The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-14

v,iu .. " ieuoi snaii be sounded none
wiz enter 1t with greater enthusiesm sn5
undaunled spirit than we. Yet If ,h.. AZ" an'
,,petdte conclusion of this con,ention o.
.na' ,he simultaneous effort should mo 40.
.e.ieu uhtii more opp0rtune time say ths
i.Pv"sinent OF IL for one year shat should
prevail. II is no idle nor boastfui stata.
,nen. lor Us to say that we are the reprs
en-, o.s.. ~ VI the organized wage earnars Of
sfa,a ou".is ana that those who by circum-
onr ~ Va ehN ironments have not yet joined
niosentnt are in sympathy with ns
re, II wsvolvcs upon us to carefully
sha nui"~ our plans OF campaign and 30
sape our tactics without regard 10 IN.
h ,..' or opposition OF our mercenary or
~ IisPsrcrtical opponents. Conscious q, Tho
sisa - etsness OF our cause. and the neces.
our 80. Tur movement. We should press on
our work without feer or favor.
Muhieipal Ownership. The snlepdid
WI, wo,n OF our central bodies throughout Inc
~ ~ IS manifest in the practical aid rem
Loieu 10 every organization tepreser.oa
.uereih Not only the smaller ana wnasor
otsanizations were benefited but the lar,,e.
this sno, powerful equally so, Apart from
ia,r. 80 ', ule' 100, must be edded that local
! laws anu ordinances regarding tho recog,,i-
uoh OF iabors demands. surh ss ~ -,
niuin wage, Limitation Of the hours of IN.
por' ana other valuable measures 10 nun,,r
~ W mention to here have been secured
~ rs worthy of note that n greater n,,,,lt,
Spit. is being manifested all through o,i,
attuiieipai lie. And municipal owner,hln
" puoiic works, bugaboo Of decade ago
hacor,t,' % ueulandeu Dy labor, is now fast
assuming popular. Ii is safe to say that
mere Is now a more extensive muntcin,I
"wnershlp and control of water works ca,
Hhu electric light systems, and Other fao.
lures, which, in their natures. are monon.
49, tIdh is eNtant elsewhere In tno
MoIlu. Our fellow unionists should urg.
, Nun renewed vigor the extension and prac.
Give "a app , Of this principle so condn-
eve TO our general well being.
Anti Black List Legislation. skilnilL,
aiaMh OH was introduced In the house os
'VHsip'y 10 prevent conspiracies among en-
poyers to black list employees. but upor
eiose scrutiny 1t was apparent that # IN.
acted II would react upon Organized labor
III any attempt to enforce union rules and
lion conditions III an establishments We
cnusreu vigorous protest against ii and
II iaiied of passage. in connection win
tnis SUBJECT your attention is called TO thu
iact mat In several State legislatures bills
Oh Il similar character were intr5,iucna ami
only through prompt and decisive acfion
were they all defeated. it Is suggested
.nat IN tne event of any so-caleI anti
olack list bill is introduced either In any
etate legislature or in congress labor
should demand that a provision should re
Incorporated specifically stating that Moth
ing in the law shall b. SO construed az 10
apply TO officers or members Of a labol. or.
ganizotion in their peaceful efforts 10 m
iorce the laws or rules of the union. Dur
HS the tendency OF such bills in the legi.
latures the above suggestion was generally
sent out TO our fellow unionsts IN the sew
eral states. Invariably when these sugees-
uons were offered in the shape of amend
iuent fhe advocates of the bill abandoned It.
betFaylng at once the real purpose OF the
propositiun
In connection with this subject It is in
teresiing TO note that under present law an
important suit involving heavy DAMAGES
was recently won by d workman blacklist
ed by cine ot our RAILROADS, The difficulty
TO prove by competent evidence the exist
ence of black list is for obvious reasons
apparent, hence uneSs organized labor Is
exempt in distinct terms from the penal
provisions Of any new legislation on the
subject II would be much safer and more
advantageous 10 rest content under present
laws
boycotts and Court cisions.-Recentlv
one Of the branches of the Federal courts
decided by a majority vote that the boycott
is illegal Whether the decision rendered
is applicable to all cases, or simply to the
one Immediately under consideration has
not yet fully transpirad. 1t is manifest
right which other citizens enjoy-the light
which neither constitutions grant nor
courts deny--the right TO stand by cur
friends patron2e our sympathi2ers and CO.
operators and 10 withhold our pat cnate
from those who are antagonistic to rs and
our carea. and the furthe- right 10 acIuaiut
our people with our preferences. While
there is no desire here 10 argue III favor
OF our rights we should demand the change
OF any law which .eurbs the privilege and
the right of the workers. to exercise their
normal and natural preferences. In the
meantime we should pr1ceal as We have Of
cid. and wherever court snail issue an
Injunction restraining any Of Our fellow
workers from placing II concern hostile to
labor's interest on cur unfair list enjoin-
ing the workers from issuing notices Of this
character. the further sugg ,stion Is made
that uron any letter or circular issued
upon a matter OF this character after
stating the name OF the unfair firm ani the
grievance complained Of the words We
have been Joined by the courts from poy-
ootting .his concern" could he added with
advantage. .,
In connection with this subject 1t le well
IN bear in mrnd rtIate this weapon of labor
is most potent. and one which snoull De
Q, HTrcised with the greatest degree or cere
and with an intense purpose to be ahso-
lntely just An unjust or inconslderale
IoVcOtt does moro 10 lulllH NV N'N.' ~
labor than q hundred victories achieved
through It's agency Whenever an applica-
ton has been submitted to healluarters
an investigation was Instituted and the
concern complained against given an OPP
portunity 10 state its version of the mat
tiers in dispute. In no case has concern
been placed uuon our we Don't Patlol-
ize'' list until It has had an opportunity
to he heard in its own defense. II each or
tho letters 10 employers upon these SUB
iocts. 1t was accompanied by the sugGss
ton OF an adjustment mutually honorable
and advantageous. and rendering. = neces-
sary. our good offices to accomplish that
purpose. , >.
At times organizations have objected 10
the time between submitting the aoplica'
tion and the approved Of the same ~ the
rve,,,tive council They have labcred un-
der the inrpression that their slmpie state
n,ent OF their complaint should he SUI
fioient erf have, therrforo, been impa-
tient With what they REGARDED as unnec's-
rory DELAY. They fail TO realize that we
mus, not only possess thH miEht' nut ,In'
~ ha vidut Then. aThf0.