The times., 1899-06-28
LABOR LEADERS DISAGREE
Delegate Fitzgerald, of the Plaster
ers' Union. Expelled.
He Is Charged With Having Been
Personal Toward Delegate Wolfe.
OF the BricISIayers' Union-Trouble
Arose Over the orgnniEntion OF
CoIored Local Hod-Carriers.

The proposition to organize the co.ore1
bricklayers Of the city precipitatei a
heated discussion at the nestng of the
Building Trades Council last evening, and
resulted in the withdrawal OF the repre-
sentatives OF several Of the affiliated ur-
ions. The subject, it is said. was brought
up nearly at the close OF the meeting by
Delegate Wolfe. OF Briokiayers' Un.ol 10.
i. who called the attention Of the council
10 the report that the local Federation Of
Labor had organized the colo9ed brick
layers of the District.
This report, it is said. was denied in
positive Language by Delegate Fitzgerald
of the Plasterers' Protective Union. whi,h
body is also affiliated with the local
Federation of Labor.
The accounts Of the proceedings from
this time differ widely. the delegates who
withdrew claiming that they were not
given a fair and impartial hearing by the
presiding officer. J. P. Healy. and tie
others that the presiden: was justified in
his action in expelling Deieg-te Fitzgerzld
from the hall.
One OF the ten delegates who left the
hall with Fitzgerald when he was ordered
out by President Healy, stated that the
representative committed no offence which
would Justify his expulsion; he was mere
ly demanding the same privilege which
hab been accorded Delegate Wolfe, that of
being heard, when for no other cause he
was ordered out. Fitzgerald, he said. de-
MED Delegate Wolfe's statement that the
colored bricklayers were being organized
and added that the matter was being con-
retary of which had been instructed 10
communicate the fact 10 the Bricklayers'
Union. Delegate Wolfe, it is said, made
long reply 10 Mr.. Fitzgerald, and when
the latter attempted to answer him he was
ordered out Of The hall by President Healy.
When Fitzgerald left it is said that the
other representatives OF Plasterers' Union,
the timers, tile layers, soft stone cutters.
and carpenters unions also marched out.
II was also stated that two OF the repre-
sentatives OF the Steam Filters Union fol-
lowed the others.
Mr.. Healy, when seen after the meeting,
stated that while the discussion Of the
proposition to organize the colored brick
layers led TO the expulsion Of Delegate
Fitzgerald, it was really not the immediate
cause. The delegates, he said, are, by the
constitution Of the council. prohibited from
indulging in personalities, and several
times during the evening he had ordered
speakers who transgressed the law 10 lake
their seats When Wolfe and Fitzgerald
got into the discussion they lost sight OF
the chair. President Healy said, and began
a cross fire at each other. He ordered
both to take their seats. Wolfe obeyed,
but Fitzgerald refused to do so and con-
tinuing abused the members OF the coun-
Gil generally. characterizing them is a
dirty gang
When Fitzgerald reached this POINT
President Healy said he called upon the
sergeant-at-arms TO remove him from the
hall His action. he said. is justified by
the following section of the constitution:
ANY delegate who shall make use Of rrofane
language or appear in state Of intoxication.
shall be excluded from the meeting and Tor 4
repetition Of this offence may be expelled.
II is not probable that the delegates who
left the hall in sympathy with Fitzgerald
will be returned by the unions. On the
other hand there was no regret expressed
by the remaining delegates for their de-
parture.
The council voted against an amendment
10 the constitution of the National Build
ing Trades Council prohibiting the recog-
milton by a local council OF two unions Of
the same craft without the consent of the
body first organized.
The committee on Labor Day reported
that several valuable contributions to be
disposed OF as prizes had been received.