The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-17
A Big LABOR PARADE
Followed BY . Mass Meeting at the Mar
kct House.
SEVERAL SPEECHES WERE DELIVERED


The members OF Houston's various labor
organizations formed procession last
ncr OF Caroline and Preston streets, and
marched up Caroline TO Rusk, thence "a
Main street and to the market house. The
number Of workingmen in line was va
rIously estimated at from 1000 to 1900, and
when the line reached the market house
the number was materially swelled by
others. who had already arrived. When
the end OF the line had climbed the stair
way and entered the hall there were per-
haps zsst a he building.
Mr.. Herman Malsch. president OF the
Houston Labor Council, stated that the
object OF the meeting was to discuss the
etrike and the causes that led up to It.
President Grimes OF the State Federation
OF Labor was introduced. He made a short
talk. reviewing the situation OF organized
labor in Houston, stating among other
things that out OF the ten building trades
represented In the building trades as
eembly all had enjoyed an eight-hour day
of the carpenters, the other trades having
secured the reduction in hours without
any strike or stoppage of work The car
penters, however, when they asked for
an eight hour day, were told that they
must sign contract to work for no other
than a member OF builders exchange, and
on this point the trouble hinged The
carpenters claim the right to sell their
labor to whoever will buy 1t. while the
builders exchange contends that in or
der t. work at their trade they must bind
themselves to foster trust, which was
really the import OF the contract offered
the carpenters by the builders exchange.
Mr.. G. A. Mitchner followed with II
short talk, appealing 10 his hearers to
stand by organized labor and expressing
the belief that the carpenters would win.
dr. Frank j. Lyon macse an address OF
come length in support OF the contentious
of organized labor in the present trouble.
He stated that the system under which
men labor for wages is in Its nature ii
competitive or a system of competition,
and without organization among those who
toll IL simply becomes a struggle for all
opportunity to earn a living. and under
such system the paradoxical situation
arises that the successful man Is the one
who sells his labor cheapest. He pointed
out the causes that call labor organlza-
appeal for the representatives OF organ
tied labor in Houston to stand united
The utteraces OF all the speakers we're
temperate and the gathering was a most
quiet and orderly one. While the ponts
made by the speakers were cheered heart
lily, there was no undue excitement.
A communication from Mr.. II r. Ring
was read, in which he expressed his regret
Al not being able to attend the meeting
n a II
high tribute to labor unions and wrote
as follows regarding the present trouble:
The dissension between the Carpenters'
union OF this city and the Master Builders
exchange reached Its acute stage few
Gays ago, not ms a strike on the part OF
employees but as lockout on the part of
employers. The members Of the Master
Builders exchange refused to continue IN
thelr employment members Of the carpen-
tiers w~f07T-who would not sign an agree
ment to the effect that they would work
for no one who was not a recognized ron.
tractor tmeaning, as II seems, member
OF the builders exchanged for a longer nc
Rod than six days, and for less wau.
than 30 cents per day In excess OF tho
wages paid by the contractors Fair mind
ed and unpreiudlced people must consider
this demand on the part Of a combination
OF employers In be unreasonable the
builders exchange people, while not guar
ahLttiHE eiHNiONWent, would UrOhllll tha
seeking OF employment. The agreement re-
quires the working man, who usually has
Httle to live upon except his daily wages
TO starve In ,dleness rather than work for
contractor who is the competitor OF a
member OF the Master Builders exchange
II carried out II would materially assist
In the formation Of a master huilders'
trust. giving It's members monopoly Of
me business IN this city and enabling
them 70 exact higher prices than would be
possible under free competition While
combinations OF working men to increase
wages are lawful and 1audable. combine
uons OF employers TO increase prices are
against public policy and prohibited by
law There is q vast difference, which ~
recognized by law as well as by CON
servative and fair-mnded peopIe. he
tween combinations OF contractors In in
crease profits and combinations OF working
men to secure no higher wages than are
necessary for health and happiness
Believing your cause to be lust aud
trusting you VIII maintain your fight with
que regard to public interest and a
strict compliance with the laws ~ Tho
land. | have the honor to remain vonrs
truly, n y PIN,
The strike situation may be described
In the two words that have been nsed ~
describe u several times heretofore--no
change. The Houston Labor Council viii
meet tonight and II the body has reeeded
from us Intention of ordering a general
strike no intimauon OF the fact has been
even 70 the public In fact, members OF
the LABOR Council state emphatically thst
no recession from the action OF he ha"s
has even been discussed. o0'y
In Yesterdays Issue OF The Post there
was a communication from the builders 70
the carpenters, an iptimatlon maj mo
general strike had been postponed. but
me rost made no such intimatlon In It's
report. On the contrary, 1T was stated
that there was no change in the situa.