s. r. Gaul, presid.
ing. A delegation from the plastereTs, con-
sisling OF 1essrs. J. Fortune, j. Hogan and
James Eagan, was introduced to the meet
ing. Mr.. Fortune, rs chairman, announced
that his society mad rendered their moral
and material support to the bIickay ers,
whose cause they considered their own. He
then discussed the elght-hour question. and
showed the necessity that exists for its en-
forcement. After making money out Of the
sweat and labor or the mechanics, the bosses
were then sometimes willing to invest por-
ton Of II in mechanics institutes and other
charities, but they never wanted to allow the
operatives themselves to have fewer hours,
or TO have a chance to rise higher in the So
cial scale. As citizens Of the commonwealth
they had a right to demand the eight hours I;
II is national question now; it is taken
completely out Of the bosses hands, and
they need not think to crush it out, even If
they should defeat the present strike, which
there is no probability they will Go. Mr..
Fortune is going to Chicago Ms q delegate to
the Plasterers' National Convention, which
meets there July z, and be pledged himself
to use all bis influence to awaken an interest
and enthusiasm among his CONT AIDES there IN
favor Of the strike.
Messrs Joseph Krner and P. Stockton,
delegates from the Bricklayers' Union,
pledged his Society to the same, and in few
remarks said that in reading the resolutions
OF the bosses in the papers this morning,
they re minded him uf n man drowning
they were all blubber Laughter and al tnat
the brIcklayers needed now was to give them
one more push and send them to tie bottom.
The workingmen, he said, are now only en-
forcing, in their own persons, law which
their servants in the state and national legis-
latures had made, and ne did not see how
the master masons, as law-abidlng citizens,
could rightfuliy object to il. APPLAUSE
Mr.. Fisher, Of the same Society, followed,
and called attention to the slander of the
master masons, that they (tbe workingmen)
would spend their time and their money in
the rum shops. He wanted to know how
they could do so with the present high rates
of living, rents, &C., and with the constaat
cry Of the bosses ringing in their ears tho
IN another week they would have nothing te
eat or drink. 1t was very evident that the
bosses either did not believe that the Jour
neymen were 50 near staarnOn as th ey as
sert, or they did, not speak thv truth when
they accused them of spending their time
and money for drink. But they would show
the bosses how they would spend their time
thus gained from labor. Instead of remain
ing here pent up in cellars and attics, the
mechanics viii 60 out to the country to live,
and place themselves side by side with the
farmers who supply their wants, and thus
create market there, instead of paying for
the carriage of these products to the city.
with an additional cost 10 middlercen and
retailers. This argument was presented to
the Legislature at it's passage of the Eight
Hour law, and had great weight with it,
| Applause. A resolution Of the Painters
Society was then read, wherein they have
appropriated $500 Cor the benefit Of the
bricklayers, and pledge for more If required
Mr.. Dept, of the Cabinetmakers, pledged
his society (German) to the support of the
men on strike in any way, morally or mate
rally, that they can aid them.
Mr.. Jessup, President Of the State Labor
ers' Union, aud delegate from the Carpen-
ters' and Joiners' Society, made similar re-
port on the behalf Of his society, and said
that he was willing to accept the issue laid
down by the bosses. that this is the turning
point between capital and labor, and he
would fight it out on this point. The SYM
pathy Of the whole country is now with the
men, and if taey succeed in this strike, who
shall tell where il will stop.
Mr.. Ennis pledged the Worktngmen's
Union to their support, and urged them to
2,.1 A = Al -
mers, lapplausel, and if the bosses have not
money enough TO take their fishing excur-
sions as they propose, his society (plaster-
ers) will give them some. tLaughter1 The
whole United States is reused tonight in
behalf Of the bricklayers, and they will re-
ceive more money than they can use. He
suggested that as the meeting of national la
bor delegates will be held here July q, it
would be good plan to have mass meet
ing on or about that day. He urged the
men to preserve the same unity, 70 stand
firm and commit no. overt act, and Let
she bosses .as 'Wells as the pdbiic see
that the were men in every way as
deserving Of re,ard as they. [Applausel.
Let those who sill, 60 and work ten hours;
pass them by, their days are short. All You
have to do, said he, is TO tell the Secretary
OF the National Bricklayers, Union, and yeu
will have all that you want. The bosses say
that they cannot accede to the demands ol
the workingmen, because the market will NOT
stand it. He could tell them and the public
that they (the mechaDics) could take these
contracts from the owners, and allow tJ:em
20 per cent. on their price, and still pay the
5rickIayers IS day and work only eight
hours. He saw notice the other Cay Of q
house and lot in Tnirty-Second street being
sold for $lSl 900. New, at present prices.
that house could - built for $4,000, and
the lot appears then to be valued at $I4I,-
600. VINO believes that it was worth any
such sum No wonder that the bosses ccl.d
say that their pockets were well lined, and
they could stanu q strike.
Mr.. j. Behoff, delegate from the Bricklay
ers' Union No. ID (tierman), being intro
duced, oppressed the sympathy Of hls Union
with the movement. They are also on strike
for eight hours, and have pledged themselves
not to work day in New York unless on
the eight hour system. lOhesrs and ap
plause,
Mr.. Hanlan, Of Bricklayers' Union No. a
which is society Of foremen and frontmen
numbering $50, and now on strike with the
others, made n few remarKs, expressing de-
| termination to hold out tor q year IL necessa-
| ry to get their demands.
Mr. Gallagher, representing 200 Brooklyu
piasterrrs, who nave been working the eighi
nours for more than year, pledged the sup.
port Of his society.
!, Votes Of thanks were given to aIi these
| gentlemen and TO their societies, after which
ft WIS resolved 70 meet In that hall daily, q
hear reports from the men. The fSIf0wine
scommitsse Vas appointed to meet with iiks
committees from the other Unions now on
| rtrfke:
Messrs. O'Toole, Larkins, 0Buen, King
and OCallahsn. The following jdipt con.
mittee 70 ssttls al disputes bstWeenp pldntst
ers endibricklayss vas also AppointS<
Messrs. MullaDs, Ksttiehan, Rsgan, qe15
and Lotk. k.xss4 sAs ssE anf ~ H41F- -
Ths 5odlswing coulmastse we're abp6lus5
10 pressttsn address III reply 10 thar 6f u