The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-28
THE BRICKLAYERs NATIONAL
CONVENTION. mis
pRocEEDnscs o. rssE SIXTH ANNUAL
sEseaoM. ftti-

The sixth annual convention of the brick
layers National Union. convened st Tur
aer's hall, in Sixth avenue, near Gran
street, Pittsburg, on Monday Jan 9th, a
nine O'Clock.
The Toll call of officers being called,
was found that all the members were pres.
ent except Ezra Thomas, delegate at large
The following sre the members who attend
VI at the roll call, John O'Keefe, presi-
tdRnt No l., Ohis; Edward O'Rourke
ice-president, No. I, New York Steven J
Burrows, secretary, No. 8, New York I
~ Tinker, vice-secretsry, No. 1, Wiscou
sin ; Walter B. Dobson, treas urer, No.
District Of Columbia.
| On motion a committee ON credential.
was appointed. It consisted Of The follow
ing members Thomas G. Newton, No {
New York Michael Niles, No. 10 New
York; William King, Md; M. Moore
No. "a New York r. Collins, District Of
Columbia.
On the motion of the vice president
Mr. Kemble, It was unanimously agreed
that the convention stand adjourned until
two o'clock
TEE SUGGESTIONS OF THE SECRETARY
Of the union, who. in his report Of the last
quarter, closes as follows, and gives an
exhibit of the work to be done.
"The next quarter ends With the con.
ventiOn at which the unions will be called
on to revise laws for the regulation and
maintenance OF the organization, and il
would be well that suggestions should be
presented to each union. so that its dele
gates could, to some extent, be prepared to
offer improved ones, if necessary, as it
would tend to facilitate business, save ex-
penses and insure q speedier return home.
In the discharge of my duties | find many
changes necessary to insure the existence Of
the national union. As one, there is need
ed system to aid unions on strike, the
money to be collected previously by assess
ment. and disbursed to insure fairness and
equal division by the percentage of mem
bersbip-the sum to be limited amount.
s'To provide for or devise means that
the executive or proper officer visit each and
every union at least once year. to learn
the conditions. workings, prospects and
resources Of each, and organize unions II
it is actually necessary that bis presence be
required.
40 provide against the Inauguration of
strikes, where prospects do not warrant the
same by the presence of the executive or
proper officer at the place OF the contempla-
ted strike or trouble, and after carefus
survey or investigation. determine the issue.
the decision to be final, usless Otherwise d.
recs<ay but If so directed, and tie union
interested does not accept il as their issuA.
then the strike, if further insisted on, is at
the responsibility Of the union so engaged,
without resort to the funds of the National
union.
To. provide for full delegation at the
convention once every three years, to be
paid from fund assessed for the purpose;
unions not contributing TO be allowed no
representation, unless otherwise ordered.
ITO provide for suitable certificate or
emblem for those that have served faithful.
ly as officers for one or more terms, the
same to be at the option Of the convention
at the session following one year after the
of the last term served
ITO provide fer good and faithful officers
for the national organization.
'To devise the proper course to be pur-
sued, If the coming congress Of the coun-
try does not prohibit the introduction of
servile labor within its bounds, as it is now
done to the loss and degradation Of its late
defenders, inssnuch as tariff laws are en-
acted to protect its products in the spirit of
justice, we demand that our staple labor be
also protected. II is the policy Of our gov
ernment to invite immigration, and always
should be. but not Mongolian slaves.
ITO encourage the general interest of
the working classes, BY members of families
for periodicals and newspapers
devoted to the labor interest, thereby intro
ducing them in their families, and instilling
in their minds Of the rising generation the
necessities and rights of the laboring classes;
for We will but begin the work that will be
for them to finish, as the destinies of the
republic may yet be determined on this or
like issue.
To devise the best course 10 pursue that
all public work, be it either state, county,
or township work, be done as eight-hour
work, as by this means only We can intro
duce the eight-hour system gradually to the
minds Of The people, and prepare them for
a general combination Of the workingclass
to effect this issue
Corresponding secretaries Of unions will
forward suggestions, and previous to the
that is to be held in Pittsburgh
on the second Monday in Jsnuary. 1871, /
will issue them in q circular to each union
for deliberation and action.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention re-assembled at two
0 clock in the afternoon, when, after the
president had called the meeting to order.
i was moved that George W. King, Of
Pittsburgh, be appointed sergeant arms
b. the president.
l. was moved by Mr.. King, of Baltimore,
and carried, that no one be admitted into
the ball during the progress II the meeting
except ne can give the password.
The committee on credentials then pre-
sented the following report:
President, John O'Keefs vice-presi-
dent, Edward o O'Rourke secretary, Steven
J. Burrows; vice-secretary, s. G. Tinker !;
treasurer, Walter J. Dobsen delegate at
large, Ezra Thomas.
DELEGATES.
E. A. Crawford, No. Is, N. Y, Richard
Collins, No. l, d. G. j. Q. A. Colfax, NJ.
II, n: "; Alexander Hall, No. 2, Penn.
VIM. ). King, No. l, Maryland; David
Lewis, No l, d. G; Cormac Williams,
No. 6, n. T.; Mere 'ith Moore, No ZS, n.
Y; George Mcclure, No. 2, Penn; Tbom-
as Newton, No. 6. N. Y. Michael Niles,
M n NJ -