Note: In this document, the N-word has been replaced with “n- – – – – ” to avoid putting the racial slur into print.

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AFTERNOON SESSION

The National Union was called to order by the president, Mr. M. Moore, and the roll was called. A majority of the delegates answered to their names and the usual routine of business was pursued, until the reports of committees were called for. None being ready to report, the union went into a session for the “general good of the order.”

The subject of the admission of negroes to the rights and privileges of the union was introduced, and provoked a lively discussion, in which many members engaged.

Among others, Mr. A. Martin, of No.2, Kentucky, gave a history of affairs in his vicinity. He said that in Lexington, Cynthiana, and Paris, the negroes were standing up for regular prices, and he was in favor of organizing colored unions.

Josiah Bradley, of No. 1, Kentucky, followed, and said that his union would never admit a n – – – – r into their fellowship. As an instance showing the feeling of bricklayers toward colored men, he told a story in regard to the erection of the Galt house in Louisville. A large number of men were engaged on the job, and one negro was put to work, but, as soon as he put in an appearance, all hands quit, and would not go to work until the negro was discharged.

Thos. Newton, of No.6, New York, obtained the floor and made a long speech against receiving negroes into the union, either local or national. “Although, I am willing to admit that we have got to consider this subject of colored bricklayers, yet still I am not willing to have them on an equality with me, and I know the Union I represent will endorse my position. The idea has been broached that we organize them into unions by themselves, but that will not do gentleman; they are a sensitive race, as sensitive as we are, and will not accept any such proposition. Either they will demand an equality on this floor, a right to hold office, and all the privileges of the order, or they will have nothing to do with us. I, for one, am not ready to grant them these privileges, and consider that the time has not yet arrived when negroes are better than white men.

T. C. Tinker, No. 1, Wisconsin, said, “although he represented a state so far north as Mason and Dixon’s line, yet, still once in a while we see the color of the negro’s face; indeed one of our unions has a member who has some negro blood in his veins, and yet can handle a trowel as well as any other bricklayer I ever saw, and is the corresponding secretary of the union.  I want to ask for information whether if we give him a travelling card, it would be regarded by other local unions? For my part, I believe in elevating the negro, not for his sake, but for our own, as if he goes forth and cannot get into a local union, he will go to work for anyone, and at any price.”

 Josiah Bradley, No. 1, Kentucky, in reply, remarked, “that he would never recognize the travelling card borne by a negro, and if the national union saw fit to be displeased thereat, union No. 1 of Kentucky, would withdraw.”

T. C. Tinker replied that he was no ultra-republican, but that he could not refrain from asking, “Is it not an accomplished fact that the negro has become a voter by the law of the land? Are we not butting our head against a fact?”

W. S. King, of No. 1, Maryland, arose very much excited, and had the constitution of his local union in his hand, from which he read a clause which inflicted a penalty of fifty dollar on any member who worked with a negro. That put aside all chance for discussion on his part, and he would only say, “the fifteenth amendment made a n – – – – – a white man, and in Baltimore we had to allow him to vote because we could not get around it, but we don’t allow him in our union. I wouldn’t let a n – – – – – into our union, and if he came in I would get out. We will not recognize a n – – – – – bricklayer in Baltimore.” . . .

Source: Reprinted in Foner, Philip S., and Ronald L. Lewis, eds. Black Worker: A Documentary History, Volume II: The Black Worker During the Era of the National Labor Union. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1978.

Document 4.10.9: Convention of the Bricklayers National Union, January 9, 1871