Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-25
IN THE INTEREST or LABoR.

IN THE INTEREST or LABOR
The party which is seeking the sup
port of labor for policy of currency
debasemcntarfa falsely tells worllngmcn
that all theTeglslation of the country
for the ptist" quarter of n century has
been in "the interest of capital and
against the poorer classes. Many of the
ignorant and the thoughtless are per-
suaded to accept this demngogic state
mpnt, but 1t ought not to influence any
intelligent man familiar with the record
of what has been done in the interest
of labor and of the poorer classes dur
ing the past twenty-five years.
Laws have been passed eXempting
homcSteads and large amount of per-
sonal property from execution against
debtors who are heads of families, their
widows and orphans liens have been
given by law to mechanics and laborers
on the land or thing on which they
bestow labor for wages; the hours of
labor on public works have been re-
duced by law; in the administration of
the estates of insolvcnts the wages of
labor are preferred claims, and in some
cases wages are made preferred claims
generally. National legislation has re-
quircd the railroads of the country TO
provide safety appliances for the protec-
ton of their employees. State legislation
has required manufacturers and mine
operators to provide for the safety and
comfort of employees. The incorporation
of labor organizations has been author
lied by law and these organizations
have been judicially recognized. The
importation of contract labor Is pro
hibited by law. Commissioners of labor,
state and national, are appointed to
gather statistics regarding labor, with
view TO ameliorating the condition of
the working classes. Labor day has
been made national holiday, thus Civ
ing distinctive recognition to the toilng
masses.
This does not embrace all that has
been done by national and state legiSla-
ton for the working classes. but it is
sufficient TO show that their interests
have not been neglected and TO com
pletely refute the charge of the party
which is appealing to them TO vote for
Il cheaper dollar that all the legislation
of the last quarter of century has
been in the interest of capital and of
corporations. The simple truth is that
in no other country of the world has so
much been done in the interest of the
laborng man as has been done in the
United States. And it should be borne
in mind that nearly all of this legisla-
ton has been placed on the statute
books by the, republican party, thus
demonstrate 1.-THE interest which that
party has taken in the welfare, the
elevation and The improvement in the
condition of the working classes. The
men who labor have always been able
to get respectful and conSiderate hear
ing from the republican party. No re-
publican has ever characterized as
public beggars" those who are en-
ployed in our manufacturing Industries
because they asked for protection
against the competition of cheap foreign
labor, as was done by the popocratic
candidate for president. No republican
has ever called in question the right of
labor TO be heard anywhere and every
where in its own defense and for the
promotion of its own interests. But the
greatest Of all things that the republican
party has done for the working classes
has been TO create n market for their
labor and to provide that they should be
paid in money equal to the best in the
world. Hundreds of thousands of them
were deprived of that market by the
democratic attack on protection and now
the men who helped do this propose TO
debase the currency, so that labor will
receive dollar of greatly less purchas-
ing power than it now receives.
The working classes of this country
can trust the republican party. 1t has
never yet failed TO guard their interests
and promote their welfare. 1t never
will fail, because ii believes that at the
foundation of all prosperity is the pros
perity of labor.