The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-15


impossible for the people to use the ballot
which they had. There are certain lnnu-
ences so strong, so powerful that men were
afraid to exercise freely and upon lhelr
own conscience the political rights gwen
them under our Institutions what they
did? | honor the laboring men of this
country. and organized labor standing at
the head OF the laboring men. Because they
secured TO the people of this country an
Australian ballot That ballot did not
come down to you from above; that ballot
is the result of your own demand 1t Is
the result of your own influence. me
loboring man to-day enjoys the advantage
of an Australian ballot because the labor
ing men of this country compelled the adop-
ton of the Australian ballot laws.
Now my friends, among all the agencies
which for the last few years have been at
work lettering the condition and protecting
the rights of the laborng men OF ihls
country / believe that the labor organza-
tions stand first among them all. IL mas
brought them together where they could
consult with each other, where they could
compare their views, where they could
unite their strength. and the laboring man
has his organization and his own eHorts 10
thank for such blessings as he has secured.
Now nv friends some have criticised
labor organizations. There are some who
have believed that banking organizations
are joint associations; that managers or
railroads should join associations; thar
everybody was entitled to join an associa'
ton except the laboring man The labor
ing mans association has been the means
by which he has protected himself In the
warfare against other organizations among
other people,
Arbitration.
Now, my friends, the labor organization
has done much of good, and yet there Is
good deal that society can do that Will adu
to and supplement- the work Of the laborlng
men themselves. l want to speak or II
here, the principle of arbitration or dlHer.
ences between corporate employers ana
their employees That principle has been
forced upon the attention of the American
people. l believe in arbitration. Arbltfa-
ton is simply the extension OF the ldea OF
the court of Justice 1t is merely institute
ing 4 tribunal, before which men may go
and settle their differences instead OF re-
sorting to violence to sAttle those dlHef-
ences. You say the laboring men are inter
ested in arbitration Yes, they nave SO
expressed themselves, but l want 10 say
to you my friends, that society mas
higher interest even than the labOrlng man
in the principle of arbitration. Society has
a right to protect itself against these con-
tests between labor and capital Soclety
has n right to say to both employer ana
employee, instead of asserting a right or
claim and defending 1t by force, you shall
in the interest of society, submit 10 that
impartial tribunal, and let 1ustlce De uohe
by those who can see both sides.
My friends, new conditions make new
laws necessary. In the olden times. put
one man employed few laborers. Ihere
was a bond OF sympathy between them
He knew the names OF his employees.
came in contact with them and sympathy
sprang from heart to heart and this sym
pathy was an influence that enabled them
to agree upon anficable terms. But times
have changed. Instead of the employer
with few employees, we now nave u great
nrlAS
of thousands of employees 1t Is Impossible
for the employer to know his men, 1t IS I'M
possible under these conditions, that thefe
should be that personal sympathy pc
tween them which control their cohduct
towards each other What must we DO!
There is but one thing that we can do
Where tlst personal acquaintance mas dls-
appeared, and, therefore, injustice croppeu
in society, with its paramount interests
and overshadOwing rights, can step III, ana
by law supplement that condltlon, lnal re-
lation, and substitute justice FOR Iofce III
the settlement of these difficulties.
Now / appeal to you to take the Interest
in government that you ought to take
want you to take an interest IN po1tcs.
am not here to tell you what opinions you
should hold. am not here to suggest to you
what measures would, in my Judgment
bring relief, but l have right as an Amer
lean citizen speaking to American cltlzens-
l have a right, | say, to beg or you tnal
you shall recognize the Responsiveness
which rest upon you as citizens and prepare
yourselves for the intelligent discharge OF
every duty imposed upon you. Government
was not instituted among men to confer
special benefits to any. Government was
instituted for the protection of all the cltl-
Zens in order that they might enjoy the
fruits of their own toll, and the results OF
their own exertons, And it is the duty or
governments to make the conditions sur
rounding the people as pleasant as agree
able, as possible And you must have your
opinion and by your votes must nave your
influence in determining what these con-
ditiOnS may be.
My friends, if you find a large number or
men our of employment you have a right
to inquire whether ldleness Is inflicted upon
the human race by natural laws, by the act
of the Creator, or whether 1t is due to leg
islation which is wrong. 1T 1t is due 10
legislation which is wrong, then it is not
only your right but your duty to change
that legislation. The greatest menace to
the employed laborer to-day is the increas-
ing army of the unemployed 1t menaceS
every man who holds a position, and If that
army continues to increase. 1t is only
question of time when those who are, as
you may say, upon the ragged edge, shall
leave the ranks of the employed and join
those who are out of work. My friends, l
am one of those who believes that If you
increase the amount of idleness, il you In
crease the number of those who cannot
work and yet must eat you will drive men
to desperation and increase the ranks of
criminals out of those who would be earn
ing bread under better conditions. The New
York World, of a few days ago, editorially
complained of
The Incre age Of Crime.
My friends, If you find crime increasing,
If you find idleness growing, it is not
privilege only, it is duty that you owe to
yourselves and your country, to see wheth-
or cnn that condition i'm