The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-03-05

laws by the Southern States to op-
press Iabor, while the statute eooss
Of The Northern States are foil oil
laws for the protection add eieva-
ton or labor.
I believe that the man or womsn
Who has skill and muscle win tne
desire 10 employ and Utilize III
should have the same protection nn-
der the saws ss the dollar In the
ysult of the banker. and that THIS
labor should be by Law recognized
a. q part of the capital Of the coun-
try with equal protection /
lam further Of the opinion tnat
the time has about arrived when the
200. 900 men and women whose iaooF
10 contributing so much 10 the
wealth and prosperity Of the Stale,
will demsud this recognition and
and protection Ia such manner
that will not only be q demand but
will secure this needed legislation,
not only to protect them In their
| rights ss laborers but to make labor
creditable and attach a stigma upon
idleness.
When this is done the demand Tor
Immigration to our State will cease,
and the supply of laborers VIII De
ample
AS I told you, am opposed 10
encouraging immigration under pres
ent conditions. But this needed leg
islation will not be made by those
" no In the past have 30 stnbbornly
avoided the enactment of such laws,
for I am of the opinion that for
many years a systematic effort has
been made to detract the attention
of the iaboring class from this
subject.
some time ago I was discussing
this question with friend who sug-
eested that these ideas would 30
increase the price of labor that 1t
would demoralize the farmers OF
the country. To this replied that
three fourtns of the farm products
in this State are produced by the
labor of the farmer and his family.
and therefore to increase the price of
labor increases the price of three
fnurths of this class Of labor; that
if farm labor was worth but %
cents per day then the farmers labor
would be worth no more, while il
this is aaised to 81 IS per day then
every days work performed by the
farmer or his family is worth Just
that amount.
You may rest assured that the
laborirg people t" organize for their
mutual prot. c'ion and elevation and
with a view to secure legislation to
that end-and at the same time
would favor the enactment of laws
for the protection Of the employer
> against thOee who through laWlt g.
ness would interfere with his rights
Laboring people have right tc
organize as all other classes are
doing; they have right to come
to common understanding for the
;. protection and elevation Of their
condition, and they owe it to them
selves TO do so; but while they are
organizing they should keep IN mind
that the progress and prosperity OF
the country depends upon harmo-
NOUS relations between labor and
capital and the recognition on the
part of each for the rights Of the
other, for they are absolutely de-
pendent on each other and upon q
,, just and proper recognition of each
others rights. A man has right to
say that he will not work for an
other, but he has no right to pre-
vent by force another from taking
the place he has given up The law
should give each class ample protec
ton based upon equity and justice
to all with every mans rights recog
nized. We will then have agencies
that will make eur State the garden
spot Of this country.
Yours truly,
A. E. HOLTON.