THE HARBINGER.
The Harbinger.
Official Organ Central Labor Union
A Paper for the Toiling Mnses.
PlBLISHtl) KVKRY SATIKOAV BV
WICKKIi V MciOWAX.
R. L. WICKER Editor.
W. E. FAISON Associate Editor.
E. J. WICKER. Correspondent, Richmond, Va.
P. W. McGOWAN, . . . Business Manager.
Office : "Christian Advocate" Builidng, 3d Floor.
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office
at Raleigh, X. C.
POSTOFFICE BOX 167.
SUBSCRIPTION 1
One year (in advance) $1.00
Six months 50
Three months, 25
Correspondence relating to the good of organ
ized labor, economic subjects, and general
oews from the labor world solicited. We
will not oublish communications attacking the
private character of any person, and parties
writing tor puDiicanon niusi sign ineir true
names, or furnish them as a guarantee of good
faith. Fictitious names carry no weight, and
if the author is ashamed of his article, it is bnt
natural that we should agree with him.
lUNIUINf
LABEL
I would as soon think of doing business with
out clerks as without advertising.
John Wanamaker.
Nothing, except the mint, can make money
without advertising.
GLADSTONE.
When you pay more for the rent of your
business house than you do for advertising your
business, you are pursuing a false policy. If
you can do business, let it be known.
THE HARBINGER.
We have quite a number of letters
from preachers, lawyers, doctors, states
men, politicians, prominent educators,
and labor leaders in city and State,
praising The Harbinger and com
mending its mession. We had a prom
inent educator to tell us on the street
one day this week that such a paper
rrK TT . 1 1tJ i.
aS lilK JlAKBliMiCK Wilt (JctlCinaiCU LU
do more for the laboring element than
any other paper in the State, and that
he thought it the plain duty of every
workingman in North Carolina to sub
scribe to and encourage it. We do
not claim that the paper is conducted
with any marked ability, but we do
claim that what little influence the
paper may ever be able to exert, will
be used for good, and the uplifting of
our laboring brothers. We claim to
know some of the needs of our peo
ple, and we intend to do all we can to
advance their interests ; and if they
will stand by us, we can enlist the in
terest of such men and women in
North Carolina as are both able and
willing to assist us in any worthy ob
ject. There is much needed by our
laboring friends, and if they do not
organize, and learn the best methods
of advancing their own interests, they
need not look or hope for aid from the
outside. It is a true saying, that if
we wish anything done, and done well,
we must do it ourselves. No one cares
to pick up a man who does not try to
stand ; but if he will only stand and
be true to himself and his friends, he
can always count upon assistance.
Then let us cleave to each other,
and encourage one another, and above
all, be true to our friends. If a man
is so low as not to stand by his friends,
he has no principle or manhood left
in him, and therefore has nothing to
build upon, and is lost.
The Harbinger is eight weeks old
to-day, and ' we claim that . we can
already stand alone, but with such aid
i from our friends as we have a right to
reasonably expect, it will be in our
power to do more and better service
for the cause of labor in the South.
r;i Barmaids will not be employed m
Calcutta saloons after April, 1. . -
The Brotherhood of Carpenters and
joiners has nearly 10,000 members.'
stbaKcc
rni iMni
REMARKABLE RECORD.
The Harbinger is notinthe '.'puff
ing" busincs, but when one of our
mechanics, laborers or artisans cau and
does excel in his line, we are proud
of him, and we wish to let the public
know it. It is part of our mission to
encourage proficiency in every line of
of work. Mr. Fred J Terry, formerly
of Charlotte, N. C, but who has been
with Messrs. Edwards & Broughton,
of this city, for the past year, has, dur
ing his employ with the above-named
firm, won for himself and for our city
what is unquestionably the best Lino
otype brevier record yet brought to
light. While engaged in setting the
laws enacted by our last General As
sembly Mr. Terry set 10,000 ems above
any known record in brevier, the high
est known record being 55,000 ems in
nine hours. Mr. Terry set 65,000 ems
of solid brevier in nine hours, which
places him far in the lead. Of course
there are records in nonpariel which
exceeds this, but all operators will
readily understand the great advant
age one would have in setting nonpa
riel over that of brevier. The accu
racy of proof-sheet is also a remarka
ble feature of Mr. Terry's record
The following is a letter received
from the Mercanthaler Linotype Com
pany, of New York :
Fred. J. Terry, Raleigh, N. C
Dkar Sir : Respecting your record of 65,
000 ems of brevier in nine hours, we would say,
it is an admirable one, and shows you to be a
master of the Linotype. Eleven thousand ems
per .hour has been reached in nonpariel by one
operator in a competitive test ; but of course
nonpariel is a very much easier face to set and
gives the operator a greater advantage over one
setting brevier. Your record is certainly a re
markable one, and I do not know of any which
exceeds it.
Yours truly, P. T. Dodge,
President Mercanthaler Linotype Co
Mr. Terry is not only an expert ope
rator, but a sober, strictly reliable
union man, who is not satisfied unless
he can stand at the top, and this is
what every union man should strive
for.
