The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-10-31
THE LAWS OF THE LoNGsnoREMEN.

THE LAWS OF THE AONUo1AVACMLN.
There is q colored association in
New Orleans composed of longshoremen
that is OF steamboat and levee labor
ers. They have regular organization,
with president and other officers.
Abouta year ago these longshoremen
yentured on "a strike," and proceeded
by force to compel dissenting longshore-
men to comply with the terms of their
strike. A Capt. Barnes, who was dis
charging vessel with colored hands,
confronted a mob Of the strikers who
| came to drive his hands away and was
killed by the mob. His widow now
sues the city for $4,000 damages.
The longshoremen, with the opening
of another season, have again come to
the front. Their experience Of last
year seems to have worked no changes
in their plans for the reformation Of the
labor system of New Orleans, upon
is dependent. Neither the killing of
Capt. Barnes, nor the defeat Of their
plans last season, appears to have taught
them any other lesson than that success
is still possible. Thus, we find that
they have waited upon the Superintcn-
dent of Police of New Orleans, and
spread before that official, pro >fo,mau,
the demands Of the Association, in
language not to be mistaken. We copy
from the Republican the account of
their grievances and demands:
I. That they had a right to ask what
ever they pleased ON their work.
2. That they would compel members
to cease working when they wanted to,
and when they were working under
less than society rates.
i 3. They desired the police should not
interfere with them when they paraded
up and down the levee, or desired to
stop their members from working; and
4. They complained that the police
were paid to fight against them by the
captains and stevedores.
Reflections of no pleasant character
to the well-wishcr of Louisiana crowd
themselves upon us, in contemplating
these pretentions of tho New Orleans
Iongshoremcn. The commerce of that
great city is no small item in the wealth
of the United States-it is the founda-
ton stones and the dome of this State.
Great as it sand even while its tar-see-
ing business men are pleading for the
transhipmcnt of the produce of the
Mississippi VaIIey-whiIe business is
almost paralyzed and the producer is
staggering under the throcs of a mighty
panic-Wc find the men whose muscle
plays no mean part in the transmission
of bales Of cotton, barrels, hogsleads,
sacks, packages, Sc.,-making the
claim to be masters Of the situation,
and having tho right to force into beg
gary und the slavery of "thc poor priv
ilcgc" of not to labor of all those who
will not bow to their rule and will re
, fuse to organize to trummcl and impede
tho progress of trade! The city of New
Orleans has no future before it, except
II future OF ruins and disaster, fits com
mcrce is dependent upon sintclliscnt
labor" of this nature.
But, aside from its local hearings
this movement on the part of the most
intelligent of tho colorcd men of this
State and of the whole South, has {:
significance OF value to the whole
country. 1t is not 4 mere prctencc OF
momcntary impulse, but the deliberate
thought Of months under practical
tests, which is developed in the an
omalouS claim of these longshorcmcn
that, "thcy would compel members to
cease working when they wanted to
and when they were working under
less than society rates. This is the cx
position not of ignorant but of educated
| Negro rule. Il is Communism ant
DGspotiSm in the absract-not the as
scrtion OF the rights of associated labor
D but of the power of the mob and o
D numbers to command and control it,
. subjects, no matter what may bc thci1
a wants or their opinions. and to make
0 not only capital, hut the requirements
D of the humblcSt farmer, subservicnt tc
y Of l,N ,>F 1,J> n