The Jersey City news., 1891-04-07
EMPLOYERS WEAKEN.
Indications that the Strik-
ing Bricklayers May
Score a Victory.
THE P. R. R. DEPOT WORK.
South Jersey Masons Sought by the
Contractors to Push Ii TO
Completion.


A meating of bricKlayers, under the
auspices OF Jersey City Union No. /, was
held last night at Pythagoras Hall at
Newark avenue and Third street, to dis
cuss the strike and take such steps as will
insure victory for the men. None but
men holding cards Of membership were
admitted. aud representatives were pres
ent from Union No of Hoboken. No. 10
Of the Heights, and from New YORK and
Brooklyn. Fully 100 members of the
craft gathered in the hall before nine
o'clock.
While the meeting was secret, a JERSEY
CITY Ne ws reporter was assured that the
strikers would be supported to the end.
You can see" said one of the MEM
bers of No. Union, after the meeting,
that ii was representative gathering,
and not made mp of the class of men that
Patsey Condor says are on strike. That
contractor calls the striking bricklayers
English-Irish hodcarriers. He intimates
that the men who have gone ont are not
Anne ricans in principle, and he is trying
to injure the cause by influencing public
opinion against us. That won't 20 down
with the Jersey City public. that knows
as well as does every other community of
its skilled mechanics. The men who are
on strike are as good Americans as ever
will not be forgotten in a hurry. as he
will find to his cost some day when he
looks for public contract.
THE WHOLE THING IN A NUTSHELL.
"The whole thing In a nutshell is that
the Jersey City men want the same wages
that is paid in New York. aud as the same
class of work Is done here that is done
across the river. there ia no reason why
any discrimination should be made in
wages The demand made is not an nm
reasonable one, when You look at in the
right light. We want fifty cents an hour,
and as our work lasts only about six
months in the year, that is not an extrava-
CANT demand. Public opinion is with us,
and as we are all good citizens, as well as
skilled mechanics. we have the moral
support of the community"
The men who attended the meeting last
evening were certainly intelligent look
ing, aud in appearance are respectable
and genElemanly. While quiet in their
demeanor they are evidently in earnest.
"We never were in better shape for a
long continued strike than at present" :"
continued my informant, "and the con-
tractors were never so handicapped. 1t
will be impossible for the bosses to secure
enough .scab' labor TO complete their con-
tracts unless they hire the very class of
men that p. ]. CJDdon says are on strike,
and II they engage that quality OF men,
the result of the work will be IN de mani
fest by increased insurance rates.
WORK ON THE P. r. r. BUILDING.
81 am informed that John Whehhan's
son has gone down TO South Jersey to
hunt up scabs TO complete the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad job at the ferry in this
city, and that other contractors viii fur
nish him with as many OF their men as
they can spare in order that his contract
may be carried out.
"Whelehan in turn Is to help the others
ont as soon as he gets over his rush. But
it won't work The Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company will not put up with poor
labor, and no good bricklayer will 90 TO
work on any of the contracts in this city
where the men are out. OF course all the
contractors will ADVERT Sc for men, aud
undoubtedly scores OF alleged bricklay-
ers will respond TO the call. but those
who are skilled mechanics will refuse 10
90 10 work when they understand the
situation, while as for the Others, 1t will
be no detriment TO the men on strike to
have them tackle any Of the work now
being pushed in Jersey City"
"The result will be that the demand for
so cents an hour will ultimately be con-
ceded and that Jersey City bricklayers
will be hired in preference to foreign
scabs."
Tho men on strike are instructed to dis
close nothing Likely TO give the contrac-
tors any information as to their future
movements. but it is understood that
work outside the city will be secured for
the strikers, while watch will be kept
on the buildings in course of construction
here, more particularly the school build
ings.
CONTRACTORS SAY FIGHT.
About twenty boss masons held a secret
meeting last night in st. Bridget's Hall
on Mercer street and. as was anticipated,
passed resolutions not to accede to the de-
mands of the strikers. The meeting was
a long one. owing to the great difference
of opinion which prevailed.
A number of the boss masons were in
favor of paying the increase in pay de-
manded II the bricklayers would with
draw their demand for Saturday pay. Ii
was proven that the bricklayers would
not do this, ana accordingly war was de-
clared.
slack work an increase in pay cannot be
m ade After the meeting one of the
leading boss masons of this city stated
1 nat ne would hire New York masons and
ay 81 so day rather than hire Jersey
City masons. The strike has caused con-
siderable trouble for nu mber of builders
whose contracts require them TO complete
their work IN given time.
Contractor Robinson, who is rebuilding
Stratford's oakum factory, this morning
gave in and put all his men to WORK at
the increased pay and pay for Saturday
on Saturday. His action was quickly fol-
lowed by his brother, who is rebuilding
the zinc works.
At the Pennsylvania depot the striking
bricklayers and about twenty laborers
are lettering about watching Contractor
Whelahan's movements. The work is at
standstill and the bricklayers feel con-
fident that he will soon be compelled TO
give in as the railroad officials are anx-
iOus TO have the work completed. l inter-
viewed several boss masons who have
work under way and they are determined
to fight the Union. preferring TO pay New
York brickiayers S4 50 and s. day rather
than give In TO the Jerseymen.