Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-18

WhuS h9clety is lnreSJed in having eV-
cry cillGen become independent, become
s6lf-suppOrting, society is interested in
having every citizen secure enough of
this worlds goods not only to supply his
own wants, but 10 educate mis- children
and leave HIM something for the decin,
ing days. But while society is inters ST.
ed in this, society is also interested in
having laws that viii prevent him de-
stroying more than he is worth while he
is securing his own independence. ZAP
plause.)
Our government is the best form Of
government known among men. Why?
Our form Of government is the best
form known among men not be-
calse every law IS good, not because
we have upon the statute book every
law needed TO protect each citizen in the
enjoyment Of his rights, but our gov
eminent is the best form of government
known among men because it IS possible
under our form of government 10 have
lUs- as good government as Tie people
deserve. (Applause) Ours IS the best
form Of government because il is posi-
ole for the people 10 make it reflect the
best Intelligence, the highest virtue and
The purest patriotism of all the people.
Let me warn you against confusing
government with the abuses Of govern
ment. Andrew Jackson said that there
We're no necessary evils in government;
that its evils existed only in lis abuses.
He was right. my friends. There are no
necessary evils in government, and no
man who understands the advantage Of
government will ever raise his voice or
hand against government itself.
Il is the abuse of government against
which we have the right to complain.
There are some who would silence ev-
cry criticism Of existing law. Th.re are
those who denOunca everyone who ad-
v0c2,os change as a disturLer Of the
public peace. There are those who
would cal him a dis1urber, one who
breeds discomfort. | want to say to you
that discomfort lies at the foundation OF
all progress. SO long as you are salts
fed you never so forward. 1t is only
when YOU are dissatisfied with your con-
dJiCns that you try to improve those
conditions. Why, my friends, had our
fovefG,h hers been satisfied with English
political supremacy we would never
have had a Declaration OF Independence.
They were moi content with Jae conGl-
tons under which they lived, and they
Dut that expression of discomfort in the
form OF the Declaration, and they main
,2in. d hat declaration with their blood,
and it gives Us this form Of government.
There is this difference between our
form of government and the monarch
zeal form: Ii You are discontinued I'M
der a monarchy, how can you get relief?
You can petition. but your petition may
be disregarGed. Discomfort under mon
archy may end in despair, or it may end
in revolution. Discomfort in our form
of government ends in reformation
through ths peaceful means Of the bal
LOT. (AppiauseD
am not going 10 violate the proprie-
ties Of this occasion by entering into a
discussion of partisan questions, but |
desire to call your attention 10 certain
broad questions which cannot be con-
fined by party Hhes. The ballot is the
means by which the people have inda-
pendence If they have not the .ntelli-
gence TO right their wronss at the ballot
box. thev have not the courage TO secure
their rights in any o,hT way. Gap
p,ause)
But. my friends conditions arose in
this country which made ii impossible
for the people 10 use the ballot box which
shey had. These were certain iniiu-
enc-s so strong. so powerful that men
we're afraid 10 exercise freely and upon
their own c0nsciences the political rights
Eiven them under our institutions.
What did they DO? 1 hCnor the labor
ing men of this country, and organic d
labor standing at the head OF the LABOR
;ne men. because they secured to the peo-
pie Of this country an Australian ballot.
(ApDlauge and cries OF Put you in,
toor0 That ballot did MOI come down
To Won from above. That ballot is the
r-sul- Of your demand. Il is the resull
Of your own influences. The laboring
man o-day enjoys the advantage OF an
Australian ballot because the laboring
man of tais country compelled the ad0p-
ton of the Australian ballot laws. CAP
pl2use)
Now. my friends, among all the agen-
cies which for the last few years nave
been ct work lettering he conditions
end practically the rights Of the l2boring
men of this country, | believe that the
labor organization stands first among
them all. (Applauss) L has brought
Them together where they could consult
with each other. where they could com
mare their views. where they could unite
th5ir strength. where they could make
.be'r influence effective. And the la
boring man has his organization and his
own efforts to thank for such blessings
as he has secured.
Some have criticized labor organiza-
Mons. (Cries of Hanna! Hanna! Han
nar0 There are some who have belieV-
ed -faa1- banking organizations should
io.n associations, that managers of rail
roads should Join associations, that ev-
orvbodv was entitled to join an assocla-
ZION excepting the laboring man. Gap
nl9us The labOrng mans association
has been the means by which he has pro-
tected himself in his warfare against
other organizations among other people.
Now. my friends. the labor organization
has done much of good, and vet there is
q GOOD that society cannot do that viii
add to and supplement the work of the
Iaboring men themselves. [ want to
sneak of it hCre-the principle OF arbi-
tration Of differences between corporate
employers and their employes-that
principle has been forced upon the at
,ention of the American people.
7 =l.eve in arbitration. CApplause)
Arbitration is simply the extension OF
The idea of the court of justice. (Voice,
..vou're r.ghtw Applause) Is is mare
" irsrimting a tribunal an impartial
.r,hnnal before which men may go and
sottIs differences instead Of resorung TO