The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-11
BRICK.LAYERs OF AMERICA
Delegates of the International Union
Ready TO Begin Their Convention.
President and other Officers on the Ground
Topics to Be Discussed-Will Ii Afhli-
ate with the Federation?

The twenty sixth anniversary of the In.
ternational Brick-layers' Union occurs to-
day with the beginning of the two weeks
convention in tins city. Delegates began
to arrive in large numbers yesterday, and
by 10 o'clock this morning fully two hum
dred. including visitors from distance,
entitled to the floor. are expected 20 be
present. The headquarters of the interna-
tional officers are at the English Hotel, but
the convention meetings will occur In Ma
sonic Hall. The delegates are registered
for the most part at the same hotel. Brick
layers are known by the square bronze badge
significant of their craft. The local union
has appointed committee on reception, OF
which Nicholas Dugan is chairman. The
arrangements are completed for success
full convention. The address OF welcome
to the State will be delivered by Governor
Chase, and the welcome to the city Will
be delivered by Mayor Sullivan. The re-
Spouse will come from John Hearth, OF
Denver, president of the international
union. Judge Taylor, as former brick
layer in his youth, has promised TO make
an address, and other addresses are eX,
pected. This session will be open. but all
subsequent ones will be held with
closed doors. The convention Will
have important work before 1T.
but still there are. it is said. no radical
measures. likely to cause division. TO be
discussed. The brick-layers have worked
nine hours for a day for six years past.
In regard to this International Secretary
ODea said last night:
"Our hours per day suit sand there will
be no change. The question Will therefore
cut no figure in our deliberations. Neither
do we have the wage per hour to deal with.
as that is left to each subordinate union.
Likewise our benefit funds are matters OF
local control. We have q strike fund. but
in the past year we have had only three
str likes in this country. These were
at Pittsburg, Williamsport. Pa, and Vicks-
burg, Miss. We resort TO strikes only when
everything else fails, and every cause 10
sifted down to the bottom to see IL 1t be
just or not before strike is allowed. with
nate lodges our strikes have been remark
Twill the question of utilization with the
American Federation of Labor come upi"
was asked of Mr.: O'Dea.
Il have no doubt 1T will: Overtures
have been made for utilization by
President Gompers for several years
past. and at our last convention
the subject was referred to the subordi-
nate unions for decision the
Is impossible to foretell what the returns
will be, for while we all feel very kindly to
the federation many of our members are
unable to see what advantage utilization
would be to Us. The truth is that. since
the Knights of Labor squirt of several years
ago, which trod SO heavily on our toes.
and which provoked us to resent 1T, we
have held aloof from other organizations"
The officers of the convention wall be
Mr. Heartz az president. Mr.. ODea as secre-
tary, jeremiah Harrington as vice-presi-
dent and Patrick Murray treasurer. The
secretary and treasurer alone are salarled.
The election of officers will occur the latter
part of this week. Mr. Hearth, who is serv-
ing his first term, will, no doubt, be acandi-
date to anccAad himself