Evening journal., 1896-09-08
BRYAN TO LABOR MEN.
Addresses Trades Unionists on the Bene-
fits of Their Organizations.


nts OF Their Organizations.
CHICAGO, Sept. s.-wnliam J. Bryan
addressed large assembly of the represent
atives of trades unions of this city, being
introduced by Edward Carroll, president
of the Building Trades council, in brief
and appropriate address. Mr.. Bryan said
in part;
Il am not going to violate the proprie-
ties OF this occasion by entering Into a
discussion of partisan conditions, but 1
desire to call your attention to certain
broad questions which cannot be confined
by party lines. The ballot is the means by
which the people of this country must
right every wrong, and if the people have
not the independence, if they have not the
intelligence TO right their wrongs at the
ballot box, they have not the courage to
secure their rights IN any other way. But,
my friends, conditions arose in this coun-
try which made 1t impossible for the peo-
pie TO use the ballot which they had. There
were certain influences so strong, so pow
erful that men We're afraid TO exercise
freely and upon their own conscience the
political rights given them under our in
stitutions. What did they dog l honor the
laboripg men of this country and organ
lied labor, standing at the head of the la
boring men, because they secured to the
people of this country an Australian bal
lot That ballot did not come down to
you from above; that ballot is the result OF
your own demand; IL is the result Of your
own influence. The laboring man today
enjoys the advantage of an Australian bal
lot because the laboring man OF this coun-
try compelled the adoption Of Australian
ballot laws. Now, my friends, among all
the agencies which for the last fow years
have been at work lettering the condition
and protecting the rights OF the laboring
men of this country / believe that the la
boring organization stands first among
them all 1t has brought thcm together
where thoy could consult with each other,
where they could compare their views,
where they could unite their strength,
where they could make their influence ef-
fective, and the laboring man has his or
gnnization and his own efforts to thank
for such blessings as he has secured.
Now, my friends, some have criticised
labor organizations. $here are some who
have believed that banking organizations
are joint associations; that managers Of
railroads should join associations that
everybody was entitled to join an assooia-
tion except the laboring man. The labor
ing man. s association has been the means
by which he has protected himself in this
warfare against other organizations among
othor people. Now, my friends, the labor
organizations have done much good and
yet there IS a good that society can do that
will add to and supplement- the work Of
the lahoring men themselves. / want to
speak of it here-tho principle of arbitra-
tion of difference betwoen corporate en-
ployers and their employees. That princi-
pie has been forced upon the attention of
the American people
Believer In Arbitration.
II believe in arbitration. Arbitration is
simply the extension of tho IDEA of the
court Of justice. Il is merely instituting a
tribunal-an impartial tribunal-before
which men may go and settle those diff
ferences instead Of resorting to violence to
settle those differences. You say the labor
ing men are interested in arbitration. Yes,
they have so expressed themselves, bat 1
want to say to you, my friends that So
ciety has a higher interest even than the
laboring man in the principle of arbitra-
tion. Society has right TO protect itself
against these contests between labor and
capital. Society has a right to say to both
amnloYer and employees, Instead of assert
fna right or claim and defending ir
by force you shall, in the interest of so
cieiy, submit that to an impartial tri-
bunal, and let justice be done by those who
can see both sides.
"My friends, new conditions make new
laws necessary. In the olden times one