HARBINGER
H
ORGANIZATION. EDUCATION, ELEVATION.
Vol. I.
Raleigh, N. C. Saturday, May 17. 1902.
No. 19
THE TOAST FOR LA BO It.
Here's to the man with horny hand,
Who tugs with the breathing bellows ;
Where anvils ring in every land,
He's loved by all good fellows.
And here's to him who goes to field,
And through the glebe is ploughing,
Or with 6tout arm the axe doth wield,
While ancient oaks are bowing.
Here's to the delver in the mine,
The sailors on the ocean,
With those of early craft and line,
Who work with pure devotion.
Our love for her toils iu gloom,
Where cranks and wheels are clanking ;
Bereft is she of nature's bloom,
Yet God in patience thanking
A curse for him who sneers at toil,
And shuns his share of labor,
The knave but robs his native soil,
While leaning on his neighbor.
Here may this truth be brought on earth,
Grow more and more in favor ;
There is no wealth but owes its worth
To handicraft and labor.
Then pledge the founders of our wealth
The builders of our Nation ;
We know their worth, and now their health
Drink we with acclamation.
THE STRENUOUS STRUGGLE OF
LABOR.
Despite that small fraction of our
people which always insiists that
things should be permitted to take
their course, and that all will turn out
right in the end, it is clearly the prac
tice in all phases of human life for peo
ple to be active participants in all the
affairs in which their interests are in
volved. The demand is becoming
more popular every day for active and
practical means to help in the solution
of the great problem of labor.
In truth, in this age of organization
and concentration of industry under
the direction of a few persons, the
really observing and thinking people
admit that the organization of the
wage-earners is essential if their wrongs
are to be righted, their interests pro
tected, and their progress made com
mensurate with civilization. .
Resistance to encroachments of the
.combined power of capital. is predicat
ed upon the organization of labor. To
day it is admitted by all educated and
honest men that the thorough organi
zation and federation of the enlire
wage-working class is a prerequisite to
peace, progress and the highest attain
ment of industrial and commercial suc
cess and human progress.
In a recent article article, the United
States Commissioner of Labor, Hon.
Carroll D. Wright, says :
"However men may' differ, not only as to
the propriety but the legality of labor organiza
tion, they recognize the great fact that labor is
organizing and that trade unions and similar
bodies, which virtually mean the consolidation
and. focusing of energy, are here as permanent
institutions and are growing more numerous
and more powerful as industrial development
goes on."
In line with modern thought, he ad
mits the contention of organized labor,
that it is a struggle for improvement,
and thus an aspiration, for struggle is
always an aspiration toward something
higher.
The awful industrial conditions by
which the workers were surrounded
when the modern trade unions came
into existence were enough to appall
and shock the student.
The progress made; the ameliora
tion in industrial conditions ; the in
creased safety of life and limb; the
better sanitation in workshops and fac
tories ; theMightening of the burdens
of labor ; the more liberal attitude of
the law toward combinations of the
workers ; the more enlightened public
sentiment ; are all tributes to the po
tency and efficiency of the trade union
movement. - -
In our day it is idle for any one to
entertain the belief that the workers
can individually be successful in secur
ing redress of wrongs or the attain
ment of rights against the combina
tions of capital. By the combination
of the toilers men not only maintained
what had already been secured, but
make continued progress in the allevi
ation of the wrongs to which the work
ers are subjected, and achieve contin
ued improvements, in the form of
higher wages, shorter hours, and im
proved conditions under which labor
is performed.
Organization of the working people
is an indispensable preliminary to any
successful attempt to eliminate the
evils of which the working classes so
bitterly and justly complain.
A thorough federated effort, the com
bined action of all the unions exerted
in favor of each must of necessity prove
more efficient than the action of any
one isolated organization, and this, too,
no matter how powerful it may be
From the inception of the American
Federation of Labor, it has insisted
that while unions of divers trades and
callings must be left entirely free to
govern themselves, yet a bond of fra
ternity must be established not only
between the members of the same
union, but also a bond between the
members of different unions. It has
labored lo strengthen that bond by or
ganization, so as to place the entire
labor movement upon a higher, more
effective and humane plane.
Beneath the surface of the labor
movement, in its practical effort there
is a deep conviction from which springs
the declaration that the interests of all
the workers are identical, regardless of
their trade, calling, or any section of
the country in which they are located.
The strength of a chain is in its weak
est link, and it is the aim of our move
ment to firt establish the chain of
unity throughout the enlire domain of
our country, and then to strengthen its
weakest link to be helpful wherever
possible ; so that the entire wage-earning
class 'may 'make the most sfeady
and rapid progress possible.
No movement for the protection or
the betterment of the masses of the
people in the world's history has had
unrestricted progress. Ignorance, blind
selfishness, the short-sightedness of
those who would hazard the happiness
of the future for mere momentary ad
vantage, have interposed ; but despite
these, when arty cause is founded upon
justice and right, as is the movement
of the American trade uivons, under
the banner of the American Federation
af Labor, it is bound to triumph.
