The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-27
Only the Stroke of a Pen
Needed.
Continued from Page One)

country have become thoroughly or
ganized. The unions have therefore,
encountered in this Congress organ
lied resistance, where formerly it had
to contend merely against the individ-
ual efforts of it's enemies.
THE legislation proposed by labor
in this Congress has been as conser-
Vative as any of it's proposals in ear
lier years. 1t asked for an eight
hour law, and it's bill for this pur
pose is now considerably more mod
eerate than it was a year ago. Not
withstandng this and the fact that
two preceding Houses passed a less
conservative bill, the House Commit
tee on Labor, declined in this session
to even report the modified measure.
1t thereby indicates, SO far as eight
hour legislation is concerned, hostility
exists where previously there was
friendlineSS.
THE next most important bill pro-
posed by labor at this session was the
anti-injunction measure. Two prior
Houses adopted such a bill. This
House Will not even have the priVi-
lege of considering the bill this year,
because it is the intention of the jul
dietary committee not to report it.
In this respect the Judiciary Com
mittee shows a COnfOrmanCc to the
spirit that has dominated the House
Committee on Labor BY this course
on the part of these two committees.
the Senate will be absolved from the
obligation Of doing anything on the
bills. Recognizing this disposition on
the part Of the House, | endeavoreG
to secur" the adoption of an amend
ment to the naval appropriation bill
that would give an eight hour day
for work carried by the bill. This
ing that the majority of the House
sided with the Judiciary and Labor
committees. A similar amendment
proposed to the postoffice bill met the
same fate.
This record shows that labor has
been mora I'd yerSely treated by this
Congress than by the several proceed
ing Congresses, all of which gave con-
sideration to labor bills. The same
general intolerance has, within the
period of the life OF this Congress,
characterized the executive, so far as
it has dealt with the recommended
tons of organized labor. As a labor
representative, 7 have observed a gen
eral governmental policy adverse to
labor unions and unfriendly legisla-
ton asked by labor unions. The task
that now confronts the leaders of the
Democratic party is to bring home to
the masses of the people a clear con-
seriousness of what has been happen
ing here in this Congress. | am con-
WINGED that ii the multitude of voters
can be brought to understand how
they have been treated by the Fifty
eighth Congress they Will indicate
their displeasure, at the polls in a
very decided fashion.
Tributes by Webb and Thomas.
Among those who delivered euloges
to the dead members in the House
Sunday were MIR. Thomas and MI
Webb, OF North Carolina. The former
paid tribute to the memory of
Charles Winston Thompson, of Ala
bama, and the latter to William ".
Skies, OF Ohio. MIR. Webb and Mr..
Skies were felloW-members of the
Committee on Patents. In course Of
his remarks, Mr. Thomas said:
Not only were the ties of friend
ship between myself and Charles W.
Thompson strong, but the ties between
North Carolnians and Alabamaians,
between the State of North Carolina
and the State of Alabama, are espe-
cially strong and numerous. Many Of
Alabama'S citizens are of North Caro-
lima descent. Some of North Caro-
lina's citizens are of Alabama descent,
including distinguished representa-
lives from both States upon this floor.
The cities Of Alabama, some of them
bear the names of our North Carolina
cities. The names of Greensboro and
of New Bern, my home, are also the
names of Alabama cities.
'Since Alabama was admitted into
the Union in 1919, North Carolina has
largely to her population,
and Ala bama has hOnOred ma1V Of
North Cardinals sons. The distin-
guished William II. King, who was
born in the county of Sampson, in my
district, and who form
erly represented North Carolina in |
this House, afterwards represented !
Alabama in the United States Senate, |
and from that good State VAS sent as
minister to France. ami became vice !
president of the United States There !
are now residing in Alabama Tlanv |
distinguished citizens of Tar Heel |
ancestry; many who have removed to |
that State from my State. Such men |
as Judge Thomas Ruffin ROulhaC, !
United States district attorney, the !
Hon. H9nnis Taylor, minister to SrlIn |
under Mr.. Clcveland's administration, |
Il native of New Bern. \. g., and !
many other men eminent at the bar
and in public life. Mr.. Thompson |
himself bore the name of Winston" |
4 prominent North Carolina family, |
as wei IS of Alabama's beloved gov
arnor, John A. Winston. These facts
may account in part for my own at
achment to Alabama people and to
1er late Representative, whose mem
Dry we honor today"
FRED l.. MERRITT