The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-18

may not be of much practical benefit to the people who desire its passage. A number of resolutions and amendments have been offered to this Convention in the interest of those of our voters who organize for the upbuilding of their la Dor organizations. So far, everyone of them have been turned town almost unanimously by this Convention, so much so that The International Ameri- can of about three weeks ago, in an article from some correspondent speaking of this Convention, re- marked that. so far no lead CTS had developed in this Conven- tion .and it seemed to be Convention of independent thought. The correspon- dent went on to say that he was mis- taken in this, however, that there was Gnc Beddow from Birmingham, who did seem to be leader of the labor forces, and continued by saving that he also constituted his own following. l hope that this is not true. Dr. Talmage, in a sermon preached in the north, said that, ln all great assemblaSes, nine out of ten of the people who composed them were those who came from this class of people, and it is strange to me that when they ask for some recogni- tion at our hands, we treat their re- quest with contempt and with ridicule. This is a small favor to be asked by this large mass of voters of the state of Alabama. We have received petl- tions from nearly every organization of this character throughort the State of Ala bama. We have received peti- tions from the United Mine Workers of America, constituting from 5000 to 10.- 900 voters in this State. We have re- ceived petitions from Trades Councils. which represent every department Of la bor in the Unien. the carpenter and all other classes of labor. We have received petitions from the Interna- tional Typographical Union throughout the State, from Huntsville, Mobile. Montgomery, Birmingham, and every other place where they are organized. The people who are behind these peti- tions, represent as I have said here tofore 25, 900 or 30,000 voters of the State of Alabama. They should De recognized. Their petitions should be heard. Their petitions should be con- sidered, and. in my humble judgment, tf!s resolution should be adopted.
 Mir. President, there is at this time at this moment, going forward the greatest battle ever known between capital and labor with Morgan ana hls millions on the one side, and united labor on the other, each striving for the mastery. If one side succeed united labor will be for all time recognized and established institution. Should they fail and success perch upon the banner of wealth and trusts. I predict that in the wake of their victory will follow more pain, poverty and soualor than has ever before been witnessed in this country of ours, known as the Hand of the free and the home of the brave." Would 1t not be well for the people of Alabama, in Con- yention assembled to perch our banner and draw our sword upon the side of those who are uniting for the purpose of fighting aggregate wealth? They get together for the purpose or making themselves stronger. Day by day the great institutions of our country are consolidating and they are becoming powerful Unless labor get together | and stand as one man. they will be crushed to earth. Their only hope of maintaining themselves, their wives and their families; their only hope of having homes of their own. is the hope | of maintaining a wage scale upon which they can live like men and not | like beasts Would it not be gracious | thing for us here, in the last days of | this Convention, to say to them. we will give you the balance Of the printing we have to do: We will place upon it the union label which shows that the Constitutional Convention of Alabama is in favor of united labor and that we indorse their efforts and stand uu sor them ard for '-".l families in this great fight. That is all have to say. Take 1t Tor what 1t is worth. Consider well this propo- sition before you slap in the face 25,000 | or 30, 900 of the best white voters in the State of Ala abama.
 l The President-The Chair was about to state the question, but dt occurs to | the Chair that there is no motion be- | fore the Convention.
 1 MT. BeddowI move the adoption of the resolution, and upon that call for the ayes and noes.
 A reading of the resolution was call ed for and the resolution was again read.
 MT. Banks Idid not expect to make any speech at all on this resolution. In fact. l did not anticipate that the Convention would have to consider 1t seriously this morning. nor did think | it would be made a question for con sideration by this Convention. Per sonally, my sympathies are with organized labor. It occurs to me that | organized capital has neccssitated organized labor, and, just as my sym pathies go out always to the weak. SC my sympathies have gone out to or ganzed labor in it's great controversies | and contests with capital But. MT. President and gentlemen of the Con- vention, we are not here as partisans; | we are not here to give expression to | partisan preferences; We are not here to frame d Constitution or to adopt measures or to express sentiments that l are nartisan in their nature or char acter. We are to set aside those in- | f1uences when we come to consider the | great questions before us, and we are not to do anything at all that would make the instrument We are framing partisan in it's character and Tn us | coloring. We are not here as Demo- crats; we are not here as Republicans
 we are not here as capitalists; we are not here as laborers; we are not nefe
 as religionists of aR particular taltf or denomination. We are here as citi-
 zens of the great State of Alabama fol
 the purpose of framing m organic law
 that shall give protection to all classes
 to all conditions, to all parties and tc
 all organiza tions that are legitimate
 and right in the State of Ala bdma, and
 however much we would like to sec
 the printing of this Convention go into
 the hands of this great association, Vt
 cannot afford to say so, because here
 are other people who are engaged 1T
 this same kind of work and who. al
 aSN