Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-16
Convention of the Nationai Brickiayers'
Euion

The question under consideration AT the 'iune
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80 ,a- -,
epPoinueo " Sonsioei INC VI Oaious No.
2, 4, and II, of New YORK, was continued until
half past seven O'Clock.
Mr.. George %. COOK. oil washington, ad-
dressed the Ton venton ~ some length in favor
Of the passage OF the resolution, endorsing the
eight.hour movement and sustaining the
strikers of New York by direct assessment of
the Unions. The establishment OF the eight.
hour law, ne said, would not only lessen the
time OF LABOR, ana tnefeoy give more opportu-
nifty for mental culture, but IL would In add.
ton increase the demand, because Of the fact
that every hour taken from q Cay q work would
Der OF employees to do Tue disuity or labor
would therefore b promoted by the Increased
demand, and mechanics i'm the future would
command higher respect in the country Four
10 six hours work q day was sufiicient for a
man to work in order To ma,ntain himself A nd
family.
Mr.. McDermott. OF No. 13, New York, was
in favor of the eight-law, but did not think the
resolutions EN- bodied the proper way by which
the object could be obtained II was wrong to
make II a national matter, aud be was in favor
of the system of yolur tary contributions. which
had heretofore prevailed. More satisfaction
would thereby be given than nv forced taxa
ton, and he believed that larger CONTRIBUTION
would be the result
Mr.. Wall, Of PENNSYLVANIA, had been in.
structed 10 oppose the adoption of the eight
hour law by the National Convention nut
pr0mIShfd aid times OF strikes. prOyil.
there was no forced assessment upon the
Unions. Should the measure of assessment
prevail. however, the members OF his Union
would not give a ceot.
Mr.. Frost. Of N. Y, favored the passage of
the resolutions. 1t was all very well, he : ~
u ialk ahout ignoring dollars aud cents; bus be
would tell the Convention that no great measure
could be successfully carried out without tue
use of money. Direct taxation was the mott
practical way to rsise funds. Eight hours, as
indicated on the official envelopes, was the
motto Of the National Union, and the Conven-
tiOn should lsgalIze the same by positive sane
ton. While advocating the eight. hour law he
maintained that there shout Id be a correspord- .
ing reduction in wages; and the demand for
labor would ultimately regulate the price
Mr.. Darkin, of No. ,, N j., protested against
legalizing the eight hour law, as he believed i.
would be injurious TO small Unions, and result
in making ..scabs'' of many of them.
Mr.. Colfax, of Morrisiana, N. Y, favored the
eight-hour strike.
MT. Burrows, of Williamsburg, N. Y, also
protested against the Convention adopting
the eight-hour law and recommending q re-
newal OF the strike in New York city In the
Spring He was himself an eight.hour man,
but would cast his vote against the strike, es-
pecially where New York was concerned, IN
the Unions of which city there was No conf
dence felt
Mr.. McDonough, of No. 5. N. ", opposed
taxation, as there was q strong combine alton
against ~ in his Union, and il would be the
means of breaking II up if adopted by tue Con-
vention.
MT. NICHOLS, OF NoWarR, N. j., could not
vote for q direct tax to keep up strikes; but
thought the old system of voluntary contrIbu-
tons more Just aud practical
Mr.. Manning, of N j., was an advocate Of
the eight-hour law, but thought there shou Id
be some modification of the plan suggested, by
which the measure could be obtained
DIR. Darwin, of Mass, favored taxation and
eight-hours, and the sane ton of the National
Union.
The debate here clos ed, when Mr.. j. +. Kirby
OF Maryland, offered a substitute resolution,
which was adopted. This action legallzes the
e,gbt-hour law by the National Con vention,
and empowers subordinate Unions to inaugu-
rate strikes whenever in their opinion occasion
requires, provided they do SO in conformity
with the constitution of the National Union.
The taxation feature of the original resolution,
which was go elaborately discussed, was not
endorsed, and therefore the matter Of raising
funds to sustain strikes was left TO voluntary
contributions, as heretofore.
Mr.. O'Callaghan, of No. 1, New York, Of
fered a resolution, which was adopted, ueplor.
ing the non-exIstence of bricklayers' unions in
any Of the Southern States, and providing for
the appointment of committee OF three to
devise the best means of organizing their