The workingman's advocate., 1869-02-13
PROCEEDINGS
FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION /!
TRE
National Bricklayers' Unicn.
SECOND DAY-GoNTISUED.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18th 1869.
Pending the election, Mr.. Stephen Bur-
rows, Of Williamsburg,N Y. appealed to the
Conyantion to have nothing to do with any
man who bad had any connection with the
labor strikes Of New York. Without max.
ing any direct charges against Mr.. Samuel
X. Gaul, of Union No. 2, New York, he
would tell the Convention, that the brick
layers Of New York had no confidence in
any of these men, and it would be detri-
mental to the interest Of the Bricklayers'
Unions to select from this class President.
IL time would be allowed him to do 80, he
would prove from verified documents that
s1ms of money oyer which a committee en-
bracing among its members Mr.. Gaul, had
control, had not been accounted for.
Mr.. Eggleston, of Washington, thought it
n)t q proper time TO discuss the character
or availability Of candidates till the nomi-
nations had closed. The whole discussion,
in his opinion, was out of order.
Messrs Gaul and Browning hoped that
the gentlemen (Mr. Burrowsl would be al
lowed to proceed. After be had concluded
then the defence would claim the privilege
Of reply. They hoped be would have am
pie time, both to read whatever documents
he bad and to make whatever charges be
might think fit to.
There being no objection, Mr.. Burrows
proceeded. He urged the convention to be-
ware how they selected the presiding officer
from amcng their midst. Mr.. Gaul was
not the proper man to give satisfaction I; be
could not command the respect and conf
dence of the bricklayers' Of New York, nor
could any man belonging to the set to which
be did, call a meeting. As far as he him
self was concerned, there was no personal
ill-feeling against Mr.. Gaul; but in what he
did he was actuatsd for the general good Of
the bricklayers. IL be (Gaul) should be
elected President, it would result. be be-
lieyed, in much harm; perhaps the cause Of
the disruption Of the Union.
Mr.. Eggleston deprecated the course
which had been pursued towards Mr.. Gaul
BY the gentleman from Williamsburg. (Mr
Burrows,) and since be had heard the as
sault which had been made be would vote
Tor MIR. Gaul for president from FIRST to last
II be had vote. So far as the statement
which had been made that Mr.. Gaul wa
not the choice Of the Union 70 which be be-
ionged, ne thought Il appeared very strange;
ior II his Union had not desired him az lie
delegate, IL would have been an EASY matter
Tor the members to have elected some other
person. The fact Of Mr.. Gaul being pres
ent az delegate was sufficient evidence OF
the confidence his Union Teposed in him.
The charge OF pecuniary delinquency was
one which he had no confidence In for he
bad had experience enough In subscriptions
for strikes 20 know that they were attend
ed with u great deal Of trouble, and but
seldom gave satisfaction to any parties con-
cerned.
Mr. O'Callahan, of New York. defends ed
Mr. Gaul from the aspersions against his
character, and said that the remarks of Mr..
Burrows was equally applicable to him (tbe
speaker.l The charge that Mr.. Gaul had
misappropriated or not properly accounted
for $500, which shad been subscribed for
the strikers last summer, was utterly ground-
less and IL any one had seen that gentle
mans { Mr.. Gaul) distress a. be did On the
| night when he appeared a q meeting OF the
Union In New York and told then that b.
had lost tho money, be wss safisiled that NO
suspicion would have been harbored after
wards agairst him
| Nh. Niles and others demanded that dis
uussi IN should immediately BE- put stop 10,
and that the consention should proceed 10
business.