The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-16
TEMPEST in A 1EA PO7.
Charge Of Importing foreisa Labor
Satisfactorily Explained.
THE COLOR LINE Is FULLY ERASED
In Forming = Labor rRnnisation.
The Asphalt PAVING work starts
the Trouble.


Without any previous notice there was
labor mass meeting organized and assem-
bled at 10 o'clock yesterday morning In the
city council chamber. There was a number
Of white men present but the colored ele-
ment predominated.
1t was announced that the Ayers Asphalt
company had imported lot OF foreign
labor to do their work hcre. while there
was an abundance Of unemployed labor now
in the city anxious and willing to work.
1t was decided to make vigorous pro-
test against thse action on the part OF the
asphalt company and several speeches
were made along this line.
/, There appeared TO be no very definite
idea as to the number OF laborers imported
and II was decided that II, after an inyes.
tigation, 1t wac discovered that the COM
plant was well founded an appeal would
be made to the city council, and In tho
meantime to perfect the object OF a Joint
organization OF white and colored laborcrs
union the meeting adjourned till evening.
During the interim reporter for The
Post interviewed Mr. Carpenter of the
Ayen Asphalt company and asked him how
many laborers had been imported,
"None." said ne, except our superin-
tendents. office men, chemists and about
q dozen expert laborers who do the sur
face work, such as mixing and rolling.
This part OF the work must be done by
skilled labor, people who understand IL.
We have four or five of these men working
today on the excavation. which does not
require skilled labor, and l suppose this
was the cause OF the kick Simply because
these men do the surface work 1t Is no rea-
son that we should keep them here idle
| until they get 10 that part OF the work
while they can be putting In their time ut
unskilled work.
These men We're brought from our home
| office at Michigan and we carry them from
| place to place as part OF our working
plant.
| with all the labor here that we need
| 1t would be foolish for us to import labor
and pay their fare when there are plenty
OF men here who can do the work lust IA
| WE'LL"
| A large and enthusiastic crowd OF labor.
| Ing men were In session at the city hall
| last night to protest against what was
termed corrupt political methods and to
| organize a labor union OF both white and
colored. Mr.. Fritz Shulze presided.
| Ringing speeches were made BY Attorney
| Pagan and others
| MIR Pagan, after first appealing to every
| laboring man to stapd together and vote
| for their own interests and against corrupt
| politicians, finally spoke OF the main OBJ
| feet OF the meeting, which was TO discuss
| the formation OF labor union OF both
| white and black people, and further TO
| Investigate the charge made that foreign
| labor was being imported to do the asphalt
paving work.
A motion was carried that the contract
! Ors be heard from.
| Mr.. Carpenter, THE secretary OF tho
| Ayers Asphalt Paving company, responder
as follows.
IL learned OF the informal meeting this
\ morning in which there was loud kick
\ about our employing foreign labor TO do
our work. ] was asked to come here and
explain our position.
''In our business we employ a NUM-
Der OF skilled iaborers. We brought to
| Houston, alb told. just nineteen men,
Including myself, four CHEMISTS one cash
Ter and two other non laboring men, ieav-
ing only twelve men. who are skilled Ia
borers. This is the sacond day OF our
| work Our time books showed today that
we had sixtyhve men On the rolls. all
but five of whom are Houston men, We
asked every man particularly II he was
a Houston man. as We want to employ
| Houston men, and out OF the entire force
of laborers that we will employ tho entire
number will be Houston men, with the
| exception OF the few skilled laboreis we
now have. We do not intend to bring any
outside labor In here. and We have never
intended TO do So We invite YOU cordial
Nv to come TO our camp and see for your
self II the facts are not as ! represent
them to be-"
4 o. p. Rebouin then addressed the meet
ing. saying:
"our purpose here today 10 moi 20 AZ
feet the contractor, and we thank him for
his information This meeting rs not for
political purpose. but for the purpose
OF affecting labor Organization
Dr. j. A. Garnet was the next spenker.
He said i'm substance:
I'm union there is strength. am GLAD
10 see this large audience compofed as
II is, OF white men and black men. who are
assembled for the purpose OF guarding
against hunger You are the custodians
OF your wives and children II IN not the
purpoae OF labor to bring about strikes
or to foment troubles and anarchy, ana
we wish TO be the friends Of capital; but
when Il comes to such a point that capital
grinds labor into the dust. II ia necessary
to resist on the part OF labor. and this
can only be done by an organized effort.
When capital grinds u.s. we must speak
loud enough to make ourselves heard and
felt as far as is necessary. We can not
walk together unless we are aggrieved.
| am in favor OF forming labor organiza-
ton irrespective OF color"
Mr. McCabe next made short talk "a
which he complained that the trouble re-
garding the contract was that mules al
ways did the work and the laboring men
looked on and went hungry,
Az this point the temporary organization
was made permanent. and the temporary
officers were declared to be the permanent
officers OF the organization
Mr., Lewis (white) suggested that BIZ
white men and six colored men meet hnt
l arrange 10 have separate organization o.
each color, which could work in harmony.
Mr.. Green tcolored) made strong plca
for a union OF the forces and gave an "
/ lnsrration by saying that under the pres
ent syetem, when the white men 80 On {
/, strike. there are always colored men to take
their places, and vice versa
motion that those present Organize
,, into labor union regardless OF color taeI
unanimously carried and the organization
Yves made under the Federation cf Labor
Five white men and fve colored mel