Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-06-24
A LARGE CROWD IN TINE
COURT HOUSE.
The Meeting Was Enthusiastic
and Discussed the Nine-RzOur
H-aw-The work on the Govern.
inent Building Criticised.

The meeting called by the Ashevill
bricklayers and Mason's Internationa
Union No. L., was held last night in tn
court house. good crowd, numbering
2oo or more of laboring men, attended
J. ii. Brooks was made chairman of tn,
meeting and W. P. Francis secretary.
Monroe Reardon, formerly of New
York, made the opening speech, explain
ing the objects and workings of tn,
bricklaycrs' union, and made a strong
, appeal to the different unions to work
together for their mutual good.
MIR. Reardon also paid his respects to
the government building now nearing
completion. lie said that all the work
had been done on the ten hour plan, ard
ny non-unIon workmcn. lie had meas
Fured some Of the work and found that
IN places there was a variation of one
fourth OF an inch in the pressed brick
work. The work, he said, was dis
grace to the city.
Mr. Rcardon made the following mo-
ton, which was carried: THAT it be
the sense OF the meeting that the work
on The government building is defectiyc.
and that the supervising architect be
asked to send an inspector to look over
he wor k before it is accepted"
The city hall and market house also
came IN Tor its share of discussion by
MIR. Reardon. The speaker had noticed
some OF the work being done, and it was
IN no sense first class. He also
1eiincd the word "Rcab," and
advised the members of the union to re-
IRAN from the use OF the word except in
rare instances.
+. l.. ShuIord, president of the brick
layers union. said that the meeting as
he understood ii, was for the purpose of
ldeavorIng, among other things to have
he nine hour law put in force on the new
city hall. The mayor and aldermen, he
sad, stood pledged to enforcea nine hour
day, A contractor, Mr.. Tennent, had
been put on this building who was op.
posed to the nine hour day and had said
he would sell out and leave the city be-
tore he would grant it. The city officials
would stand by the pledges but they
were slow, and Mr.. Shuiord made a mo.
ton that II committee OF five each from
the bricklayers' and carpenters unions
bc appointed to wait on the aldermen
and urge the institution of the nine hour
day at once, and that the men be not al
lowed to work more than nine hours,
even 1t extra pay was given.
The motion prevailed, and the follow
ing committee was appointed: Bricklay-
crs-H. j.. Sarratt, +. l.. Shuford M.
Williams, W. Z. Francis and - Woods;
Carpenters-J. A. Parker, W. L. Elliott
M. A. Creasman, Joseph Stevens and
W. B. Clayton.
). Waldrop, of the Knights of labor.
made short but effective talk, in which |
lie referred to THE CITIZEN as the journal
of truth of the city.
Before closing Mr.. Rcardon made a
motion, which was carried, that the
aldermen be simply asked to fulfill the
promise made before election, and if Mr.. |
lennent refused to work the city hall
laborcrs on a strict ninc-hour law to
ask the board to secure someone to take
his place who will do as requested. III
the board would not heed they should be !
reminded that they would not be for
gotten at the next election.
There was considerable enthusiasm
manifested throughout the meeting
which adjourned about 10 o'clock.