At no time in the history of the
world was it more essential than to-day
for the toiling masses of our country,
irrespective of occupation or location,
to unite and federate in fact and in
spirit.
Our movement devotes its energies
to the uplifting of the wage-earning
class, and brings with it a more right
eous and humane consideration for the
rights and the progress of all our peo
ple. ; V '
To eliminate the piejudices of class
and creed ; to uproot ignorance by fos
tering the education of all ; to increase
manhood and independence ; to secure
more leisure by shortening the work
day ; to improve the home and sur
roundings ; tp increase fraternity, and
lighten the burdens and ease the toil
of all ; to make life better worth liv
ingare some of the purposes for
which the labor movement of our time
stands.
It is most gratifying to record the
vast increase in numbers, strength and
influence and effectiveness of the trade
union movement in recent years. It
is a satisfaction to find the prejudices
against our movement being dispelled
by those who cannot properly be class
ed as wage-earners, while we are earn
ing, as we deserve, the confidence of
all- : V
It is our fervent hope, as well as our
abiding faith, that the yet unorgan
ized wage-earners will join with their
brothers in toil in organizing more
thoroughly than ever, and standing
abreast on the broad platform of the
American Federation of Labor, with
the rights of the workers, emancipa
tion and a higher humanity- as their
ultimate goal. Federationist.
An Observer's Notes.
The thoughtful trades unionist sees
a greater menace to paternal unionism
than the unorganized class, and a men
ace, too, that can only be combatted
when, at a critical moment, it asserts
itself, i. e., the man who uses language
somewhat as the following : "I'm for
No. i. What do I care who's out of a
job? If I can get it, I'm going to do
it." It is but a temporary job to tide
over an expected dull season this man
gets it, to the exclusion of another who
has not been employed for some
months, and knowing he can go back
to his regular job. A man with this
principle or no principle is a dan
gerous factor in case of trouble. Only
physical cowardice will prevent him
from forming a nucleus around which
will rally men of like principle or the
uorganized. All trade unions have one
or more of this dangerous class.
In this day of rapid invention, few
recognize the danger to labor, or the
laboring man, rather that lies hidden
in the future. The trend of inventive
genius seems to be in the direction of
labor-saving machinery, or the im
provement and increase or its product
producing power, and with this rapid
improvement, and the invention of
other machinery, we already see the
enormous increase . of production, at,
too, a lessened cost to the manufactu
rer, with no adequate increase, or no
increase, of compensation to the em
ployed. If this increase of producing
power should go on (and it will), it
goes without saying that the day will
come when the Man will be but an
inconsiderable factor in production,
while the Machine, guided by the hand
and brain of one man, will produce as
much, or more, in a given time than 50
100 'men. Are we approaching the
day when machinery will so supplant
the laborer, thft it will be said there
is, practically, no labor? If so, that
will be the day of revolution, and a re
adjustment of economic conditions.
''There is much said among labor
agitators about the employment of
child labor in factories," said a gentle
man in our hearing a few days ago ;
''but don't you know it is best for them
under present conditions ?" It may be
beet for them under present conditions,
but the conditions are not those that
the child can help. He is either the
victim of the cupidity, or the laziness
of parents, or the avariciousness of em
ployers. We confess that employment
in a mill is better than that the child
should be turned loose on the streets,
and from that aspect of the case it is
the duty of the State to provide schools
and make attendance compulsory. It
is likewise within the province of the
State to punish a trifling father for
placing his children in a factory to
support him in his laziness and drunk
enness, on a charge of vagrancy
and to make it, in addition, a misde
meanor not to send his children to
school, a school being provided ; and
also to punish an employer for hiring
children, who, in many cases, do the
work of an adult person at a child's
wages. We sincerely hope our next
Legislature will not be hoodwinked by
mill-owners, as was the last one. Much
could be said along this line, and it is
to be hoped that much will be said
during the next campaigu, particu
larly by labor organizations.
Charlie Simmons Shops.
Rattlesnaik Bend, N. C. j
Mr Editur: My darter Elvinai
wus married last weak an' I had ter (
cum in town, me and Sophy ter do
sum shoppin' and git mi beever made
over fur the ockasion, so I minded 'hat .
you wanted me ter say "I saw it in
Ther Harbinger" so I acted accor
din'. I fust went ter see Mr. Dan
Harris, ov the great Steam Dye Works,
ter get him ter make mi beaver over
fur ine an' sorter shape it up, you no.
I went in an' asked ter see Mr. Harris.
Ther Wurks wus shutdown, an' Mr. '
Harris wus er playin' ther pianny ter
beat the ban'. I asked him ef this wus
Harris' great Steam Dye Wurks I had
red so much erbout, an' he stopped
play iu' and looked me squar in the
face an' sed :
"It is ; but we had er fire last nite
an' I had to muve out all ther mashee
nery. The big Carless enjuu got dam
aged, and Mr. Allin and Kram now
has it in soke, er tryin' to git ther
drum hed in. or ter git the guvuer on
good turms with ther guvner ov South
Caraliny an' our guvner that got
twisted. I hope-I-may-die-ef-it ain't so.
