The times., 1897-04-18
r'r~
IL BRAMN\
MSSMl Ard
TSS$BRRn


1t is said, viii be the first ever raised in
this country TO perpetuate the memory
Of a workman, simply because he was a
working
Mr.. Rea was member Of the Eccentric
Association of Steam Engineers, which
organization was connected with the
order OF the Knights of Labor, ard affilia'
ated with District Assembly, No 66. II
was also represented in the local Fedora
tfon of Labor, and TO these bodies as much
as to his own organization the honor
of erecting the monument will belong.
The proposition of thus testifying their
appreciation for the efforts of Mr.. Rea
in behalf of the advancement OF the inter
eSts of the members OF his craft and the
wage-earners of the District in general,
originated, however, with the members
Of hisowu organization and whilerecelVing
substantial aid from the central bothes
with which he was connected, lt Is the
persistent efforts of the Eccentric Asso-
,iation of Engineers to which tie success
ftll termination of this worthy enterprise
win belong
The idea Of in some way appropriately
perpetuatfng the memory OF their departed
brother andco-wurker was first entertained
hy the members of the Eccentric Engineers
very shortly after his death, which oe-
cured a little more than a year ago.
Differences in the ranks OF local organ
ized labor, which finally resulted in a
division OF their forces, settled the way
bE which the funds necessary for the ae-
cornIhiShtuent OF this purpose should be
gained The trade unionists who had split
off from the local Federation of Labor
organized and determined TO celebrate
Labor Day the first Monday III September.
with street parade. To avoid any public
demonstration of the breach in tie ranks
of organized labor it is said that the
members of the old central bodies DISTRICT
Assembly No. 66, r. OF L., and the local
Federation decided not TO parade. III
was then the Engineers suggested pic
ufc to Marshall Hall for the benefit OF
the Rea fund, and invited all the local
labor bodies affiliated with District As
senMv. No. sc, and the Federation of
Labor 10 join with them and thus con-
tribute 10 the verify cause. The invita-
ton was generally accepted, the members
of the several or organizations turned out IN
full force. and the result was one OF the
largest. if not The very largest, excursion
seasen which went down the river last
season.
Bwas aIiin all a most delightful occasion,
affordng a most enjoyable outing for the
members Of organized labor and their
friends and also an excellent opportunity
To contribute to the noble object, the ac
cnrapIiSi5llitnt of W hich neaIly every work
man in the city took an individual pride.
Edward James Rea was born at Newburn,
N C in 1889, and was about thirty y-eight
yearsef A .e at thet time OF his death. When
quite a youth he ran away from home and
went 60 sea Not liking this life as well as
he ethoueht he would he changed his route,
as il were. and while sticking TO the water
,leterrnir,e.l to keep near the shore, SO
tookto' river boating" During his knock
ing about he learned the engineers trade,
at which he became very proficient. After
visiting nearly all the ports on the Atlantic
coast, between Florida and Maine, he
finally put into the Norfolk wharf, at the
foot OF seventh street, about eleven years
ago and has remained here since. Very
soon after becoming landsman he Joined
the order OF the knights of Labor and by
his ability aad earnestness in reference to
all matters calculated TO better the condi-
tion OF his fellow workmen, soon took
prominent place among the local labor
leaders.
A : soon rs Mr.. Rea was sent TO the is
triet Assembly and Local Fedora ton as a
delegate representing his organization, his
intelligence placed him in the front rank
of those fighting for the alienation OF
the toiing masses OF the country. He was
Immediately placed on the legislat tive COM
nittees Of both bodies. and from that time |
until his death made 4 straightforward, |
earnest intelligent fight for tine better |
ment of the condition of the laboring |
classes. hot only in the District of Column |
bia, but the whole country. The first mat |
ter in which Mr. Rea took a firm stand |
was the inauguration of the eight-hour /
working day for all employees of the Gov
ernrncur. especially those employees ON |
the public work in the District. Several |
times he ard his colleagues appeared be-
fore the District Committee to urge the /
adoption OF the system Time and time /
again their efforts proved unsuccessful, |
but they persisted, until finally the COM
mittee, unable longer 10 combat the logic /
of the arguments put forward by the labor |
leaders. recommended the passage Of the /
act making eight hours a full days workon |
all Government work
And the matter in which Mr.. Rea took
a foremost, ia fact. the leading part, was
the adoption of the licensing of all steam |
engineers in the District of Columbia. Be
fore the passage of this law any one who
had the strength and hardihood to pull |
open the throttle of a steam engine was
eligible fur employment as an engineer. |
So long as the applicant was willing
To- risk his own and the life of Others, 10
say nothing Of the possibility of destruC- |
ion To property, he was entitled to |
q trial The present law, however. pro-
hibits the taking of such risks, either + Y
the workman or his employer Thus throw
nag a safeguard around both life and
In other ways tine bill was con-
sidered excellent legislation; it necessitat-
ed a higher degree of proficiency in the
of steam engineering, and
also had the effect Of increasing the wages
Of competent workmen more than so per
cent.
In his efforts to have this law enacted
dr Rea was ably seconded 10y Mr.. A. NJ.
lawson, the present master workman
e District A Assembly, No 66, Knights OF
labor. Mr.. John Watts, now chief ergi-
leer at the Treasury Department., Viii
lam Andrews, who holds like position
1t the navy yard, and Mr.. George Waters,
low dead.
Perhaps the greatest fight which Mr.
Sea took part in for the benefit of all |
lasses and conditions of people in Wash
ngton, and in connection with which he
s best remembered, was his opposition to
lie issuing OF s., 100000 in bonds for the
of streets In behalf of The
aboring people of the District, repre-
enting, with Others, the District Assem-