The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-06
CH5oTER XXXv.
THE NV SIMON LEGRE.

The NV SlMUN LEGRE.
Harris imndiately resigned his office
in the custo house, which he owed to
Lowell, and cyan search for employ
ment.
Il will nobe pensioner of govern
ment of h,ocrites and liars" he ex-
claimed as sealed his letter of resig-
nation.
And the began his weary tramp in
search ofwork. Day after day, week
after wee he got the same answer-an
emphatic efusal. The only thing open
10 negl was position as porter, or
bootblacl or waiter in second rate ho-
tells and estaurants, or in domestic SER
vice as 'achman, butler or footman He
was no lore fitted for these places than
he waste live with his head under
water.
II wi blow my brains out before I
will prstitute my intellect, and my con-
scious.ss of free manhood by such de-
gradir associates and such mental SER
vicerhe declared with sullen fury.
At ist he determined to lay aside his
prideand education and learn a manual
trad, He found every door closed in his
face Not labor union would allow him
TO eler us RANKS.
Fl managed to earn a few dollars at
oddiobs and went to New York Here
he was treated with greater brutality
tina in Boston. AT last he got a posi-
tia in a big clothing factory He was
scbright in color that the manager never
sspected for a moment that he was a
rgro, as he was accustomed to employ
ig swarthy Jews from Poland and Rus
a.
When Harris entered the factory the
employees discovered within an hour his
color, laid down their work. and walked
out on strike until he was removed
He again tried to break into a labor
union and get the protection of it's con-
stitution and laws. He managed at last
to make the acquaintance of a labor
leader who had been Quaker preacher;
and was elated to discover that his name
was Halliday, and that he was a SON of
one of the Hallidays who had assisted in
the rescue of his mother and father from
slavery! He told Halliday his history
and begged his intereession with the la
Dor union.
HPll try for you, Harris" he said, s'but
it's doubtful experiment. The men fear
the negro as a pestilence. The say he
lacks the sense of solidarity, has no in
itiative or self reliance, and must be
held up by the stronger race at a time
when they can't hold themselves up"
do the best you can for me. / must
have bread. 1 only ask a mans chance"
answered Harris.
Halliday proposed his name and backed
If " with cf
mept, gave a brief sketch of his culture
and accomplishments and asked that he
be allowed to learn the bricklayers
trade.
When his name came up before Brick
Layers Union, and it was announced
that he was negro, it precipitated a de-
bate of such fury that it threatened to
develop into a riot.
A Socialist and an Anarchist clinched
in a fight, and for five minutes pande-
monium reigned, but at the end of it
Harris was lying on the sidewalk with
cash in his head, and Halliday was bend
ing over him.
When Harris had recovered from his
wound, Halliday took him on round of
visits to big mills in a populous manu-
featuring city across in New Jersey.
These mills are all owned by Simon
Lesree,' he Informed Harris" and the
unions have been crushed out of them
by methods of which he is past master
] don't know. but it may be possible
TO get you in there
They tried half dozen mills in vain.
and at last they met foreman who