Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-02-09
UNDERSTOOD EACH OTHER

Tlae merchants of Pine Bluff ana the laboring men are g3ttlng closef and closer together every day TOT their own common good and for the al good of the ty and it's peo" ple. This was evidenced at me2t- ing held at the Chamber of com, merce rooms Friday night, at which the reduction in working force at the Cotton Belt shops was discussed Win a view to bringing about better con- ditions there and to enable the work
 ng man to have permanent employ ment and enjoy the real -ruits of hls labor.
 Among the Cotton Belt employees here are some of the most substantial citizens of Arkansas. They are hard wo, king, honest, progressive splrltea. men-men of families and men wh take an interest and pride in the growth and development of their city county and state. It is indeed un- fortunate that the Cotton Belt ha seen fit to deprive many of thesS good citizens of work, of desire tt earn an honest living for themselves and their families. They have been released without being given any Tea ison for the "lay-off" and thout being told when they might expect to be call cd back to their benches. With these conditions confronting them the la boring men are to be .Sympath zee with and the merchants realizing that their idleness will result ill : decreasa, in bus ness in this city 'lave interested themselves in no only their own behalf, but 70 aid the men Who make business for them ant
 whose permanent employment mean' so much to the city.
 w. B. Hicks, of the Central Trades Council, in a speech at tine mcetin;
 eXpres sed his pleasure at the intere-
 manifested by the business men il
 he case of the d scharged employee
 of the shops. He said thst tle Ia boring man wants 10 cooperate wit the business man at ali timo; for mu l tual benefits and that many prob lens could be solve,l and many mis
 unders landings between them avoide 1 if they came :ogetder and thorough
 understood each other.
 President E. c. Arnold, of the Re | ail Merchants, cXrressed the m
 sentiments. He said that the retai | merchants and the Wholesalers a | well were ready and will ng at al 1 times to champion the cause of tn
 laboring men, whenever their inter | ests were at stake and their oaus
 was a worthy one. He invited tn laborlng men to cooperate with tht business men and felt tl.at mucl good can result from bo,h sides b,
 getting together" oftcner.
 There ought never be misunder standings between the bus ness mel and tae laboring men of Pine Bluff There has always existed the friend | Hest feeling for the laboring man Q, | the part of the merchants and tha feeling hes always been exhibited o'
 the psrt of the employees of the Cot | ton Belt towards the loca! merchants | The Graphic wants to see tho labor ing men in every movement that re 1 dounds to p3e good Of this community | TAey can work together rarmon ouslA
 and their benefits can be made nut
 ual and be Instrumental in bringin:
 about a closer relationship in public
 matters as well as in business af l fairs.
 | The Chamber of Commerce invited .lhe laborlES men to make use of the
 room: at any time as meeting plact
 and to always make themselves "a aome' there. This is the spirit tha
 ,hould prevail