Sumthin' I kin do fur you?"
I ouwrapped mi beever an' showed
it ter him, and he sed he could fix it
up in reg'lar weddin' style bi ther time
I wanted ter go out. I wus much
pleased, cos Sophy sed a? how I could
n't git it fixed. I told him I "Saw it
it in Ther Harbinger."
"Yes er-er, Wicker hope-I-may-die-ef-he-ain't
er nice feller does all
ther wurk fur the Dye Works you
woiCt know yer hat further sahn when
you call fur it $1.50."
I next went ter see Mr. Kohn, cor
ner Wilmington and Exchange Place.
I met Mr. Kohn.
"Valk rhite in ; you vos at der rhite
plase. You vos koom py those milk
train, ain't it?"
"I saw it in Ther Harbinger,"
said I.
"Der debbel yer did ! Dose vose
shust where I vos put 'im. Dot feller
Vickers vos the goot friendt of mine
alrheady. He vos py so much from
me as vot you newer see him. Eh ?
I sells you some bhoots so goot as
dey newer last always py der town
clock."
I told him ther last boots I bought
in ther city kum all ter peeces.
"Eh? Who sell 'em ter yer? Did
yer valk in dose bhoots ?"
I told him I did.
"Ten, they vos cavalry bhoots, an'
not made ter walk in. Pesides, you
vos by dose bhoots from er union klerk,
don't it?"
I then bought a good suit of clothes
from him for $ 14.78, an' went ter see
ther Heartt-Warde Company to get
one of them thar Self-Freezers.
kalled fur Mr. Applewhite, but he wus
killin' rats in ther back yard an' Kur-
nel Grayham Haywood waited on me,
I told him "I saw it in Ther Har
binger."
"Right you are, Charlie. If you
saw it in The Harbinger it is all
O. K., cos Wicker iz er membur ov
ther White Stone Society, an' what he
savs iz White Here vou are. Put
your ice right here, so an' close down
ther lid jo an' the liquid air gener
ated by ther contact with the palsum,
eround which ther ice freezes with
out any work an' yer havejyer kream
jts lak er flicker" (and Kernel ketched
me an affectionate lick with ther flat
side of er saw just below ther waist
band on the north side.)
Kurnel Haywood alwus was humor
ous even goin' to extremis. I got
ther freezer an' went back ter see er
about mi hat. I 'an said all his hat
shapes got burnt in ther fire, an' he had
dug a hole in ther ground an' put mi
beever in it an' put in a round log of
wood an' packed ther dirt erround it
so as to "shape it up." The wet dirt
lad so much ashes in it the hare all
cum off, he had cutther hat down er
bout 4 inchas, an' he put black krape
all erraund it ter hide ther white where
the hare had kum off.
"By ther great Blackstone ! Mister
Harris, you have ruined mi hat, sed I."
"No-no-no-er-yer see, it iz ther very
latest Paris style. Hope-er-ma-die-ef
ii ain t," sed the great Daniel.
No more from
your friend till deth,
Charlie Simmons.
"WILL GET THE MOST BUSINESS.
After you begin advertising many a
man will go home from your store with
things that he might have purchased
elswhere had it not been for your ad.
People are buying goods every day.
If you are not inviting them to buy of
you you cannot blame them if you do
not get their trade. Talk to them
through their favorite newspaper tell
them the live interesting news of your
store and they will come to you to buy
their goods. The advertiser who keeps
his business prominently before people
and asks persistently and often for
their trade is the one who will p-et the
most business. Charlotte Neivs.
WU ALL KNOW HIM.
Here is the very latest taken from
one of our North Carolina exchanges
which lays bare the heart of the av
erage editor the world over: "How
dear to my heart is the steady subscriber
who pays in advance at the birth of
each year; who lays down his money
and does it quite gladly, and casts
around the office a halo of cheer. He
never says stop jt, I can't afford it,
nor I'm getting more papers now than
I can read; but always says send it, the
family likes it in fact we all think
it a real household need. How wel
come he is when he steps in the sanc
tum, how he makes our heart throb,
how he makes us dance ! We out
wardly thank him, we inwardly bless
him, the steady subscriber who pays
in advance."
Three things every workingman
should do : Join his union, pay his
dues and educate himself economically
and politically.
The unionizing of the New York
Sun and the National Cash Register is
another evidence of the growing power
of organized labor.
A new shoe factory is to be built
at Mount Holly, N.J.
This country imported nearly 100,
000,000 goat skins last year.
The Chinese are wearing a few
rubber shoes. This nation exported
1,634 pairs last year.
There is a class of trade-unionists
who would rather fight than eat, and
they are successful in securing that
which they seek, iviz. : plenty of fight
and little to eat.