Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-19
BRICKLAYERS' STRIKE
THOSE AT WORK AT ARSENAL
QUIT WORK.
Claim That q Negro Put to Work II a
Non-Union Man-Capt. Sewall's
Statement.

There was but one solitary bricklayer at
work today on the large building under con-
structiOn at Washington barracks which IS
to be used United States army engi-
neer school of application. and the lone
layer of bricks is a cOlored man. To his
presence on the walls of the structure is due
the absence from work of the twenty-eight
white bricklayers, who started IN bright
and early yesterday morning.
The twenty-eight white men are on n
strike because the cOlored man was put to
work yesterday morning by Capt. John s.
Sewell. Corps of Engineers, who is in
charge Of the work of construction. The
strike question presents several interesting
phases, some Of hich will be considered at
a special meeting OF the Bricklayers
Union to be held tonight at Concordia
hall. and others which will receive consid-
GRAFTON from the engineer officers who have
supervision of the extensive building opera
tons at Washington Barracks.
Under Civil Service Rules.
Capt Sewell stated to Star reporter
this afternoon that on last Friday morning
he increased the force of bricklayers. lie
got the names of the mechanics he needed
from the top of the eligible list under civil
service rules the list being furnished by a
board of engineer officers. Among the
man. who was put to work with the others
Soon after the colored man had donned
his overalls and taken up his trowei. the
foreman ordered him from the walls. With
the remark that he could not go TO WORK
there This occurred after the white dick
layers had put down their trowels and de-
clared that they would not work with the
negro mechanic. The matter was thereupon
reported to Capt. Sewell. who dire cted that
the colOred man be put back to work. This
white d
man went upon a strike.
Later in the day a committee OF the
strikers called on Capt. Sewell. and when
asked by that officer why they quit work
the spokesman replied because the negro
was not a union workman Capt. Sewell
asked IL the fact that the Objectionable
brtcklayer was colored did not enter into
the matter. One member of the committee
inttmated that the color question might
have something to do with the strike An
other said the negro was a non-unionist,
and a third rejoined that the bricklayers
were exercising their individual right to
quit work whenever they wanted to.
Mont Union Question Never Up Before
Capt. Sewell replied that he had been en-
gagged upon government building operations
in Washington for more than ten years
and the question of union or non-union men
had never been raised before. He said he
had non-union mechanics working on the
Ford's Theater building and the new gov
eminent printing office, and there had been
no strike or controversy.
Il do not PROPOSE" he added, ito let this
matter conflict with the laws of the United
States
The committee of brickIayers informed
me that the rules of their union would
not permit them to work with 'scabs or
non-unionists. thereupon advised them
to have their rules changed so far as they
relate to government work. as 1t would
be far easier to amend their regulations
than 1t would be to amend the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States. I ex-
planned to them that as the case stood
there were the laws Of the United States
on one side and the rules and regulations
of labor union on the other. l also in
formed the committee that could not
under the very Constitution discriminate
against any man. all things being equal,
because of his race, color previous con-
dition Of servitude, and I can say the col
Ored man who is alone at work today is a
good mechanic.
No Cause for Complaint.
THE committee of bricklayers went away
yesterday" added Capt. Sewell, with an
apparent disposition to urge their union to
remove the restriction mentioned so far as
1t relates to government work. Our men
have no cause of complaint. They have
an eight-hour working day with maximum
pay and seven holidays each year with full
pay for each"
The special meeting of the Bricklayers'
Union this evening is expected to take i'm
portant action on the questions which have