Newspapers / The Charlotte Herald (Charlotte, … / May 30, 1924, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Charlotte Herald (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
'■ / • ■ . • % / - . * * ,v: * '■ * .?'■>-.•■ X' ? r* ; ' * - -' " •/■ V -' / Lengthy telegram to Chairman of Special Committee of Central Labor Union, thoroughly explains and outlines Gubettiatorial Candidates’ views on questiorl#$f interest to local workingmen and trades unionists >; A 4 The Text of the Reply is as Follows: QUESTION No. 1— Would you as Governor favor putting the affairs of the State upon a strictly bus iness basis, all departments being operated upon business principles, just as you would operate a railroad, a printing business, a cotton mill or a banking institution? , 7 ANSWER— Yes; if you read my original declaration and speeches you will see that I have been v stressing this point front the beginning. Number 2— Would you use your influence toward abolishing .the .practice of paying, political * . i: debts with appointments to" office regard- » less of any special fitness of the appointee? Answer-— > - Yes. ii:t *° ; Number 3— How’ would you view the enactment of a law which would prohibit tlie service of persons on special committees or commis sions created by a General Assembly* of which they are members? v Answer In principle I am opposed to appoihting persons on special committees or commis sions, created by the General Assembly of which they are members. I recognize the fact, however that there are cases in which peculiar knowledge or experience possess ed by a member of the General Assembly, upon some particular matter, might render it advisable to modify the general princi ple solely on account of the public wel fare. Number 4— - Which wpuld you consider most impor tant, the cutting off of all expenses not ab solutely necessary to the progress of the' State, or the seeking of new, sources of income through taxation? , Answer— - .In my judgment both methods should be applied. The strictest econonjy in the con duct of our-governmental affairs has been urged by me from' the beginning. It is a cardinal principle of my political creed. If upon the most careful scrutiny it is found that there are sources of revenue which are not bearing their just and fair propor tion of the burden of taxation, whether they are new* or old, there should be such a readjustment as is necessary to require such sources to contribute their just pro portion of the expenses necessary to the progress and welfare of the State. I heart ily approve of the pledge in this connec tion contained in the Democratic plat form. Number u— * » i *4 iQk i? £ Would you advocate an eight-hour work day in all the industries e^pffcrally the textile? . v -?>.£ Answer I favor the eight-hour work day where the employee is subjected to severe mental and physical strain. For example, railroad Service, but I do not believe we have yet reached the point in this state where it would be practicable or to the best inter ests of those concerned in maintainmg our industries on a sound and successfu^basis, including ..the employees themselves to ii# s apply the eight-hour law. tohall the indus tries of the State. Farming, textile and some other industries in the State would be seriously hampered by such a law. Our industries must compete in the markets of the world with like industries in other states, apd this must be taken into consid eration along With other facts and circum stances in determining w'hat is best for em ployer and employee, whose interests are so closely inter-related' that whatever wprks serious-'injury to the ond w|ll un doubtedly affect ^ie other. :\i( £ n f > ji h Number 6— Would you favor a law prohibiting the working of women and children more than eight hours a day? { Answer— The reasons given by me in answer to question. No. 5 above, are applicable to this question also. I share the opinion held by our peopl^ generallyrtbat special - consideration should be giy$||jf! wpmen and children wherever the same is prac ticable. The Democratic Party Jn North Carolina has gradually improved the work- * ing conditions and reduced the number of hours of labor in this State during which womenand children may boiDfequired to work has prohibited the worMpg of young or immature children. I believe that the policy of the I^em'ocratic Party will con- / tihue to be sound and humane and that it > may be trusted to gradually work out the , problem in the interest not only of the / workers themselves but in the interest of the Public Welfare generally. I shall lend my best efforts to this end. ; : . - . •' Number 7— ^ Would you favor a law-making it a punishable offense for an employer to dis charge an employee solely because of his jr membership in a labor union* or by threat or intimidation preevnt him from joining such an organization or rqfusaajto give va - person employment becauser|f s|lch «|ei|-! V bership. Answer— The principle of collective bargaining - by any group of persons whether they be laborers or others is now thoroughly recog nized by the Federal and all oiir State governments as well as by public opiniori. The Labor Union is a method of collective bargaining on the part of labor which has also been approved by our Federal and State Governments, provided the laws are not violated, in my opinion it is unwlise and unjust for an employer to commit the acts set out in this question solely because of union affiliation. If an employe properly performs his duty and acts within the law, his Onion affiliation should not prejudice him in any Way. Upon the hurried con sideration I have beeft able to give this * Vv /<--■ matter, I dodbt if it is practicable to enact a law that Would effectually remedy the w pyil mentioned in the question without working injury to employee. If upon full consideration, however, it should appear , ;that a law) can be enacted that will remedy the evil and at the same time be fair and afford full legal protection to the rights of both employer and eipplyee, I Would favor it. r Number 8— When State troops are called into ser vice to quell a local disturbance or protect private property, who, in your opinion, should bear the expense: the State, coun ty, city or firm or corporation asking pro tection ? Answer— State troops should not be called into service except to maintain law: ajjd order and to preserve the peace and dignity of the State and where the local authori ties are uftable to do so ,as now provided by law. When they are called into ser \ vice they should protect the rights arid property ef all citizens alike and they should be under no obligation to any party to the controvery or disturbance, but should represent the sovereignty of the State alone. To permit any group or interest, whether capital or labor to have any special inter ests in or control over the State troops when called into service would be a sur render of the sovereignty of the State, and contrary to all the dictates of public policy. For these reasons the State and the State - alone should^bear the expense. Number 9-— I)o you favor the furnishing of school books free to the children in the public schools? Answer— „ . ... -I favor this as soon as a wpy may be *£ H found t| finance the cost without imposing > -«*,•* afi ‘additional burden upon land and per sonal property where it is already too high' in many Of the counties in the State, and provided sdirtjfc plan can be devised • whereby the books furnished free may be protected from unnecessary damage- and destruction ■flfhile in the hands of the pupils. Number 1(X— Would you favor the establishment of a State-owned printing plant of sufficient size to satisfy the needs of the State for printed matter and to lmufufaeture the books used in the public schools? Answer— 11 would, provided ft ,1s found to be prac^ 4 tiCable and the work Cdn be done w,ith the same efficiency and economy that could be . obtained by contract With private con cerns, It is a serious question as to wheth er a State-oWJied. printing plant could man ufacture or print the. books used in the public schools for the reason that most if not all of these are copyrighted and the purchase of the copyright would either be ’ impossible or impracticable because of ex cessive cost. Number 11— HoW do you view; the practice of hiring oar State and eottflty eohVicts to work in competition with free labor? Answer:— I am1 opposed to it. I believe the con victs should be employed in public Work, * such as road construction. Number 12— We are extremely anxious for the adop tion of the Australian ballot system or some other equally effective method whereby every citizen may express his own choice for public officials Without let or hindrance. Do you agree with this senti ment? Answer— * I agree fully with the sentiment that every citizen should have the right to ex press his own choice for public officials without let or hindrance* I have no per sonal objection to the Australian ballot system,' but I do not believe that where it has been adopted it has worked w;ell in North Carolina. Our present election laws are conducive to fair and honest elections "and I know that they Jiave many of the most important elements of the Australian ballot system. I believe furth er that the question of election laws is largely a matter for the democratic party in its convention or legislature to decide and that it is not incumbent on the Demo cratic party to adopt every suggestion made by the Republican party in North Carolina in regard to the election system. A. w .mclean:
The Charlotte Herald (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 30, 1924, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75