Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-10
LABOR AND BUSINESS.
IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL CLUB MEETING
A Delegation From the Trades Council Appears Before the Body-ExceIlent Speech of
 Mir. Stanley-Proceedings.

The Commercial club held a special meeting yesterday afternoon to meet a delegation from the Trades council.
 Vice-President W. B. Leedy presided in the absence of President Rhodes.
 Mir. J. B. Cobbs presented the following resolutions, which were adopted:
 Whereas During the last session of the Alabama legislature a measure was be- fore that body which had for it's aim and object the obtaining control by the Southern Railway company of the Ala bama Great Southern railroad, pending the adjustment of certain rights iaVoived- before the courts of the state, measure that was vigorously opposed by the Com mercial club of Birmingham, from motive both of public policy and apprehended in- jury to the business interests of the city; and,
 Whereas It was then announced by the friends of that measure, as well as by some of the officials of the Southern Railway company, that this city need not have any apprehensions of injury to Dir mingham from any action taken by that company; and
 Whereas The said Southern Railway company has since acquired ownership of the said Alabama Great Southern rall- road and will come into possession and control of the same; now, therefore, De IL
 Resolved by the Commercial club of Birmingham, That it is the sense of th.s club that the business interests of this city can best be promoted by operating the said Alabama Great Southern rail- road as part of the Queen and Crescent system, or as far as the interests had in view by it's purchase will permit. This system, the Queen and Crescent, under it's present management. has rem dered the Commercial club many courte- sies and granted some requests made by it of great value to the business interests of this city, and the club would be pleased to have continuation of that friendly spirit IS well as the business connections made under it remain undisturbed as much as possible, and to these ends thls request is presented to the management of the Southern Railway company. The club pledges itself to use all legitimate efforts to preserve to said Southern Rail- way company the same good will and friendly feeling now existing between the business men of Birmingham and the Queen and Crescent system.
 MT. Stanley of the Trades council ad- dressed the club in behalf of the council. He called upon the club to encourage organized labor, saying it was the best labor. He said the laboring men of Bir- mingham had suffered more probably than those of any other southern city. He said it was impossible for one ele- ment of the community to prosper un- less the OlHeIS uD. Ilc odiu Wa6No m q large number of states, including Ala bama Tennessee the Virginias and oth- ers had been reduced nearly 50 per cent. He said the professional or bus mess men could not prosper unless the working men prosper. When the work ing men suffer the business men suffer. They go hand in hand. He said that was the reason he appeared before the club. He said organized labor could not work for some contractors, and men toned the building of the John Fox.s Sons new building, which some of the contractors would not bid on because the contract stipulated that none but or ganized labor should be employed. He mentioned the real estate dealers, as one class who had declined to recos- nize organized labor. He said all this had been borne by organized labor for ten years. They didn't make any threats and didn't propose to throw any bombs. but they wanted justice. He said labor was as much interested in Birmingham as anybody; most of them own their homes. He said they didn't want the support of anybody who was ashamed to acknowledge it publicly. If you will let it be known that here in Birmingham is a club composed of business men who will stand by labor in their just demands it won't be long until you will have to build a Chinese wall around the town. The people will come and you can't keep them away.
 Let the Comercial club and the Trades Council work in harmony for the upbuild- ing of the city and district.
 Mr Denman of the Iron Holders union said he had for some time advo- cated coming before the club and pre- senting their claims. He had noticed great deal of good had recently been done by the club, and understood that one could get almost anything asked Tor from them. He wanted the club to obtain a pass for one of the speakers, who would be here Labor Day, to Birming- ham and return. The second vice-presl-
 dent of the National Iron Moulders' union had consented to come and speak on that day. He also desired the Com mercial club to parade with the labor organizations on that day. It will be great advertisement for Birmingham. The railroads have granted reduced rates from all points in the surrounding ter ritory.
 Mayor VanHoose said he would not forstall what any committee might make on this question, but he thought 1t good and hopeful sign when the business men and laboring people showed a Wiling ness to join hands in all that was to the interest of Birmingham. He oHered the following resolution:
 Resolved, That the Commercial club appreciate the visit of the delegation from the Trades council, and most heartily extend to them the good will of
  pressed that all classes of this city may become closer united for the upbuilding of Birmingham, and that matters brought before the club by said delega- tion be referred to a special committee of five members for full report to the club.
 The chairman stated that the commit tee would be appointed later.
 MT. J. Morgan Smith thought we had the best class of organized labor of any place in the world and wanted publicity given to Mir Stanley's speech.
 Mayor VanHoose moved that the sec retary of the club be instructed to lay the matter of free transportation for Thomas Wisdom, second vice-president of the National Iron Moulders union from Cincinnati to Birmingham and re- turn before the Southern Railway com pany. MT. Wisdom has accepted an i'm vitation to speak here on Labor Day, Monday, September 2.
 MT. Acton wanted to know what action