The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-07
AN ADDRESS BY BRYAN.
Fifteen Thousand Laboring Men
Hear the "BOy Orator of the

Hear the "BOy Orator of the
Platte"
st. Louis, Mo-, Sept. 6.-The feature of
Labor day celebration in this city to-day
was an address by Hon. w. ]. Bryan, at
Concordia Park. The biggest crowd ever
seen in the park greeted the speaker. HIS
speech throughout was enthusiastically
applauded. Previous to the meeting Mr..
Bryan reviewed parade of 1900 laboring
men.
Mr.. Bryan spoke In part as follows:
While / find pleasure In participating
in the exercises of this day, l am also ac-
tuated by a sense of duty, because the OBJ
servance of Labor day affords me an OPP
portunity for the discussion of those ques-
tions which especially concern the pro-
ducers of wealth. In a pamphlet written
by distinguished New York banker 1
find the assertion that the prosperity of
farmers and laborers depends upon the
prosperity of the business man. So long
is one entertains such an idea he is GER
tain to entertain erroneous views upon So
cial and political questions. All of the lit
erary, professional and commercial class
es will find upon Investigation that they
rest upon those whose brain aud muscle
convert the natural resources of the coun-
try into material wealth. Not only must
toll, but the nations pro-
gress toward higher civilization
must be measured by the progress
made by the producing classes. Under
every form of government it has been pos,
sible to point to a few persons possessed
of means and refinement but 1t is the
average progress, not the progress of the
few, that must be considered The i'm
provement to be hoped for must come
from efforts outside of politics. Mental
discipline, moral training, habits of indus
try and economy all have their part in
improving the general condition of our
people, and yet the influence of legisla.
ton must not be overlooked. A form OF
government like ours make It possible
for the people to have such legislation as
they desire, but even then 1t Is possible
for few persons to over-reach the people
as a whole. The welfare of the people
must be sought, not in the securing of spe-
cial privileges to themselves, but In the
denying of special privileges to any one.
THE labor organizations have been one
of the most potent influences in improving
the condition of the wage earners. Labor
organizations are almost alone responsible
for the fact that skilled labor wages have
not fallen as much as prices, although
they have not always succeeded In keep
ing employment up to fun time.
while giving to these organizations
credit for what they have DONE 1t is only
fair to suggest that neither labor organi-
cations, nor any other form of protection
can secure to labor permanent immunity,
| If the general level of prices continues to
| fail, The idle man Is the menace to the
man who has employment and the number
of idle men must necessarily increase II
| we have a money system which constant
| ly raises the value of the dollar and con-
stantly lowers the market value of the
products Of labor
Arbitration of differences between large
corporate employers and their employees Is
one Of the political reforms most needed
by wage earners. Until arbitration Is Sc
cured the strike is the only weapon within
the power. Society at large Is interested
in the application of the principle OF ar
bitration to differences which arise from
time to time between corporations and the
employees.
"Laboring people have special interest
just now in securing relief from what is
aptly described as government by In
junction" The extent 10 which the writ
on injunction has been abused within re-
cent years has aroused q hostility which
is almost universal It is only a question
of time when government by injunction
will be cured by legislation The main
purpose of the writ of injunction is to
avoid trials by jury. Trial by jury Is more
dear to the American people to-day than
1t ever was before in our nations history
1t was originally intended as a protection
against royalty. and is to-day the main
protection the people have against plu-
tocracysm, which Is to become royalty
under monarehlal form of government"
Tonight the champion of the silver
cause was given a reception at the JEFF
ferson Club. At least 5000 people attended
and many of these were given an oppor-
tunity of meeting MIR. Bryan.