Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-10-16

the laws OF tne country. he time was
when the laborers of England were the
serfs and they owed their deliverance
from that condition to the direct inter-
position of the hand of providence. In
the 18th century the greatest plague
known in the worlds history had begun
in the east and gradually spread over
Europe extending to England and when
the clouds and the msts that accompa-
MED the Black Death had risen from the
Garth, twenty-five millions Of people had
been swept into the grave, but the sun no
longer shone upon a serf in England.
The laboring man stood before the world
free man, and from that day to this by
bis own brave heart and his own strong
arm. he had contended for his rights, and
had risen step by step, until today Or
ganized labor could number its millions.
The oppressors of the laboring classes in
England little dreamed of what stuff
these men were made. In the years to
come it was this class that crossed the
ocean and are now the safety as they
have been the builders of the grandest
republic the world has ever known.
Mr.. Kerr advised the laboring man to
be honest, to be frugal to be sober. A
laboring man who has saved a portion
of his earnings, one who has laid bv
something for rainy day, was in the
b st possible condition to resist the un-
fair exactions of capital. The laboring
man who isin such condition that the
alternative placed before him is, accept
the wages capital offers or starve, is un.
able to make a strong fight for his
rights.
There has never been time" said
Mr.. Kerr, when there were not people
who thought themselves upon a plane
far above the laboring man; but" said
the speaker, when tell you that the
humble Nazarene, Christ, the savior of
the world, has forever made labor honor
able by becoming a carpenter, and when
| tell YOU that the men from whose loins
sprang the royal line Of ancient Israel's
kings, made bricks without straw in
the land OF Egypt, you need not feel
ashamed in the presence of a modern
team OF bobtailed horses and a negro in
high hat"
Mr.. Kerr concluded by assuring the
aboring men that he would ALWAYS be
willing to do any hing in his power for
them. Individually or as class.
MIR. Starnes' Remarks.
John W. Starnes was called on. Lam
proud, said Mr. Starnes "of the invita-
tion given me to be present tonight, for
it says that yourecUsnize me as a friend.
On this your anniversary celebration of
the 'nne.hour day | congratulate YOU.
The adding of one hour in each twenty.
four to the time which YOU are allowed
to spend with your families is due to the
fact that you all became OF one mind and
pressed in the same direction. am sat.
istied that every honest man in this hall
would not take from his neighbor a dol
lar he did not earn. But if that man
loves his wife and children and his free
dom he will demand of his neighbor that
which is due to himself.
IL am proud that no lockouts' and
strikes have been known in Asheylle.
Your prudent and manly course has en-
listed the respect of all good people.
When they knew that you were bent on
nine hours for day they granted it,
But assure you that ii you had not
stood together for nine hours you would
not have had it.
Greedy capital is hard task master.
He will claim all for himself if you allow
him. But il you conquer him, his owner
will admire you the more. poor ras-
| cnl -bn dnac mot JaI,nI he ,,,,,,, -;uh,.
can never have the respect of good peO-
pie. The world loves and honors a
brave man who defends himself and
those who depend upon him for the
bread of life. The man who does the
labor has perfect right to control his
own products il he does it in acompetcnt
and honest way.
| Now gentlemen, may ! ask how do
you spend the tenth hour? Doyou spend
it with your wives, children and books ?
Are you really better and more inteli-
gent than you were a wear ago? Think
about it, nv friends, think aboutit. Have
your homes been made brighter and hap
pier? Take these questions home with
you, study them and answer them in
your honest hearts. May an allwise
providence help you do it.
Now that you are a power when
united, the world knows Professional
men, politicians and spectators are
watching YOU with deep anxiety. They
are holding their ears to the ground as
the great army o farmers and mechanics
come on. The outside world are count.
ing every tap of the drum as you ad
vance They hear the tramp and are es
timating whether you step together ant
in line.
Men, what do your organizations
mean? Have you any aim? DO you in
tend to do good? Have you noble pa
triotic purpose? Do you really intenc
that monopolies shall fall, that justice
= shall prevail aud all men have equa
rights? If so bid you forward? Her,
is my hand. know what it is to dt
, hard labor and am therefore able to SYM
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