The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-07
ANTI-INJUNCTION
 AND 8 HOURS
BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS MAN
 SPEAKS OUT.
The Proposed Laws on This Subject is Detrimental to the South and App ais to the Southern Press
 to Opp Lose Them.
Editor The Advertiser:

Editor The Advertiser:
 Within the past two weeks it has been my privilege to ask the cooperation of the manufacturers and business men of the South with the Citizens Alliance of Birmingham for the defeat of certain leg islatiOn now pending in Congress which was deemed injurious not only to the in- dustries of our own city, but to those of the entire South as we'll This legislation is the proposed eight-hour law and the anti-injunction bill. The replies indicate that the sentiment is unanimous through out the industrial South that 1t would be little short of criminal for any Southern Senator or Congressman to aid in the pas sage of these laws.
 And now II desire to ask the press of the South to supplement this work by giv- ing space in their columns to this letter that the entire people of the South may know how their industries would be at- fected by this proposed legislation, and in whose interests 1t is sought to be en- acted.
 wish to pay the press of the South tribute which l am pleased to accord them It was the newspapers of the South that first took up the work of re- habilitating the land made desolate by the civil war, and they gave unstintedly of their time and money in investigating the resources of their respective localities, with unlimited space in their columns in exploiting these resources when deter mined, and to this work is largely due the fact that the new South is a manu-
 
 South, which was almost exclusively az rtcultural and commercial. With these facts standing out in bold relief, one would thin kthat nothing could ever have induced the Southern press to favor any thing injurious to those interests they had done so much to establish, much less that they could be appealed to In vain t. oppose agencies shown to be inimcal to existing industries, with the outlook of destroying all future development But how was it with Bryanism and what kind of legacy did 1t leave to the country at large? And what Is the present attitude of Southern newspapers towards organized labor whose policies are promising ruin to the industries of the South?
 The antl-injunction bill now pending in Congress is intended to give license to the mob spirit so prevalent in labor troubles a spirit which should receive no legal status anywhere, much less in the South and yet this law is relic of Bry anism, whose last campaign was waged partly on the issue against Government by Injunc- tion." And what of the eight-hour law also sought to be enacted by Congress? This would destroy the efficiency of tha farm labor of the South, for with such A law prevailing in our towns and cities the negroes could not be kept on the farms nor any other class of labor for that mat ter, and it would fall with most disas- trous effect on all of our industries. Ths latter law is a foretaste of Hearstism which is the very worst ism that could be inflicted on us. More deadly \than inc yelInv neril in tbe East woSl6 ''Hai he the tIe
 
 yellow journal fastened on our Southern life These laws are dictated and being pressed by organized labor. while every independent manufacturer in the South Is opposing them. If you doubt this. appeal to those around you and see if this state ment is not correct.
 Now, which side should the press of the South take in this matter? Should they favor an irresponsible and un-American organization which is largely led by So- cialists and anarchists, and which con sorts with thugs, conspirators and crim- inals, or with the business men whose in- terests are the foundation of the South's progress and prosperity. and from whom their own living is principally derived? This is rather bluntly stated, but 1 lieve the facts warrant putting 1t that way. while the remedy against the pend ing menace lies in organization. It IS lime for those who know the true interests of the South and desire to protect them, to get together and stay together until TO one dares to attempt their injury.
 N. F. Thompson,
 Birmingham. Ala, April 1, 1904
 Funeral of A. V Rice