Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-15
Convention Of the National BrickIayers'

Unisn.
FIFrH DAT.
The Convention re.assembSed this morning.
and on motion Of Mr.. Conroy, of New York. u
was resolved to hold evening sessions AZ
O'Clock.
ON motion Of MI Browning. Of New York,
the thanks OF The National Union were rendered
10 the officers and members OF Union No Of
missouri, for their noble action in waving
their claim for assistance while the New York
bricklayers were on q strike. Also, that this
Union congratulate the craft Of Pennsylvania
for their success in organizing in Philadelphia
Amer the disposition Of other business of
minor importance, the hour having arrived for
taking mp the regular order Of the day, being
the resolutions reported By the COMMITTEES sp-
2, 4. and IL. Of New York, In consequence Of an
attempt TO obtain the eight hour system, the
Convention proceeded 10 the consideration OF
the same.
Mr.. Swayne, OF Pennsylvania, then trook the
floor and offered resolutions, THAT Wa have
Internationally, weakened the efforts of our
brothers in New York city by refusing 10 aid
them in their efforts to reduce the hours of Ia
Dor, thereby laying the cornerstone 10 success
TO all who may attempt the Introduction of this
needed relief; that we will redress all wrongs
inflicted upon the aforesaid Unions, by indem.
Difying them for their loss OF time and money;
that we will pay or cause to be paio the sum
OF seven dollars per week for each member of
SAID Unions who was idle VIII lie on the stTI ke in
June last until October 1st 1865; that the afore-
said Unions be requested to refuse working
until the Just demands made by them bs grant.
ed by the employers, and that TO make success
iul the eight. movement. attempted by the
aforesaid Unions, we advise them TO organize
themselves into cooperative ASSOCIATION, ana
we pledge the several Unions TO assist them in
raising a capita: stock, so that they may sue
cessfuily compete with their for ner employers
an the contract markell
Mr.. Swayne proceeded 20 address the Con-
vention in behalf Of the resol uiions, touching
the a N %
years since for the ten hour law, ard the rapid
manner in which ii was adopted in all branch
es of labor throughout the UnIon. This, he
thought, would prove 10 be the case IN the
effort now being made 70 put into practice the
eiRht-hour law. provided the various unions,
backed by the endorsement of the great Ma
tional Union. stood fast and aided each other
Mr.. ]. w. Browning, Of New York. next OBJ
talned the floor, and pledged his fellow work
men throughout the land that the bricklayers
OF New York would never yield the point they
had taken. They only wanted the assistance
of the National Union TO give them success.
Mr.. Farley, Of Brooklyn, opposed the pas
Unions Nos. q and 4, of New York, should
nave the privilege of formally commencing the
strike again next spring.
Mr.. O'Callahan, Of New York, warmly ad-
voeated the passage of the resolutions.
Mr.. Gorham, OF New Jersey, followed in op.
position. and favored moderate counsels. Tie
strike OF New York. he thought, was political
dodge, and had not the sanction of the brick.
layers as a mass.
Mr.. O'Connell, of New York, thought the
strike OF New York last summer had proved a
success. and IL only wanted assistance from the
National Union TO forever settle the question
at issue. The only way, however, 10 insure
this result was TO furnish money in case of
strikes, and in order to obtain funds a system
OF assessment should be resorted TO. He could
not say that he was altogether in favor of re.
opening the strike next spring; in fact, he did
not deem il necessary.
Mr.. J. f. KIRBY, of Maryland, was in favor
OF eight hours, but thought there was but one
way 10 accomplish the object IT was Only by
regular system of taxation. A tax Of twenty
cents a day upon each man would yield $780,
and any Union demanding eight hours should
deduct one-ffth OF their wages to correspond
with the reduction Of the hours OF labor.
The question was further discussed by
Messrs. Maxwell, of Troy, N. Y, and Eggles.
ton. Of Nd, and others in fav or OF the adoption
of the resolutions, and Messrs. Paul. OF Ohio,
Cullen and Penlin, who favored the eight our
system, but did not beheyeit expedient for the
National Union TO levy a special tax upon the
Unions, to sustain strikes which might be made
upon this issue.
The Convention then took a recess till TX
o'clock.
At the afternoon session the debate was con-
tinued. and was IN progress when our report
closed.