A union bricklayer appeared in the corridor of the exchange and was
boasting that he could buy all the brick he wanted of A. J. Weckler, a
north-side manufacturer. The statement was denied by a contractor. About
that time Mr. Weckler appeared on the scene and was informed of the
statement that had been made. His reply was: "The only price I have had
brick at my yard since the strike began was $1 a brick, and I think Mr.
Downey would give a permit for me to sell every brick in the yard at
that price. But, if a man thinks he can get any brick from me at the
regular price, or for less than $1 a brick at present, he is very much
mistaken." The bricklayer subsided and had no more statements to make.
"WE'LL NEVER GIVE IN."
Groups of idle bricklayers gathered in and around their headquarters, at
Greenebaum's Hall, discussing the situation, and sometimes branching off
into earnest conversation on the natural outcome of the labor movement.
They claimed that they were a conservative body, seeking all reforms
through the ballot, and all demands by legal and peaceful organization;
yet it was plain that socialistic ideas were not uncommon to many of the
talkers. All of them were determined to hold to their position to the
end, and seemed confident that the bosses would have to give way, and
that their combination was weakening and disintegrating. When it became
known among them that the union had been called in to complete a large
building at the corner of Chicago and Milwaukee avenues, and a
four-story structure near the corner of Madison and Union streets, they
became very jubilant and pointed them out as evidences that contractors
were powerless. "They must come to our terms," was the general comment,
"for they can not get men from abroad to fill our places." The opinion
prevailed among them that they were the only bricklayers in the country
that could work on a Chicago building.