The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-08

A crown of thorns did not pres.
down upon the brow Of labor yesterday
The men of Drawn whose hands have
grown horny from toll yesterday toiled
not-neither did they spin. They left
the anvil and the workshop which arr
the scenes of their daily toll and con.
stituted themselves for the nonce a
company of pleasure seekers
A majority Of those who spent
Labor day at outlying resorts fell to
that summer haunt by the dead sea,
where the salt waves lap the pillars OF
beautiful Saltair. The weather was
not ideal. Heavy clouds hung in the
sky and late in the afternoon the rain
battered over the roof of the pavilion.
But this did not deter laborers from
enjoying what they look upon as their
especial day, and one of the largest
crowds of the year yesterday thronged
the pavilion.
The early trains were crowded and
the evening cars were packed so that
none more might enter thereupon. The
number is estimated at about 5000, and
there may have been more.
Oratory that thrilled and athletics
that kept everyone eagerly expectant
were the attractions. Senator Cannon
never spoke more fervently or brilliant
~ than he did yesterday, when bimet-
allism, which he fights for as the one
jewel ia Americas political future, was
q the theme of his eloquence. President
Boyce, of Idaho, also enthused every
one by his straightforward, manly
speech OF why Workingmen Organ
lie"
THE OPENING
The opening of the days entertain
ment began shortly after o'clock,
when President r. c. Sleater made a.
brief address of welcome. He spoke
felicitously Of the importance of the
occasion to workingmen and their
pleasure at having such distinguished
guests among them.
President Boyce was first introduced.
Without any attempt at ford elo-
Quence, he spoke plainly and with the
precision and force that is born of
conviction. He was frequently inter-
rupted with applause. He said:
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOYCE.
men, and Workingmen of Utah:-This
magnificent audience which has assem-
bled upon the beach of the dead sea
of the American continent, on one of
the nations holidays. in the interest of
labor, IS Ct gTeal Importance. ailC an
everlasting credit to the people of the
Infant state of Utah.
BY your splendid attendance here on
the first labor day since Utah has been
admitted to take her place among the
sister states Of the Union, you Demon
strate that you are imbued with a
spirit Of fairness for the toiling masses,
many sections of the nation.
This audience will compare with any
aSsemblage in the metropolitan CEN
tiers of the nation, intelligently and pa
tIHotically, and both are the foundation
of ain good government.
My friends. it is gratifying to know
that the labor question is becoming
mere important every year. The people
are awaking 70 its great Importance. 1t
is no longer the work of agitators and
demagogues, as the monopoliStIc press
would have us believe. Today laboring
men and women will assemble in every
state in the Union TO hear the ableSt
statesmen in the nation upon Eae ques-
ton.
James r. Sovereign of the knights
Of Labor. im the east. Eugene Y Debs.
president of the American Railway
union, in Indianapolis, and the next
president of the United States. w. ].
Bryan, in Chicago And l would not
be surprised to hear of Major Mckinley
telling the factory employees of New
England who are working for so cents
a day how prosperous they would be
with a high protective tariff on calico
and muslin. and free trade on dia-
monds and silk.
Some will say it is not necessary for
Nrorkingmen 10 organize and make con-
ditions worse, such assertions are born
in ignorance or prejudice, for outside
of organized labor there is no protec-
ton for the JoilerS; we must organize
and educate ourselves or we will soon
be worse than the African slave on the
southern plantation
No slave was ever allowed to go
without food or clothing. When sick
the best physician in the land was
called: the gates of the penitentiary
never closed upon him for stealing a.
loaf of bread; he never was arrested
for being a. tramp and out of money,
he never was an inmate of the poor
house, nor he never filled a paupers
grave.
How different it is with the white
slaves Of the trusts, corporations and
'syndicates of America, who are MAX
ing tramps and criminals of American
citizens. reducing us to nation of
tenants to the money lords of Europe
Our young women pining away in
sweat-shops making shirts or overalls
for 81 a dozen or standing under the
light of lamp post in our large cities,
O. poor unfortunate outcast.
God help the man who is responsible
for these conditions. He will one day be
called TO answer before the bar OF a
jusr God: il is true that all are not
guilty, but III these days ignorance is
criminal. Men should inform chem
selves while there is time to correct
the injustice of the past; no one can
be held responsible for such terrible
conditions but the laiboring masses who
cast 70 per cent of the total vote of
the United States
But politicians and corporation
agents impsore US to keep out of poll
tics. for it is something we do not
understand. and If we take action it will