The herald., 1897-02-22
A Plea for the Patronage Of
Home Products
SMOKE DOMESTIC BRANDS
The Counsel Of M. Raphael of the Cigar
Makers Union
Meetings Of the Council Of Labor, the Plumb =
ers', the Brickiayers' and the Car
penters' Unions

There was a special meeting of labor
organizations and citizens at Council of
Labor hall yesterday at 2 p. m. H. L.
Dewey presided and H. E. Martens acted
as secretary.
Michael Raphael, representative of the
Cigar Makers union of Greater New
York, was called upon to address those
present on the subject of stronger or
ganization of all trades and workers in
the city.
Mr.. Raphael made very interesting
and instructive address. He took a
broad-gauge view of unionism and drew
picture of the tenement house cigar
factories of New York. These foul
places, where disease of all kinds Is pre-
valent. cannot but help carry the germs
of disease to the articles manufactured,
and thus take il-health within their
folds to the homes of those who use such
goods. Some of the prominent brands
of these tenement-made cigars are sold
in this city. Mr.. Raphael urged the
necessity of patronizing home industry.
The residents of this city should pur-
chase articles manufactured here in
preference to a foreign or eastern made
article. 1t is estimated that from $780,
900 to $500, 900 leaves this city every year
for cigars made in San Francisco and
eastern cities which might just as well
be kept in circulation at home and
would materially assist in stimulating
the present depressed condition of busi-
ness.
At the close of Mr. Raphaers speech
the following preamble and resolutions
were unanimously adopted and a COM
mittee will be appointed next Wednes-
day evening at the regular meeting of
Council of Labor to carry out the pur-
poses of the resolution.
Whereas, We, the citizens and mem
bers of labor organizations of Los An
geles, in meeting assembled being cogni-
zant of the conditions affecting the
wage-earners to a degree that is pro-
ductive of low wages and want of en-
ployment. this not only helping to pau
perize an important element of our citi-
zens, but also tending to injure the busi-
ness interests of our city;
Whereas, To avert the distress that
must follow low wages and idleness,
steps must be taken to aid in bringing
about more prosperous conditions that
will benefit all the people; to materially
advance such a project we hold that
better organization must be given to
home industry to aid in the employment
of idle labor and to more permanently
establish prosperous conditions in the
business community;
Whereas, We hold that unification
of the interests of labor is an essential
factor, to insure close alliance with all
who believe in high wages, the security
of employment and of home labor and
all that aids to tighten the burden of the
toiler in keeping with the progress and
civilization of our time;
Resolved, That we, the citizens and
.@f &C a ~
ing assembled, do hereby agree and de-
clare that we will use all honorable
means to urge business men to encour-
age such manufacturers as exist here
and to promote the establishment OF
others and to unite the wage-workers in
the American Federation of Labor, ana
make known the labels of the various
trades that are placed on articles to dis
tinguish them from articles made In the
sweat shops, tenement houses, peniter-
tiaries or by Chinese labor. Be it fur
ther
Resolved, That a committee be ap-
pointed to be known as citizens COM
mittee to take all necessary steps 10
interview business men and promote pet
ter organization among the unions ana
assume charge of all matters in Keeping
with the foregoing resolutlohs' be II
further
Resolved. That said committee pre-
sent the foregoing to the Council Of La
Dor and affiliated bodies, the chairman
of this meeting to take charge OF all
matters until the purport OF these reso-
lutions is considered. Be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these reso-
lutions be forwarded to the press for
publication and that the business men
and all union men receive copy OF the
same. ~
vote of thanks was rendered Mr..
Raphael for his able ADDRESS. me
meeting closed after stirring speech
from Cyren Z. Fisk.