The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-28

Gentlsmea and delegates O. The aAsi0nAl
I sshask you sincerely Tor rhe
honor you have conferred upon me BY slecting
me your executive oficer of the Nasional
Union Of bricklayers. | came here from the
city Of Syracuse, I'm the State of New York, %
co-operste With you for the good Of the order,
b nd for no othce purpose, let me assure you
But yoa ia your wisdom thought web 70 elect
me 70 the highest position III your gin How
veil deserve o. merit the can6deses yes
have reposed ic ne remains yet to be seen.
am nos inssasibie, gentl men Of this coavsn
ton, Of the responsibility attached 70 this
once. In endeavoring 70 e4rry out and per
petuate the good feeling attached 70 this. oi'ce
l ask OF you your most easnest cooperation
with me for without your assistance merely
will be q head without body. In you, gentle
men, and In each individual local union. re-
mains the strength of the national unioa. There
10 great deal of work, and good work, to be
performed by this Organization. We are only
now in our infarcy-just beginning to c'me
into the dawn of life. We must not fall back
or re,ract Our reign must be go-ahead one.
We must do 40 other organisations, which have
been successful, have done. We no doubt
have met and will continue to meet obstacles
Let as meet them - men OF sound sense and
men Of determination. There IL nothing-nc
obstacle, however great, which cannot b,
unity and strict cooperation be over come,
The national union Of brioklayers, appre bend
gentlemen, 10 a powerful organization. Il em,
braces within itself some Of the soundes
minds sad the most energetic strength. that "
find in this or any other country. To appl,
them we must think W, n row fhey shall be an
piled. We must look at the foundation O
other organic ltioss and sie how others wert
applied. They first looked TO see what tire.
had 70 achieve; shey next looked 70 zee hes
shey should start 10 achieve is. Toeir ars
step toward that result waa to combise, and 3,
put all voices consolidated into one Put al
the motion into one irresistible machine b
his they have succeeded, and by this theor'
We shall also succeed. I would call NIL you
attention. gentlemen Of the conysntion, % 60
other elements which are closely in relAtio
with US, with the same object In view: which
the plasterers and stonemasons union Of thi
country. Ihope the eommiseee which has bee
appointed for lhe general good will give thi
matter due consideration, for to my mind, a
though different in name, We are one IN cree
and nation. Their interests are similar to our,
ours TO theirs Therefore We who are the mos
powerful, should make the 6rst step toward
mutual and grand consolidation.
TEE DUTY OF THE oReAHlzAfIoN.
It is our duty, gentlemen, il is the duty
every man who wishes 70 propagate the we
fare Of the laboring classes There are othe
things which this organization viii bear
mind. That 70 in their own local organization
There are some of them some what distraste,
But this l apprehend could be easily gosts
over by an imperative law and stability
character in the officers Of each local organic
ton. Let them honestly instil into TIE min,
If its members the necessity of self-respee
This il the 6rst good. grand principle Of eve
honest man. Let them teach those men tn
without that fespect-unless they respect theE
selves first, they are incapable Of respectir
officers. Learn them, also. that kindly forbes
a0ce in dispute or debate b essentially nece
sary. Let MS also teach to them the necessii
of refraining from any lengthy OF wanto
discussion. IF they do that, BY little perseve
snce on the officers side they can make it col
ducive TO the good of the msmbers. They q
bold out inducements offered BY this org ,niz
tion which will attract to its center oil Il
now scattered workmen Of this wide cosntr
Hoping, gentlemen, that these few wild decl
nations Of miue will meet your appreciation,
think have said all I have to say with one Q
ception, that is thanking you from the botto
OF my heart, and hoping at the same time th
my actions viii be such at the end of the ter
that eau claim from each and every one
you your proud appreciation. Cheers and o
plause greeted the conclusion Of the new
elected presidents specify
A vote of thanks was passed to Il
retiring officers, after which the NEE
ing adjourned until 2 O'Clock, PM.
AYrERNooN SESSION.
The National Union was called
order by the president, Mr.. M. Moor
and the roll was called. A majority
the delegates answered to their nam
and the usual routine Of business W
pursued, until the reports Of consmi
tees wer9 called fer. None bein
ready 10 report, the union went into
session for the general good Of Il
order"
The subject Of the admission of n
groes to the rights and privileges
the union was introduced, and pre-
voked q lively discussion. in whic
many members engaged.
Among others, Mr.. A. Martin,
No. 2, Kentucky, gave q history
affairs in his vicinity. He said th
in Lexington, Cynthiana, and Psri
tho negroes were standing up for reg
lar prices, and he was in favor of Q
ganizing colored unions"
Josiah Bradley, Of No. 1, Kentuck
followed, and said that his union wou
never admit niger into their fellow
ship. As an instance showing q
feeling of bricklayers toward colore
men, he told a story in regard to Il
J erection of the Gait house in Loui
vile. A large number of men we
engaged on the job, and one neg
was put to work, but, as soon az |
put in au appearance, all hands qul
and would not 20 to work until q
negro was discharged.
Thos. Newton, OF No. 8, New Yorl
obtained the floor and made o Ion
speech against receiving negroes I'M
the union, either local or national. "A
thocgh, am willing to admit that "
have got to consider this subject I
cOlOred bricklayers, yet still ! am o.
willing to have them on an equslii
with me, and know the Union rel
resent will endorse my position. I'll
idea has been broached that we orgal
ixe them into unions by themselves, b.
that will not do gentlemen; they are
sensitive race, as sensitive as we ar
and will not accept any such propos
zion. Either they will demand a
equality on this floor, right to hol
office, and all the privileges Of the OF
der, or they will have nothing to d
with us. l, for one, am not ready
grant them these privileges, and col
slider that the time has hot yet arrive
when negroes are better than whit
men.
7. G. Tinker, No. /. Wisconsin
said, although he represented stat
80 far neI tn as Mason and Dixon
line, yet, still once in q while we &c
the color of the negroes face indee
one Of our unions has q member wh
has some negro bleoj in his veinl
and vet can handle q trowel a We