The record-union., 1898-02-04
A PROSPECTIVE SUCCESS.
SACRAMENTO BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE.
Merchants, Manufacturers anu
Wage Farmers United to fuf-
sue One Object.

The meeting of the Sacramento
Business and Industrial League was
held last night and had large atteho-
ance. The assembly was called 10 OF
der by Harry Rogers, the Chairman.
He stated the. object of the league
and said the wage earnerS had ldaeii
the. Initiative in the matter ana asheo
the merchant, manufacturer ana CON
sumner to join with them. The OBJECT
was to use goods of all kinds OF nome
manufacture and thus stimulate pro-
duction and factories in this city, ouiio-
ing it up in many ways.
Mayor Land was called on to speak,
and introduced by the Chairman. he
said he had not expected to speak, but
knew that the remarks of the Chairman
were correct. For number OF years
he had bought the articles he needed
in this city He had found that ne
could get fully as good articles ana
at a better price than from the outside.
He believed that all work for the city
and all contracts should be let, as Tar
as possible, to home contractors, who
would employ home labor and leave
the money to be spent at home, a1o
thus better the condition of the whole
city. AS it is now, outside workmen
are employed because nine hours work
can be got out of them instead of eight
and the money goes to other places.
He hoped this movement would sue
coed.
E. l. Woodman of the Typographical
Union said he looked on ii as a matter
of self preservation. There are, he said,
a number of job printing offices in this
city, but "a number of merchants and
others seem to think that they can get
their printing done cheaper in San
Francisco. If it were done here, more
men would be employed, business en-
terprises will flourish, the money will
be kept here and will return through
the channels of trade to the pockets of
the merchants and give the working
class a better show. Suppose the work
ing people should all go to San Fran
cisco to get their clothes and other sup
plies, how long would it be before the
large number of Sacramento merchants
would be compelled to close their
stores? If the people will hang %
gethse on this proposition it is bound
to win.
Albert Elkus said he had always fa-
vored the movement and had long won-
dered why the wage earners had not
long ago formed an organization of this
kind. He thought the principle should
be carried further than merely regard
ing manufacturers. He believed that
the business houses should also be pat
ronized, and the goods sold here and
the money kept here He bought his
wrapping paper and all other things he
could in this city. even if he did have
10 pay a little higher price for it, and
had the satisfaction of feeling that
some of his money was finding its way
back TO his pockets. For instance.
there arc three shirt factories here and
if they were patroniZed properly their
business would increase and more Wo-
men would be employed, till those who
sell shirts would all begin to manufac-
ture themselves, giving employment to
many more and keeping the money at
home.
Mr.. Kelly of the Cigar Makers I'm
ion said that when the question was
first approached, it came from the
wage earners, and was brought up IN
the trades unions. The question is not
a new one. 1t has been debated all
through the East, and the action taken
has resulted in upbuilding of all tht
trades. There are many manufacture
ers in California, and although now
they cannot compete with Eastern pro-
duction, but if home protection Were
carried out they could successfully
compete with the East. The home
made cigars cost the consumer no more
than the same quality of Eastern eli
gars. The reason the Eastern manu-
facturers can compete with the coast
is on account of the sweat shops in tn.
tenement houses. He told how the in
vestigating committee of the New York
Legislature reported on the condition o1
the tenement house cigarmakers, and
the disease that prevailed among them
The wage Garner here holds out his
hand to the capitalists and stands ready
to carry out his pledge to use horne
productions if they will cooperate
Captain Seymour of the Buffalo
Brewery. said that he hoped the move
ment would gather strength and In
crease through the efforts of those who
had started it. His company was much
interested in the outcome. There was
another feature in this movement and
et4est - ma - "44' cAii'S SiAP4CSCi AM
employees into closer relations and pro-
duce better feeling between them. He
knew that there is a feeling among
many against corporations. but they
are necessary. They can carry on and
extend business enterprises in which
private capital could not succeed. Ths
interest of the corporations combined
with the interest of those who are EN-
ployed by them and the two classes
should be drawn into closer and more
amicable Elations. The company he
represented would be glad at all times
20 aid this and similar movements.