GROWLERS.
We have never hated anybody, and
hope we never shall, but there are
many people we do not care to meet
they chill us through for a whole day,
or tintil some kind and jovial friend
cheers us by a beaming smile and a
pleasant, hopeful word. We start up
street happy and hopeful. We meet a
friend.
" Good morning. Hope you are
well."
"No, sir; (and he rests partially
against the fence and heaves a long
drawn sigh) "to tell you the truth,
I never was worse off in my lifeu.it is
only the grace of God that sustains
me. I have a terrible cold ; old lady
is down with her back again; John
run off from home yesterday ; the
house-rent is due ; havn't done a lick
of - work in three weeks, and this
blasted weather has brought my rheu
matism back again; baby had the
croup again last night liked to have
died reckon it would have been a
good thing if it had, and gone on to
heaven, where I'm trying to go my
self. Ain't got no tobacco 'bout your
old clothes, now, have you?",
Yes, we have that tobacco, and we
would give that fellow almost any
thing in reason not , to meet us again
for a year. Such people are dead sure
nuisances, and no mistake; and while
we know it it is nothing but habit, no
Christian man or woman can be a
1 .
growler.
Philadelphia labor men will nomi
nate a full ticket for the February elec
tion.
Hospitals are being erected in Penn
sylvania coal mines as ordered by. the
legislature. " ' : s : .
ORGANIZE AT ONCE.
Bro. W. H. Singleton, of. the Book
binders' Union, has been duly ap
pointed local organizer and is now
ready to "put the thing" on all com
ers. Then toilers, organize. Let us
carry on the good work, and in a few
more revolutions of the earth upon its
axis we shall have a better world a
better mankind. Waiting will not
accomplish it; deferring till another
time will not secure it. Now is the
time for the workers of America to
come to the standard of their unions
and to organize as thoroughly, com
pletely and compactly as is possible.
Let each worker bear in mind the
words of Longfellow :
"In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife ! "
Editorial Notes.
We print again in this issue an arti
cle from the pen of Mr. H. E. Burnett,
of Richmond, Va. Mr. Burnett knows
the needs of the laboring people, and
is intensely earnest in all he says.
While Mr. Bnrnett is yet quite a young
man in years, he is foreman of one of the
largest printing establishments in Rich
mond, and can manage more men with
less friction than any foreman we ever
worked under. We are not looking
for a job, Harry.
The sentiment of organized labor,
as voiced by Samuel Gompers, is
against the new Department of Com
merce and Labor. The objection is
to combining the Labor Bureau with
a department which is likely to over
shadow it. Organized labor has long
desired to be represented in the cabi
net, but they fear that the Secretary of
Commerce will represent commerce
more than labor. Meantime the bu
reau they already have will be swal
lowed up and absorbed.
There will be a joint meeting
Monday night, March 3, at 7 : 30
p. m., of the different labor organiza
tions of the city in Odd Fellows' Hall.
A working card will admit any mem
ber of the different labor orders. It
is earnestly desired that there will be
a large attendance. There will be
short addresses by quite a number, and
it is hoped and expected that much
good to organized labor may result
from this meeting. This occasion will
be graced by the presence of the lady
bookbinders in full force, and this,
if nothing else, should induce every
brother to be present.
The appointment of Prof. J. Y. Joy
ner, of the State Normal College, to
the position of Superintendent of Pub
lic Instruction for the State, appears
to be giving universal satisfaction, and
The Harbinger is glad that such a
man as Prof. Joyner could be prevailed
upon to make a personal sacrifice for
the cause of education, for his former
position in the State Normal was a
much better position, looked at from a
pecuniary point of view. But Prof.
Joyner is one cf those few men who
are willing to sacrifice personal aggran
disement to the good of a loved and
popular cause, and we feel that the
State and the cause of education should
not only feel grateful to Prof. Joyner,
but proud that we have such men.
Now that the Auditorium Com
mittee has bought the Academy of
Music (which will be remodeled into
an Auditorium), let the Durham Her
ald and other North Carolina village
papers f 'chain tip ; their dogsr." Ral
eigh intends to have an Auditorium
capable of seating 2,500 people..; It
will also be used ' for- theatrical pur
poses and will be the .finest hall in the '
State for seating large assemblies. No
doubt the inuendoes of- certain State
papers flung at Raleigh anent the build
ing of an auditorium did much toward
the-consummation of the devoutly-to-1
be-wished-for action which the Audi-:
toriuni Committee has taken. Now
let all those who have subscribed for
stock come up and pay for the amount ,
taken and thereby cause Raleigh to
become the owner of the finest theatre
auditorium in the State.
