Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-20
ALL BY HIMSELF
Negro Bricklayer Is the Only
One at Work.
TROUBLE IN ARISEN AL
STRIKE MAY INVOLVE POLICY OF
THE ADMINISTRATION.
Colored Man Guarded by Soldier
Capt. Sewell Inclined to Fight
Rather Than Submit.


The lone colored bricklayer, Henry Tay
lor, whose presence on the construction
work at Washington barracks resulted in d
strike of bricklayers and tie-up, as ex-
clusively told in The Star yesterday was
again today the only layer Of bricks al
work on the big buildings in course Of con-
struction there. The foundation wall. or
which Taylor was engaged, is only few
yards from the post guard house, and g
khaki-clad sentinel as he walked his post
occasionally stopped to change the position
of his Krag-Jorgensen rifle and incidentally
to cast furtive glance at the sfgure OF
the colored workman who Is the cause OF
the cessatio Of building operations there
abouts.
Capt John 8. Sewell, Corps of Engineers
who Is in charge of the work, was found
in his Office by Star reporter. He said
the situation was unchanged. so far as
the government representatives are con-
cerned Up to that time there had been no
applications for work from bricklayers who
would take the places Of the strikers.
Shortly after 10 o'clock this forenoon a
committee of the strikers called on Capt.
Sewell and informed him that special or
emergency meeting Of the Bricklayers
Union was held last night, and that by q
majority vote 1t had been decided to stand
by the constitution of the union, which for
bids any Of its members to work with non
union mechanics. This action sanctions the
walk-out, and leaves the United States
government on one side and the Bricklay-
ers' Union on the other, at bay.
Capt. Sewell politely informed the COM
mitteemen that he as the government Off
Ger In charge of the work accepted the sit
uation. He declined. however. to indicate
what probable action would be taken in
1rA2 IL l~I.A ~
number of the strikers assembled in groups
about the partly constructed buildings to-
day and discussed the situation. Some OF
them seemed to realize that they were up
members expressed 1t. Others were more
optimistic, and said there was plenty of
outside brick work in the District. and
there would be an abundance of 1t In the
burned-out district Of Baltimore during the
present summer and fall, and even into the
coming winter.
Not the Color Question.
While the bricklayers say the color ques-
ton does not enter into the controversy, 1t
is the opinion of engineer officers and others
that the fact that Taylor is a mulatto is
the primary cause of the tie-up Friends OF
the colored bricklayer state that he was at
one time a member Of the bricklayers'
union. and would be willing to rejoin the
organization If that. action on his part
would result in breaking the deadlock.
A report was circulated about Washing
ton barracks today that a strike of the
bricklayers employed at the Washington
navy yard was contemplated, as there are
said to be several non-union wOrkmen en-
plOyed on the brick work there. This move,
1t explained, will be necessary to show
the consistency of the union. Up to a late
hour this afternoon all the bricklayers at
the navy yard were at work. and there were
no storm clouds visible on the horizon. II
a strike Is to be ordered, the arrangements
are being made very quietly.
May Involve Administration.
The contest so far as the engineer off,
GERS are concerned may be along lines Of
the open-shop policy, as defined by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the Miller case at the
government printing office. The strike,
therefore, promises to assume more than
local Importance, provided the engineer
department is not directed by higher au-
thority to pursue a course different from
that which its officers now seem to have
in view, and which may develop within the
next forty-eight hours. An officer of en-
gineers replied to the suggestion that the
difficulty might be obviated by Taylor join
ing the Bricklayers' Union, that it was not
desirable to have 1t settled in that manner.
He preferred to have the fight out on it's
merits, and to determine once for all wheth-
labor unions the government would
ter.
1--WE do not want to feel" he added that
there is slumbering volcano beneath us at
all times
At the meeting of the Bricklayers Union
last night q number of the members, in
Guiding some of the strikers, favored the
abandonment of the strict union idea so
far as government work was concerned.
Others were in favor of fight to a fin
ish, even If Uncle Sam was the adversary.
The motion to stand by the constitution OF
the union and the strikers was finally car
ried by small majority, ii is said. 1t is
believed another meeting of the union will
be held this evening to hear the report of
the committee which called upon Capt.
Sewell and to decide upon further action.
Bone of Contention.
Taylor, the colored bricklayer, who is
figuring as the bone of contention, is about
forty-five years Of age He does not look
like a colored man, but rather like a
tanned and un-browned white man, who
has engaged in much outdoor work during
the present torrid weather. In fact, some
Of the engineer officers were not aware
that he was colored man until the walk
out OF the white bricklayers While at
work on the foundation wall of the big
storehouse today he was waited on by a
single coored laborer, who brought him
bricks and mortar in an iron wheelbarrow.
The hod carriers who waited on the TWEEN
ty-eight strikers have been assigned to
other work.
One result of the tie-up at Washington
barracks NAV he the form tiop Of COL