The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-12
TO ORGANIZED LAsoR.
Bryan speaks to the Trsd- Iniontsss {,
chicago.


unions turning out in force 10 hear Will
liam j. Bryan speak There WIS an linz
mense parade through the city prerd-
ing the gathering a the park. and busi-
ness traffic on the streets was for time
suspended. The following Is q briet
synopsis OF Mr.. BryaR's speech:
''Mr Chairman. Ladies' and Gentlemen:
j desire 90 thank the Bulsdlng Trades c0'In-
ell for this opportunity which they hfve
extended 90 me 10 speak before the people
assembled on Labor day. Labor day las
berome fixed thing among our insti-
stutions. and u IL wen that Il has, be-
cause on this day ali over this nation Those
who are engaged Ia the production or
wealth meet In order that tsry may coa1-
mune with each other. discuss those qll"s-
tons IN which they are specially intcrs II
ed and emphasize before the world tAit
there 10 nothing dishonorable IN the fact
that one earns al. bread in the sweat OF nv
face.
Il am 80 glad 10 stand on this day IN
the presence OF those 90 whom mis- nat,or
is highly indebted for all that II had, for
all that n has now. and for all that II CEN
hope 20 have. I am not indulgiug In :Ilo
flattery when I say that no part OF tho
people OF the world are 80 important 10 the
welfare OF mankind az those whose labor
and grains convert natural resources into
material wealth. ! might quote TO YOU
what Mr. Carlisle said 20 those people In
1878 lie described thcm as the struggling
masnes who produce the wealth and pay
the taxes of the country. lie did not praise
them too highly. The struggling masses
not only produce the wealth and pay the
taxes OF the country in time Of peace, hut
the struggling masses have ever been and
must ever be the nations surest protection.
in time OF peril. lApplanse ara Noice; .
Good boy Wiliie.l
ct me ouote YOU what another Anpr-
team has said In speaking OF labor and
capital, Abraham Lincoln. In a message TO
congress, used these words MONARCHY II
self 10 sometimes hnted at as poss'hlS
refuge from the power OF the people. IN
my present position I could scarcely ia
justified were | 20 omit TO raise voice
of warming against this approach OF re-
turning despotisn. IL is not needed nor
fitting here that n general argument should
be made IN favor OF public institutions,
but there is one point in Its connection
not so hnckneycd as most others. 10 which
| ask brief attention. IL 10 the enort 20
place capital on an equal roofing wiz, VI
not above labor IA the structure OF gov
eminent II IS assumed that labor ~
available only In connection with cap
itall that nobody labors unless somebody
else commanding capital somehow by The
use OF Il Induces him TO labor And then
he adds: Labor is prior TO and independent
OF capital. Capital Ia only the trult or
labor and could never have existed " labor
had not first existed. Applause. Labor
IL the superior or capital anu deserves
much HIGHER consideration.
Then he adds: No men living are more
worthy to be trusted than those who toll Up
from poverty, none less inclined 10 take or
touch aught which they have not honest
IS earned. Let them beware OF surrender
ing "A political power which they already
possess ana which. n surrendered, g'ill
surely be ussd TO close the doors OF adj
Vancement against such as they and TO tx
new tasks and burdens upon them. till
oil OF liberty shall he lost.
These are the words OF Abraham In
coin. They are not intended to arouse
animo8ity against capital. but they state
a great truth always 10 be remembered
that capita. is but the fruit of labor. and
you cannot destroy labor without destroy
ing the possibility OF future capital.
II have quoted from two American au-H
thoritics. , want IN an ascending scale to
reach a higher authority still. Let rev
quote TO ycu what that man whose words Z
have entitled him 10 be called the wisest OF
men, Solomon, said on this subject; Give
me neither poverty nor riches; feed no
with food convenient for me. Leaf be cvil
and deny Thee and say: Who 10 the I.ordf
or lest he poor and steal and take tho
name OF my God In vain.
Now. my friends. among all the agencies
which for the last few years have been at
work lettering the condition and protect
ing the rights Of the iuboring men In this
country | believe that the laboting organ
izations stand first among them all. lhp-
plausel IL has brought them together
where they could consult with each other.
where they could compare their Views.
where they could unite their strength,
where they could mako their influence ef-
fective-and the laboring man hiss his or
ganization and his own efforts 20 shank Tor
such blessings as he has secured.
There are some who have believed That
banking institutions are joint assoca-
lions. that managers OF railroads should
Jcin associations that everybody was en-
titled 20 join an association except the
laboring man. IApplause.l The laboring
mans association has been the reans By
which he has protected himself in the
warfare against othor organizations
among other people. Now, my friends. tile
labor organization has done much OF good.
and there is a good that society can do
that Will add To and supplement tho work OF
the laboring men themselves. 1 want 10
speak OF It hare-the principle OF arbitra-
ton OF differences between corporate em-
p!oyers and their employees. That princ-
pie has been iorced upon the attention OF
the American people. believe I'm arbi-
trntion. Arbitration is simply the extern
sion OF the idea of the court OF Justice.
IL IS merely insttutlng a tribunal an inn
partial tribunal, before which NEIL may go
and settle their differences instead of rezr
sorting to violence TO settle thOne differ
ences. You say the laboring men are IN
terested In arbitration. Yes they have 50
expressed themselves. but l want TO say
TO you, my friends. that society has a
higher Interest even than the lahoring man
In the principle of arbitration. Society has
"A right to protect itself against these con-
texts between labor and capitas. Society
has right 10 say 10 both employer and en-
ploye. instead OF asserting a tlght or q
claim and defending II by force. you shall.
In tho interest OF society, submit that 10
an impartial tribunal and let justice be
done by those who can nee both sides.
Nov. ] sppeal TO you TO take the inter-
est Ia government that you ougnt 10 take.
4 want you 10 take an intcres, In politics.
/ am not here TO tell you what opinion you
should bold / am not here TO suggess 10
you what measures would. Ina my Judgment.
bring relief. but have righs as an Amer
team citizen speaking TO otker American
citizenE-l have "a right, 1 say, TO beg OK
you that you shall recognize the respon-
sibility which rests upon you as citizens.
and prepare yourself for intelligent dis
charge or every duty imposed upon you-
Government was not Instituted among men
TO confer special benefits 60 any. Gov