The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-26

The editor of this department de-
sires to apologize to The Journals
readers for the absence of this feature
from last Sundays edition. The wri-
ter has been SO busily engaged as
member OF the union labor conference
committee which has been endeavor
tng to adjust the street car strike that
he has had no time to devote to his
numerous other duties. therefore, no
labor news last Sunday.
The street car strike has created a
great stir in political circles In the
city, county and state, and in some
Instances has changed completely the
complexion of races for minor offices.
Organized labor elsewhere in the state
has taken cogniZance of the unseen
~ haste " 1th.-vshieh, -tpoops-- usere- sentI
10 Pensaaola. and no matter where the
bfan1e Justly attaches, Governor bloW-
Ard will lose votes in his race Tor the
senate as a result.
James D. Wood, former president
of the Kentucky State Federation OF
Labor, and prominent in politics In
that state, was shot and killed in
street duel In Central City, KY, Tues
day night last. Mr.. Wood was
member of the city council, and de-
posed police officer, resenting the
councils action, engaged In quarrel
with Wood and his brother on the
street The shooting followed, partici-
pated in by several persons. Two
persons were injured and Wood in
stantly killed. Mr.. Woo was a per-
sonal friend of the writer, and no
truer friend to and champion of the
masses ever lived than plain Jim
Woods" as he was known to his
friends, and to every member of Dis
trict %, United Mine Workers, of
which organization he was for years
president He is survived by widow.
Much comment has been occasioned
by the refusal of twenty-five members
of the local police force to serve as
guards on the cars now manned by
Nrike-breakers. While OF course there
IS much to be- said on both sides of
this question, the union men of the
city uphold the patrolmen, feeling
that they were employed as guardians
of the public peace, and not as pri-
vate watchmen or guards; that they
corld not be charged with neglect OF
duty when riding street cars was
not known to be duty; and finally,
that any one, policeman or not, has
the right to quit any employment
when the duties 90 thereof become
onerous and distasteful
Much has been said during the pres
ent strike that should have been
left unsaid, and much done that
could well have been left undone. and
now, with peace and quiet reigning
IN the city, let us all remember that
Pensacola Is our city, and needs from
each of us other service than petty
personal chickering's and strife
Capital is the fruit of labor, and
could not exist II labor had not first
existed. Labor. therefore, deserves
much the higher consideration. -
Abraham Lincoln.
Il rejoice at every effort working
men make to organize. hail
the labor movement. 1t is my only
hope for democracy. Organize.
and stand together. Let the nation
hear a united demand from the labor
ing voice. Phillips.
The trade-unions are the reflects
OF organized, crystalliZed form of the
best thought, activity and hopes of
the wageworkers. They represent
the aggregate expression of discon-
tent of labor with existing economic,
social and political mis-rule The
trade-Irnions are exactly what the
wage-workers are, and can be made
exactly what they may please TO