The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-07
Matter VIII Come Up Before Next Meeting of the
 Trades Council
MR. RANDALL THINKS
 ACTION WAS UNTIMELY
Says That Cost of Living, Which Is an important Factor, Was Not Taken Into Consideration.
 Others Discuss It.


 son. Jr., at the meeting of the Com mereial club Friday evening, with refer ence to the labor situation in this dis trict bas caused a general discussion in labor circles. The resolution was adopt ed. The substance of the discussions over the resolution was to the effect that la bor in the Birmingham district is too high as compared to other places. Labor lead CTS do not agree with the arguments set forth in the resolutions.
 The resolution, 1t is said will come up at the regular semi-monthly meeting of the Birmingham Trades council which will be held next Sunday afternoon at o'clock in the bricklayers hall. There vii, be a discussion of the question, 1t is said, and counter resolutions will probably be introduced.
 T think the Commercial club by the adoption of the resolution has precipated fight with the laboring class of the Birmingham district" said H. N. Ran dal1. district organizer of the American Federation of Labor, In discussing the matter. T am sure that some action will be taken in the premises at the next meet ing of the body"
 The labor league executive committee held a meeting last night, and it is said that the resolutions were discussed at length. As the meetings of the commit tee are always held in executive session, nothing with reference to last nights meeting, was given out for pupllcation.
 Labor Leaders Talk.
 The following are some of the expres. lcga
 H. N. Randall said:
 T read the resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Commercial club, and think it untimely and unwarranted, for the reason that It's tendency would seem to precipitate trouble, which no one in labor ranks has ever dreamed of. and casts a reflection on the civil authorities who have always been fairly disposed to both capital and labor
 Tn reference to the argument in support of the resolution, it Is very evident that | those who took part failed to consider the fact that Birmingham is a hustllng up to date magic city, while Atlanta is an ancient hoosier town" whose character of industries does not require the high class of skilled labor that is indispensable in the construction of a great commercial city and the maintenance of her superior manufacturing enterprises as we find in our city and district.
 Tn Atlanta rents and the cost of living | according to information gathered from those who have lived there, Is much low CT and accurate information shows that $20 will go as far in Atlanta as $25 in Bir- | mi oh m .otIfe better wages and living expenses are much less than in Birmingham.
 "The truth Is the best interest of our district demands good wages and lots of circulating medium.
 Good wages will command skilled me- chanics. Skilled mechanics are usually good citizens who buy good clothes, rent good houses and are able and will pay good rents, while low wages will force cheap houses and low rents and the mar ket will be glutted with s10 clothes and | 50 cents Panama hats.
 Before concluding I wish to say that understand that Col T. G. Bush has signed up with the miners and I'm indeed glad to say that Colonel Bush has always shown himself to be a conscientious, fai. minded man who is ever ready to mani. fest his great interest in the upbuildina of Birmingham"
 MT. Clemo Likes Part of 1t. | J. l.. Clemo, secretary treasurer of Dis trict No. 20, United Mine Workers oi 1 America, said:
 T quite agree with that part of the resolution which says: Resolved, That when civil disturbances occur of any character 1t is incumbent on the civil authorities to correct or suppress the same at the public expense and not at the expense of those who may be affect. ed thereby The sheriff of the county should certainly be in charge of special officers or deputy sheriffs who are pui on duty to protect property. and he should be held accountable for their acts They should be paid out of the general fund of the county, or in the same man. ner as other county officers are compen- sated. Under no consideration should those who may be affected be called upon to pay for the hire of deputies or guards
 "The sheriff of the county Is the one who is called upon to issue commissions tc deputies and if this matter were left en- tirely within his hands 1t Is more thar probable that in every instance a good reputable citizen would be sworn in as a special officer, and the matter of select ing guards would not be left entirely Ir the hands of the corporations.
 q do not care. just at this time to dis cuss any other part or parts of the Nelson resolution"
 Frank Nelson, Jr., author of the res. olution, wrote the following as further | explanation of his position:
 From your report of the proceedings of the Commercial club Friday evening one might infer that the club was op. posed to high wages. That in my judg- | ment is not true, but the club felt that Birmingham was being discriminated against by the unions in making wage scale here so much higher than In other nearby towns. In my conversation witf Mir Markey. labor leader, he told m, that the wage scale made by the union. for carpenters, mechanics and brick masons for Birmingham was 50 cents pei day higher than 1t was for Atlanta Thi. | difference would enable parties in Atlants