The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-05
UNION HOUNDED
NEGRO BRICKLAYER
Taylor Says Color Line Has
Been Drawn.
DRIVEN FROM MANY JOBS
Dropped Out of Union, Which Would
Not Allow Him to Work
for Living
DRIVEN FROM MANY JOBS

These men struck simply because l
am a negro They didn't know whether
l was a union man or not"
John William Taylor, the negro me-
chanic employed on the War College,
who was the direct cause Of the strike
Of the bricklayers at work on the War
College, gave his side Of the controversy
IN a statement TO The Times.
Two days after the strike had been
inaUgurated. he said. the foreman OF
the men came TO me and asked whether
or not I belonged TO the union. Of
course, 1 don't belong TO the union.
Twenty Years in Business.
IT have been in business for myself
IN Washington for twenty years. and
had no difficulty in getting work until
the panic Of two years ago. At that
time had entered into contract with
F. S. Bennett to build house on Nine
teenth Street. near Dupont Circle
Il began work at noon, May Ie Early
the next morning Mr. Bennett received
notice Of a boycott by the Bricklayers-
Union This was repeated time and
again. So finally Joined the union. and
attempted 1ourneyman work
Color Line Drawn.
Matters were as pad as ever. The
same men who kept me from work
when I was independent now refused
TO work with me on account OF my
color. Two Of my seven children .rcre
sick. and one constantly attended bv
two physicians and was not expected
20 live
I attended meeting Of the union and
protested against the treatment was
receiving. only TO have one of the Of
HCeIS rise ana say:
9" If It is in my power I will certain
ly keep you walking
Il resigned from the union. then and
there. Was l not right?
= do not see why the men should have
struck. l certainly think that the ,,n-
ION has no right to forbid their re-
turning 10 work
why, at the navy yard. until the
2lth OF last, May, out of seventy en-
pIoyes, ten Of the men We're non-unfGn
and seven Of these were negroes But
there was no strtke-there was no trou-
BILE al all
Il have no malice against the ,trI,x-
ers. l would like to see them return to
work, for ! know waaJ It means TO
have family dependent upon you and
be out Of job. The union, itself. how
ever. has treated me most shabbiiy and
l have no use for it."
Father of Ten Children.
Taylor is light in color and intelligent
looking. He says he is forty-six years
old and the father of ten children, three
OF whom are dead. He claims to have
worked all over this city and New York
for the last twenty years.
He recently placed the boilers in the
Force and Jefferson schools, and says
he has built residences for many promi-
nent men OF this city among whom are
Surgeon General Van Rufun, u. S N
retired and the late Surgeon General
Bates, L. S. y.
He completed two years of the Wash
ington High School course before leaV-
ing TO learn his trade He talks intel
ligently.
According TO the reports Of his fellow
workmen he is an excellent bricklayer
The Government standard is 1000 bricks
a day, but Taylor is said to usually
exceed this number by about 300 bricks
At present he is perfectly satisfied
both with his work and the treatment
he has received at the hands OF Captain
Sewell
Captain Sewen. IN speaking of the
strike this morning. said;
II have not heard from the striking
briclclayers, nor do I expect 10. l need
about forty men, all told, 10 carry on
the work. and l am gradually obtaining
them.
I'm a very short time I expect to have
things running in a satisfactory man
ner ! have entirely forgotten that
there are such things as brieklayers'
unions and strikes.