Bro. W. O. Smith, the efficient1
Financial Secretary of Raleigh Typo J
graphical Union, No. 54, says he is not ,
a betting man, but he will race his ,
celebrated nag, "Mayflower," against
any well-regulated time-piece. He left
his place of business, corner of Har
gett and Salisbury streets, at 6 p m.,
sharp. "Mayflower" shied slightly at
three passing street cars, but he landed
Mr. Smith on the stoop of his country
residence, "The Pines," 1 y2 miles just
west of the city, at 6.02 Mr. Smith
is very much like the late Robert Bon
ner, of the New York Ledger. He
dotes on fine horse-flesh, but cannot be
induced to bet. This excellent ani
mal, we are told, was formerly the prop
erty of Mr. Daniel Webster Columbus
Harris, of the more than celebrated
Harris' Steam Dye Works, of this
city. Mr. Harris regretted very much
to part with the animal, but he is one
of those gentlemen who never allows
feeling or sentiment to take prece
dence in a matter of business.
Labor Notes.
The Order of Railway Employes in
Virginia has given notice that its sev
eral thousand members will go into
politics hereafter. The order' asked
the Virginia Legislature to pass an
Employers' Liability Bill, and that
body failed to do so, after the leaders
had made fair promises, and this has
aroused the members of the order.
You do not need to join a Union,
eh ? Yet, the doctor, lawyer, the
banker, the manufacturer, the business
of high and low degree, all find it nec
essary to get together for mutual ad
vantage. Why, Rockefeller, the Van
derbilts, the Goulds, and such like,
find it beneficial to get together. Yet,
there are workingmen to whom organ
ization is most necessary who "do not
need to join a Union !"
One of the most welcome signs of
the times is the growth of - the frater
nal spirit among trade unionists. Deal
ers in hats, clothing, shoes, and cigars
in and around greater New York are
making greater efforts than ever before
to supply their patrons with goods that
bear the union label, while the concern
that deal exclusively in union-made
goods were never so prosperous as they
are to-day.
The Indiana supreme court, in affirm
ing a lower court judgment, held that
an employer cannot, by any contract
he may make with his workmen, re
lieve himself from duties and liabilities
which the law expressly imposes on
him. The decision was rendered in a
miner's suit for damages on account of
injury. The Amalgamated Associa
tion of Steel workers has ceased to pay
benefits to the men thrown idle through
the steel workers' strike.
That which makes trade unions
strong, is an ibedience to correct prin
ciples, an abiding faith, in the justness
of our cause and unlimited, confidence
in the ability of our Union to finally
solve the, problems of labor. - These
qualities, coupled .-with a kindly and
tolerant opinion of each, other, are the
levers that uplift the masses, destroy
ing the ' powers of greed, dispelling
ignorance - and prejudice and rapidly
leveling the barriers in labor's road to
a better social and industrial state.
Motormen and conductors of the
Metropolitan Railroad, of Chicago, on
and after March 1, will receive an ad
vance of 2 i cents per hour. This
will affect more than 200 men. The
advance was agreed upon last week,
the management having made it vol
untarily.
The Hercules Gas Engine Company,
of San Francisco, agreed to give its
employes the nine-hour day and an in
crease of wages ranging from 7 l2 to 13
per cent. The corporation also agreed
to pay the union price for overtime
time and one-half for night work and
double time for Sundays and holidays.
Five thousand employes' of the Illi
nois Central Railroad, including prac
tically every conductor, brakeman,
switchman and yardman, except those
in the far south, will receive an in
crease. This was decided on at a con
ference in Chicago between the officers
of the road and representatives of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
The McKenna Bros. Brass Company,
of Pittsburg, has adopted a resolution
whereby 10 per cent of the net profits
of the concern will be divided among
the employes remaining on the payroll
at the end of the year. The division
is to be made on the basis of the wages
earned by each. If the plan proves
successful it will be continued. The
men affected are as a rule skilled
workmen, and their salaries range
from $18 to $25 per week. The Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen of the
Big Four system has had acommit
tee in conference upon a wage sched
ule, which was presented to General
Superintendent Van Winkle, in Indian
apolis. The men want a restoration
of the 10 per cent, cut of several years
ago. They have been given half the
increase, and now they ask the full res
toration. The raise, if granted, will
give the brakemen $2 a hundred
miles and the conductors $3 a hundred
miles. .
His Children and Their Children .
We confess in advance that this is
"yellow journalism."
In many mills in the South, in many
of the North, tens of thousands of chil
dren work away their lives for a pit
tance which is supposed to keep their
lives going.
The parents ai-e often working in
the mill where their children are being
slowly worked to death or into a
stunted condition of mind and body
that is. worse than death.
A man owns that mill, and the dol
lars that go into his pocket come out
of the bodies of those children. That
man leaves his house late in the morn
ing because he enjoys an hour with his
children. He gets to business, and
their children are at work at the mill
and have been at work for a long time.
The man who works the children to
death goes home early because he likes
to have an hour with his children be
fore bedtime. And while his children
go to meet him at the ' station, their
children are still in the mill at work,
breathing the bad air, mixed with dust
and lint. His children are put in bed
and he looks at them proudly ; their
faces are plump and pink. From his
mill at that hour there issues a string
of children with faces as white as the
sheet on his child's bed.
To mention such things, as this is
"yellow journalism." ' The description,
besides being yellow, is true.'-;
Only" public opinion can discourage
this brutality. Heart's Chicago Amer
ican. ;-.. .:v.-.r. .. ; , .