The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-15
URGES ORGANIZED LABOR
Says Negro Must Organize as Well a!
White Man.
TELLS LABOR TO GET INTO POLITICS
Saws Vote For Man Who Favors Shorter Hours
Child Labor Abolished, Compulsory
School Law, No Matter What
His Color.
A plea for organized labor.

| A plea for organized labor.
Not plea for simply one or two Ia
Dor unions, but for an organization of
labor in every branch. ~..
| Not alone for the white man who la
bors to organize, but for the negro who
works at trade to organize, was the plan
advocated last night.
! The meeting was held in Metropolitan
Hall and was under the auspices of the
Central Labor Union of Raleigh. There
were a number of speakers expected, but
these were unable to be presnt with the
exception of Mr.. w. M. Tye, of Charlotte,
! the President of the State Federation or
labor, who made the only speech, after
| the Introductory remarks of Col. John
Nichols.
There were present in the hall nearly
hundred men, and these gave earnest
| attention to the speaker, frequently In
terrupting his remarks with applause
| when his earnest words stirred them.
| The meeting was called to order by Col.
Jno. Nichols, who said that this meeting
was only the beginning of great cam
|
ut is not" said he, 'to be campaign
that will be for strikes, except as these
may come from good cause. 1t is a
campaign to make better the condition of
| earnest and honest workers.
Continuing his remarks he declared
that the laboring men of North Carolina
| felt it to be their duty to organize that
they might control their own labor, to
| oil q GO n
imposition just as other callings pro-
tected their interests by organization.
| That it was not with any idea of making
disturbances, or of raising Cain, as
some people thought that these meetings
were to be held
"These laborers desire to advance
| their own interests and those OF their
families by legitimate MEANS" he said.
i'There is no employer but that prefers
honest skillful labor to that given by
Jack legs and the object of organized
labor is to give this kind of service.
With this in view employers and en-
ployed can work in unison and harmony
After declaring that what was wanted
in North Carolina was union OF forces
that would build up the States interests,
making everything here that was needed
and keeping the money at home, he pre-
scented to the audience President Tye.
AS the speaker came forward he was
greeted with applause. He began mis-
address with few deprecatory remarks
concerning the short time in which he
had to prepare an address because of
short notice, and at once launched into
his subject.
Mr. Tye attempted no oratorical
flights His remarks came in short,
terse and at times epigrammatic sem
! fences. that brought vigorous applause.
He made no hedging statements as to his
views, but spoke earnestly of the position
which he believed organized labor should
take, and why every class of labor
should organize.
His subject was "Trade Unionism, p"
and it's theme was that of organized la
ber As he defined Trade Unionism" 1T is
union of people with any kind of trade
who have labor to sell. ct is not So
cialism or anarchsm, but it is a purpose
| to band together for our advantages ed
ADDITIONALLY socially, morally, neutrally
and financially"
eve believe poverty sin and 1gnor-
ance sin that comes from it, 1t is not
|
crime Poverty is the root of all evils,
crime comes from poverty and to it is
due criminals, inebriates, lunatics. 1t is
the purpose of trades unions to amelio-
| rate these conditions"
Mr.. Tye declared that his plea was for
one dollars worth of labor to get one
dollar and cited statistics to show that
| while capital got SO cents out of a dol
| lar, labor got II, and declared it to be
unfair, dishonest and unchrstian for
the non producer to get the lions share.
| The true division, he said would be 50
cents on the dollar to each.
| The hours of work should be controlled
/ by legislation, and the hours should be
made so that men would quit dying I'M
maturely from overwork. He believed
each man has right to price his labor
and how much of it he would give, and
not be subject to demands unjust and
unfair.
| 1.-The great trouble with labor in North
| Carolina" he said, was that it was in
an open, competitive market, as men bid
against each other for short supply of
work. We don't dare set price on our
| days labor he exclaimed, and eX-
planned that this was for lack of under
standing with fellow workmen.
| 1.-The labor market is glutted. If the
men were vegetables there would be more
stale ones than you ever heard Of There
are thousands idle in North Carolina be-
cause there is no work" This condition
was partly caused, he explained, by
| longer hours of labor, trouble that
would disappear with shorter hours.
| "One mar has a shirt and another no
shirt" because a full days work is done
for nalf days pay, was remark that
| led up to the plea for shorter hours
| Mr.. Tye declared he was not Demo
crat, Republican, Socialist or Anarchist,
| but would vote for the man who would
promise to do right by the laboring peo-
| pie, no matte" what he looks like, or
even what his color is if he will promise
to reduce hours of labor, abolieh I&1
/ labor and make compNasery school law
sThat's the kind of POLL i6a believe IN