The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-04
AT DURHAM
Brick-Masons Fight for Rec
ognition of the Union
At Present the Prospects for an Adjustment OF
the Difficulty Seems Rather
Remote.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer)
( Durham, ~ c., August 3.-None of the
union brick masons went to work this
morning with the exception of those at
work on buildings where the demands of
the union were granted by the contrac-
tors. The principal builders in the city
have not recognized the union, and say
that they will not.
There was a meeting of the union this
morning at l o'clock, but the members
have not given out anything since the
conference Just what transpired at this
meeting is unknown to the outsiders.
Mr. Lawrence who has charge of the
erection of two very large store houses
for the American Tobacco Company, had
about thirty-five of his masons, all mem
bers of the union to quit work when the
strike was ordered Saturday. Today
| thirteen masons. all non-union men, went
| to work He says that the demands OF
| the union will not be recognized, and If
he cannot get men here when he wants
them then he will go elsewhere for them.
At the present time the work is not hurt
ing and he will move along smoothly.
Contractor Underwood, who has in
course of construction the large office
building for the Carolina Trust Company,
and the addition to the Durham Hosiery
Mills. is not pushing his work. He said
today that for at least two weeks he
would have plenty of other work, and
this will be looked after. He had SIX
non-unon brick layers at work today.
About ten or twelve are off duty on ac
count of the strike.
"Will you recognize the union?" he was
asked by your correspondent.
81 will not" he said.
He said that he was asked today if the
men returned to their work would he dis
charge all of his non-uniOn men. He said
that he told the questiOner in plain terms
that this would not be done
Contractor Houston has refused to
recognize the union, and while he is not
working many men these went out with
the strikers and he told them at once that
their places would be filled by others.
Contractor Christian has recognized the
union, in that he granted the demand for
nine hour day at nine hours pay He Is
putting in a boiler at the Traction Com
pany's plant and decided to keep the men
at work
This strike, which began Saturday, is a
fight for the life of the union. The strikers
are asking for nine hours work and nine
hours pay-a simple effort on the part OF
the union men to have their union recog
nized. The contractors and builders have
anticipated that there will be other de-
mands and have refused to recognize the
union in any way, and when this was
done the men quit work. Mr.. Lawrence
had thirty-five men to quit and others,
small numbers. 1t is supposed that in all
lnere are some ffty-fye or sixty out on
this strike.
Your correspondent has made every
effort to get the correct tow of the
trouble and from what can i learned il
seems that the following are the facts III
this case: The brick mason's union, UNI
like most unions, is controlled from the
national headquarters in Washington.
One rule is that no more than nine hours
work must be done by any one. Since the
organization here orders came from Wash
ington that this rule of the order must
be obeyed The men then asked for nine
hours work at nine hours pay, this being
done to get q recognition of the union.
The contractors had heard. and today it
has been freely talked on the streets, that
| if this was done then the union men
would ask on January LIST, or perhaps
sooner, that they be given the old pay
at the new hours of work In Other
words the contractors know that it is a
move to get short hours and the usual
pay, and they say that this will not be
given In making the refusal they say
that the brick masons are not organized
in other places in the State, and the de-
mand being made here is simply against
Durham and no other place. For these
reasons the contractors say that they are
in the fight to finish and will never give
the union the recognition that it de-
mands.
Up to this time it has been impossible
to get an expression from the strikers.
They are out on a strike and up to this
| time do not seem to show that they are
in any notion of going back.