The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-02-02

pie raised but $42.0O0,OOO for
the aid Of government in the
late war. We found many auto
Gratis on the other side. When labor
was called on the farmer threw aside
his pillow, the laborer his spade, the car
penter his apron. They little thought
how much monthly stipend they were
to receive. The same powers who
refused to assist our government are
to-day branding us as dangerous
classes. We don't say the world owes
us living, but we are here and the
world owes us all an opportunity to
earn q living. That is what we are
contending for in our organization.
Last year was prosperous one, yet we
found 100000 men in enforced idle
ness. We are seeking to find means
OF furnishing employment to these
men. The protectionist cries: PRO
lection to American labor In Penn
sylvania the mine owners are protected,
but what protection was given the
families evicted in the dead OF winter
in West Moreland county, Don't rely
on the politicians nor remain slaves to
party, Protection doesn't protect,
neither does free trade mean free
trade. Each is SO much pepper thrown
into the laborer's eyes.
An eastern corporation which inn
ported 1000 Hungarians at ~ apiece
told me $40 apiece would be given to
get rid of them, because, unlike the
home laborers, they drew guns when
they wanted more wages. don't
want to prohibit emigration. for my
parents were cmigrants, but l protest
against importing labor under contract.
To say that they must compete with
Italian and Hungarian laborers, is to
say that the American laborers must
surrender their civilization, homes,
children, honor and instincts of de-
cency. A living under such circum-
stances would not be worth the cost.
We would better surrender our lives.
(The speaker described scenes Of deg
radiation he had witnessed among
Hungarian and Italian laborers whom
he pitied as products of centuries oi
despotism and degradation). | would
welcome the Hungarians and Italians
il they came here to accept our civil.
zation and to become moral members
of society, but we will die rather than
have them come to us morally dead.
Education, our method, has accom-
plished much for labor. The labor
question is now discussed in pulpit,
press and legislature. The issue must
be met. Demagogues must retire and
the solution Of the question be sought
by the statesman. In our assembly
meetings the minds Of our member
are made active in economic subjects
We have not been instructed in the
school of impatience, but we can see :
speedy release from industrial slavery
We are not four weeks from the pool
house. The strike of '73 proved that
If we had our way we would convert
the poor houses into public schools
We ask justice, not charity, for If We
had justice we would not need charity
| We now have the assistance Of l
power which was until recently agains
us. Not Jay Gould but our own crimina
negligence is responsible for our pres
ent situation. Had we been active. in
telligent citizens, we would not hav,
allowed congress to give away millions
to corporations and when we do becom,
sufficiently intelligent we will elect nj
dishonest demOgagues nor corporation
tools to congress. We should be glat
that We live in America, not France
But our copper mines are owned b,
seven men and thus America is com
PEELED to pay tribute to those VIII
hate her. The iron mines are ais,
owned by a few who dishonesty &C
quired them. The salt product is like
wise applied to the benefit Of the sal
association. not to that of the peopl
Of America. It is 50 concerning tn
natural wealth of all Of our states
This natural wealth belongs to tn
people or the corporations. If to tn
latter then we have no right to com
j, plain, no matter what they choose t
do with it, or whether they choose no
to develop it at all. | believe the nat
ural wealth was placed in the bowel
of the earth for the benefit Of tn
people and many are coming to M
way of thinking. We are by natur
land animals. AL our necessaries ar
yielded by the earth and if we conced
that q few may control the natura
resources then we have no right t
complain If the few compel the re
mainder of US to starve / be
lieve the time will come, and er
long too, when Uncle Sam will devel01
these natural resources and give th
people the benefit of them ut cost
(Here Mr.. Barry referred at length +
the power and extortions Of the Goa
monopoly, comprising five corpora
tions). Call me socialist If you will
but believe the government shoul
take control Of the coal mines IN
operate them for the benefit of th
public. The public school idea, sal
Mr.. Barry, was originally denounce
socialism; also the postal system. ! be
lieve the government should contrc
the railroads, and here he recited on
of Jay Gould's dishonest exploits i
stocks and said nearly every judge j
the southwest was in heemploy Of ia
Gould. He then referred to Gould
failure to keep his promise to Powderl
to take back striking employees, whe
Powderly had declared the strike Of
Goulds purpose, said Mr.. Barry, wa
to keep Missouri Pacific stock fluctui
ting in order that he might load or ur
load and make millions out Of eac
fuctuation Of the market. He then d
scribed an attack by Pinkerton detet
tiyes on women, which he witnesse
during the strike in St. Louis; then t
similar murders.in Chicago and Ne,
Jersey and the failure of the court
to punish the murderers, while punist
ing strikers and boycotters rs cor
spirators.
He deplored strikes but realized ths
we are living in an age Of strikes
Workingmen, he said. don't strike ur
til you have to, then strike to win.
YOU gain q strike the EMPLOYERS WOul