The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-01
LABOR DAYS INFLUENCE.
LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT TALK
OF ITS MANY NEW FEATURES.
VIII Be q National Protest-SOver-
cfrn. EIcBridr, GOmpers and Debs
50 Term the Coming Holiday TO BE
HrIh In senfem her.

lCopyrlght)
New York. Aug. 5l.-Labor day this
year is 10 be celebrated under sOmewha
unusual circumstances. 1t comes on
Sept. in most Of the states. although
Pennsvlvania does not celebrate it until
Saturday. Sept Z. Most Of the unions
have arranged to make the day one Of
protest against the Incarceration Of Eu-
gene Y. Debs. To this end the Trades
and Labor Assembly, and the Central
Labor Confederation in Chicago have
arranged a monster parade in that city.
PHILADELPHIA will also have a very elab-
crate procession, the Carpenters and
Joiners' Union being the prime mover
in the affair. New York's celebration
viii not be so imposing as that OF some
other cities, owing TO the removal Of
labor's national headquarters from the
metropolis. The other leading cities Of
the country will have the customary pa
rades.
Anyone who has opportunities Of get
ting at the real opinions Of the principal
labor leaders Of the country must be
impressed by their change of thought
in the matter of industrial problems.
There seems TO prevail an impression
that q new era has been ushered in, and
that the old methods must be discarded.
Labor day this year" said James
r Sovereign, when asked about this,
will certainly usher in new epoch.
The industrial element has more solid
aritv I should say, now than at any
former period There may not be the
old time show and glitter. but there
will be enthusiasm and a determination
TO stand together. l fully agree with
those who declare that class feeling IN
this republic is stronger than in any
other country in the word. That is the
inevitable result Of economic oppression.
For a long time the American working.
man was taught and believed that he
was ineasureably better OF than his toll
ing brother in other lands. Events here
have opened his eyes. Capitalism IS the
same here as elsewhere. 1t grinds the
faces of the poor. The very fact that
political equality exists, appears to make
economic despotism harsher."
MIR. Sovereign was asked about his
boycott Of the bank notes.
ssThat has been much misrepresented.
Those who think the measure forctble are
welcome to their opinion. But as pro-
fest of labor against existing conditions
it ought TO be significant Labor has lit
Nyitude 1t seems odd that the discomfort
of the working masses should be rldi-
cuIed Surely the workers of any land are
an important element in its population.
Let US assume, for the sake of argument,
that they voice demands that are absurd.
is It nice to mock these demands2 Would
A. not be better for those who deem them
absurd. to argue temporarily with labor
and endeavor to point its errors out to II?
Again, see how coldly the classes hold
aloof from Labor day. They take no in
terest In it. Whenever the workingmen
has a measure to propose, he must make
his fight alone. When the fnanciers or
the business men want thing done
they are very ready to solicit the toilers'
aid"
do you agree with Debs in condemn
Ing strikes?"
Il don't think Debs is against strikes
as a means in certain emergencies. We
have Just seen two large strikes brought
to a successful issue-the miners in Penn
eylvania and the tailors' in New York.
What Mr.. Debs means, am sure, is that
the expediency of the strike must be
first taken into account. For my part
deem the strike almost inevitable under
existing circumstances and conditions, al
though do not believe in the rash and
unjust strike. Labor day is destined to
be happy in that respect this year. The
MOEktfn VIII nave no AdlANit ~ AtAlltAAhNA.
President Mcbride of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, shares in the general
opinion that new conditions are arising.
Labor day win be a great occasion this
year" said he because the workingmen
have gained so much the past twelve
months ! am very glad the occasion is to
be made one of national protest against
the Debs outrage. In its way. the episode
has been a blessing in disguise. 1t has
shown the toilers how little they may ex-
pect from the powers that be, under ex-
listing conditions. The old way of regard
ing our republics as the paradise of toll
ers is over and done with. Rather is 1t
a paradise of capitalists. Where in the
world has capital more prerogatives than
among ourselves? I wonder if our peO-
pie understand the significance Of the fact
that the tOiling masses are learning to
regard the conditions under which they
live with sullen discomfort? Does it bode
well for the future of our land? Would
not mere self interest, if sufficiently en-
hghtened, prompt capital to look to the
welfare Of labor? The trouble with our
people is that they are so dazzled by their
political equality as to be for the most
part blind to economic inequality. The
consequence is that when labor protests
are heard there are chances of demagog-
uism made. We are told that working
men are misied by ignorance and union
leaders. The people who talk that way
overlook the fact that the toiler is I'M
derpaid and underfed, and in want. Men
in that condition do not want to be told
that their leaders are vicious. Let them
first be well paid and afforded the means
of decent livelihood. Then they win be
in a position to get rid of the vicious
and ignorant leaders. The general oblo-
yuy heaped upon the labor movement
only adds invitation to the general dis
content. It serves to set the workers
apart and to make them feel that they
are necessarily opposed in the interest
to other classes"
Mr.. Mcbride, by the way. has entirely
recovered from his recent illness. He
Is looking very well indeed, and makes
an address in Indianapolis on Labor day
Samuel Gompers has in no way modi-
fed his well known views on the labor
question.
1.-THE movement, however" he said
in answer to a question, sis apt to suf-
fer from the Introduction of all sorts Of
fads and issues by social reformers who
mean wen enough, but who usually
drift the workingman away into all sorts
of abstract discussions and vain agita-
tons. / believe in the labor movement
but do not feel obliged on that ac-
count 10 take up every new idea that
comes along. There are too many cure