Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-13
URGE CLOSER
LABOR UNION
Speakers at Meeting Advocate
Tighter Organization of
Workers

Organization for the betterment of
the laborer, was the keynote of a
meeting held last night by the Cen
trail Labor Union, in the Chestnut
street auditorium. The meeting was
we'll attended. women forming part
of the audience.
Speakers at the meeting were
James Maurer, president of the State
Federation of Labor and representa-
tive in the Legislature from Berks
county; j. A. Ryan, secretary-treas-
urer of the State Council of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters; George
b. Rowand, chairman of the legis-
lative committee of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen: S. r. Tarner,
chairman of the legislative commit
tee of the Brotherhood of Railway
Conductors; A. ]. Sampel, member of
the International Molders' Union and
volunteer organizer of the A. #. of
L., and Teddy McHold organizer of
the International Brick, Tile and
Terracotta Workers.
The meeting was presided over by
President II. NJ. Brooks, of the Cen
trail Labor Union and in opening he
told of the conditions of organized
labor in this section and urged or
ganized workers to make greater
effort to enlist unorganized men in
their ranks.
James Maurer was the first speaker
and like President Brooks. he urged
a closer organization of labor and
told of its advantages. He also GEN.
sured union workmen for the manner
in which they treated organized Ia
bor and stated that the reason they
never advanced very far was because
they sat down and let some one else
do their thinking.
Praises Carpenters Union
]. A. Rowand, Philadelphia, fol-
lowed and in few we'll chosen words
told of the work which is now being
done for the improvement of condi-
tions by the labor unions throughout
the State and especially the carpen-
ters' union. He told of the various
trade movements which are under
way in the State for the purpose of
securing an eight-hour day for the
tradesmen. He praised the local car
penters' organization for the progress
it has made in bettering conditions
in this city, but stated that there is
still room for improvement. He paid
high tribute to the women present
and urged them to take more interest
in the work.
George b. Rowand opened his talk
by saying. II thoroughly believe in
organization and think and know
that it is the only salvation for the
working man to-day, both politically
and industrially." He censured the
labor men for not voting right tell
ing, them to vote for the man that
will vote for them and to cast all
party favorites aside. Vote for the
man alone when you go to the polls,
he said. He told of the advantages
of organization and of the progress
made by railroad employees through
organization.
West Better Organized
t., 1T To- or sol
at is remarkable the progress that
has been made by organized labor
when we think of the heavy burden
which it has to bear because of the
unorganized. Every time we advance
step we have to drag the unorgan.
lied man along and this impedes our
progress. We must stick to the task,
however, for we realize that in this
day we cannot advance far without
collective organization. Organization
is the keynote of progress and while
I do not Wish to uphold autocracy or
militarism, I think Germany has
shown the world what real organiza-
ton means"
Teddy McHold related the condi.
tions of organized labor in the vari-
Gus sections of the country and stat
ed that the West was far better or
ganized than the East. He finished
his address by urging better organi-
Zation and said, "I hope when the
time comes to see every working man
in the country standing back to back
fighting for the rights of his country
and to keep the American flag until
the end of the world"
To Issue Paper
Mr.. McHolds mission in this city
is to organize a paper for the inter-
ests of the laboring man. The issue
will be called the Harrisburg Labor
Advocate and it's motto will be, "a
Mission without a Muzzle." Accord
ing to Mr. McHold the project has
been endorsed by the Building and
Trades Council. 1t is the plan to
print the first edition of the new
paper on May 8, which is the opening
day of the State Federation of Labor
convention in this city.