The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-06-06
NC

hours may be long and tiresome but
there is nothing unwholesome about
the labor. Every man on the force has
individuality and independence. It you
do not believe it; insult him! Try his
mettle You will not find it wanting.
L don't know a better place to get a
fight for real cause. These men will
not remain on the street cars always.
Those who have ambition, industry
and real ability will rise. No power
could keep them down. They will be-
come merchants, tradesrnen and prop
erty owners. These are the kind Of
men that give dignity to labor organi-
cations. 1 know many such in the
| Charlotte unions, and / shall dare say
that not a one of their llk yelled
ssscabs" and 'rats" at the conductors
and motormen while lining up Tyron
street on labor day. I think irre-
sponslble boys and cheap hoodlums
were guilty of that ugly behavior.
That is not the way for the labor un-
ions to win favor with the best people
Such misconduct should not be toierat-
ed when there Ia no cause whatever for
it. The labor union has come to the
South to stay. 1t is we'll, as long as
the conservative element is in control.
| But with all of it's good features, there
are bad ones. This is a free country
| aud if man sees fit to stay out OF
labor union he has a perfect right to
do so. Many laboring man of stroug
individuality does not think it best to
join unions. He has no right to keep
his fellow-man from joining. It is with
the individual. I am not inclined to
Join anything myself. l belong, by
birth to family and State that am
proud of, and to church by choice.
That Is all and enough. Friendship
and position that come from secret So
cieties or brotherhoOds are worthless.
But about this, every man must follow
his own convictions. So it is with the
labor union.
Becentiy it seems there has been ex-
cited much interest in the State on the
subject Of organized labor. A great
dlsturber in this matter is the Rey. J. F.
| Austin, now of Salisbury, who has done
the cause great harm. He lectured for
a while as representative of the State
i. Federation OF Labor. l have just heard
that he has been turned out of the la
Dor unions at Randleman and Concord
| / hope it is true for he is a burden for
decent laboring people to carry. He
was proven filthy ibertlne, rascal
and an all round bad character before
the courts of Randolph county not
more than two months ago. But in the
face of all of this, this same Austin ia
editing and circulating a labor paper
from Salisbury. saw him at the
Charlotte rally distributing his sheet
There is nothing in this man and the
sooner the white working men find it
out and suppress him, the better. He
stlrs.up strife and engenders malice
Weed out such curses and the cause oi
honest labor unions will be benefited
Austin has caused trouble wherever he
| went.
The opportunities for young men,
with or without money, who are able,
willing and ready to work are many
at this time in North Carolina. The
demand for efficient men is greater
than the available supply. The ener.
getic, sensible and sober man can en-
ter and climb high on the rounds Of the
ladder of success, if he will. He is moi
barred. Men of capital are hunting fol
Young workmen who know how and are
willing to do.
have been out of college six year
and have kept an eye on score OF
more young men Of my acquaintance
shall tell the story of the life of each
OF two SO far as know it, without call
ing names. / do it with the hope tina
it may help others.
! When at the University l met 6
young boy there who Was struggling
for an education. He obtained it ant
lls now superintendent of a f1ourishing
city graded school on salary OF 81 ,5O(
year. Since leaving college hay'
seen that young mans home. Hi
/ widowed mother lives in q small two
roomed house on a little farm. She
was not able to send her boy to college
but urged him to work his wa,
through. He borrowed money from
friends and accomplished what h'
started out to do. The future Is brigh
for him. He is a man in every sens
OF the word and the people of his com
munity are proud of him. Povert.
, did not COW him. He brushed i
aside.
J Several years ago friend of MINE
asked me to try and place his boy