The times., 1897-06-06
BRAINS AND BRAWN.

The beautiful granite monument which
the members of organized Iabor of the
District intend erecting to the memory
of Mr. f. j Rea, is nearing completion.
The workmen are putting on the finishing
touches and uo doubt the memorial shaft
will be placed in position at Congressional
Cemetery and ready for dedication within
the next week or ten days.
Mr. Rea, as is well known, was MEM
berofthe A ssOciationof Eccentric Engineers,
and Tor many years represented his or
ganiZation hoth in District Assembly, No.
Sc, Knights OF Labor and the local Fedora
tion of Labor. Always alive to the in
terests Of his fellow-workmen he took u
prominent part in all matters tending TO
the betterment of their condition itecog-
nizing the earnest efforts OF Mr.. Rea in
behalf of labor in the District, both Or
ganized aud unOrganiZed, the local labor
bodies with which he was affiliated de-
cided, after a conference OF the leaders Of
the several organizations with which he
was connected, to erect a monument to
his memory, In testimony OF their appre-
citation of his service in the cause OF
labor The matter was taken in hand
shortly after his death. His own organza-
tion, the Eccentric Engineers, took the
initiative and it's suggestion was readily
indorsed by District Assembly, No. SO,
knights OF Labor and the local Federation
which Immediately appointed committees
to act in conjunction with the committee
from the Engineers.
1t was about that time that there was n
division in the labor forces OF the ,:ity,
and the suggestion that monument he
n f,f ta fo rkpr n all
menii'ers of organized labor in the District
presented an excellent opportunity for the
celebration of Labor Day, without the pos
s.hiiIty Of clash between the opposing
factions. For, while the trades unionsts
decided to observe Labor Day with street
parade, the Knights of Labor Of which Mr..
Rea WIS member, and few friea'iIy
trades unions determined to celebrate the
occasion by an excursion-picnic To Mar
shall Hall. II was a happy solution of
the embarrassing problem, and resulted IN
manner highly satisfactory to all con-
cerned- The parade of the trades uni,,Dists
proved "a decided success, while the ex-
cursion down the Potomac was most lie
lightful affair, aud afforded the friends Of
the monument movement an excellent op-
portunity for u plea SAINT outing. and at the
same time TO contribute 10 the worthy cause
for which it was inaugurated.
From financial standpoint, also, the
excursion was success, and provided the
means to the desired end, the erec-
tion Of monument to a friend Cf
the cause of organized labor.
As heretofore stated, When erected. This
monument viii lie the first ever erected
10 the memory OF member of organized
labor, in this or any other country, by Ills
fellow w orkrnen
The testimonial which was designed by
Mr.. A. NJ. Lawson, master workman of
District Assembly No. 66, X. of L., cou-
sists OF a plain, broken shaft OF granite,
and will, together with the base, be about
nine feet Iii height. 1t was at first in
tended that no other inscription except
the name OF the dect ased would be placed
upon the monument, the intention being
To inscrihe the name on the second sub
base. Later, however, this was changed,
aud it was decided to place the following
inscription on the face OF the shaft, just
above the pedestal on which the column OF
granite will rest: - In memory of f
j. Rea aud wife. Erected by ID. A. No. Sc,
x. OF l.; Federation of Labor and Eccen-
trio Association of Engineers
IL was not, however, untll very recently
that it was decided that the words ''and
WIFE should be added To the inscription,
the sad circumstances connected with the
death of Mrs. Rea greatly influencing this
action on the part of organized labor in
the District Sad as were the circHni-
stances under which MI Rea died, those
under which his wife passed away We're
even more distressing. Mr. Rea, it will be
remembered, was ill only for few DAYS
During his Illness he was lovingly nursed
by his wife. He sank rapidly, and the
Mrs. Rea's heart, and she. too, in less
than twenty-foUr hours after Mr.. Rea died.
passed peacefully away, and, together with
her husband, was laid 10 rest in Con-
gressional Cemetery.
The monument VIII he placed over the
graves OF Mr.. and Mis- Rea, which are To-
Gated in the east central Part of the ceine-
terry. Tire mound On whichit viii be placed
will be inclosed with a plain granite
curling
In the few short years during which Re
was connected with organized labor in
the District Mr. Rea took an active part
in all matters of legislation hieh were
enacted for the betterment of the coudi-
tion ard advancement of the interests cf
the laboring classes in the city Among
the important mattersin which hheinteTested
himself in behalf of organized labor were
the enactment of the engineers licease
law, the fightagainst theissuing Of 81 800
600 for the purpose OF street extension and
other minor matters
During the past week committees were
appointed by District Assembly, No. 66,
Knights of Labor, and the Eccentric AS
sociation Of Engineers TO arrange the de
tails and fix a time for the dedicatory cere-
monies In all probability the local Fed
Grafton of Labor will at its meeting On
Tuesday evening designate committee
to act In conjunction with those from Il e
other bodies interested in the dedication of
the monument.
The committees are: District 4 ssembly,
No SO, Knights of Labor, Joseph X. Pot
ter, ". E. Carr, Joseph b. Fenton, j. +.
O'Mara and W L bailey; Eccentric Asso-
citation of Steam Engineers. T. X McIntire.
William Bowman, S. s. league, j. q. Dion
and Charles A. Holmes.
Boiled Kisses.