The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-07
BRYAN SPEAKS TO LABOR.
PASSES SIJVER BT AND TALKS OF
TIE CRIME or GETTING RICH.

BNhFNb WIN -" ANtS NV
wealth vs Produced Only by tho Producers
or veal -'Gsvrrnmen by injunction "
Must stop, ana Arbitration ought to Come.
er, LOUIS, S ept. Conc Of the largest crowds
eyor, hssembled in Concordia PARK, this city,
greeted William J. Bryan this afternoon. The
late Presidential candidate had been we'll advcr-
tlsed as a speaker at the Labor Day celebration
hero and scores OF. silver enthusiasts from tho
interior OF Nilsson ,ri and Illinois came to st.
Louis to hear their idol. Tho occasion was SUN.
cient to inspire any orator. and Mr.. Bryan rose
to It with that mr. gnouc force that has made
him ono OF tho fore most public speakers Of tho
day. His speech foil ows:
"I propose to su bmit certain propositions
which are SO axiomnt ic that they cannot be con.
troverted. although there are many people who
dispute them. In tho first place. as tho produc-
tion OF wealth come before its di5tribu-
tim. the prosperity of n nation must DO
derived primarily from its wealth producers.
This truth is so axiomatic that elaboration
would BIO unnec essary but for the fact that there
are many people who imagine that tho pros
pcrity of a nation comes down to the masses
from the few who generally seek, and too
often secure, special consideration at tho
hands Of Legislators. Within tho last
wear | have had occasion TO read n pamphlet
written by a dist -nguished New York banker,
and in that pamphlet l found tho assertion that
tho prosperity Of the far ncrs and laborers
depends upon the prosperity OF tho BUSH
ness men. So long as one ertortains such
an idea no Is certain to entertain erroneous
views upon social and political questions. Tho
merchant, the teacher, the lawyer. tho physi-
clan, the minister, in fact, oil of the literary,
professional. and commercial class, will find
upon Investigation that they rest upon those
whose brain and muscle convert the natural re-
sources of the country into material wealth.
"As u lawyer l belong to one of the non
producing classes. awyers don't produce
wealth, but n lawyer certainly takes a
narrow view OF his own interests II he
Goes not realize that his welfare depends
upon the welfare OF the great masses
of the people. and unless that law.
yer Is counsel for some great trust
and corporation he is interested In all those
things which tend to the general welfare of the
people, because a lawyer can make more money
among those VINO arc doing well than among
people who are not financially blessed. And
what is true OF the lawyer is true OF tho
physician. He not only desires to have patients,
buthe wants patients who can pay. So also is
It with merchants and with the trading classes.
They depend for their support on tho great
wealth producing professions. Even the work
of the minister can be carried on better among
people who are prosperous than among those
who are hungry and destitute.
"Not only must any real prosperity begin with
those who Toll, but the nations progress toward
a higher civilization must be measured by the
progress made by the producing classes. Under
every form Of government it has been possible
to point to 9 few persons possessed tS o.
% aVsrasv e Progress %a r not the progress eas of the few.
that must always he considered. The well to
do are shortsighted indeed II they imagine that
they can separate themselves from the great
mass OF the people, with whom they live; The
sible Tor one TO build surely or permanently upon
the fortunes of others. Mental discipline. moral
training, habits of industry and economy. all
have their part in improving the general cOnti-
ton of. onr people, and yet the influence of lcgis.
ta' soas an1s mt. e oe pv Sndsr any sI EI8d " of i sSstf%
ton there will be individual differences, due to
-But 1t has been true in The past. and Is true
to-day, that the nstrumentalities OF govern.
an adsant DIse" over epi the rest. The 't Object ps'' Of
universal suffrage is TO enable each individ.
hanss.eRo,hsrs. and an Intelligent %atue exercise Of
che right of suffrage is the only means by which
R915llssi rs ores sdn T e Tsm %So arc an nnm pGiislfiiri
too weak we or nstbur ,hay too III Indifferent to secure
cure relief in any other way.
WITHOUT attempting to enter into details
eonid, exist a majority OF The people would be-
too busy, attending to their everyday af.
halls hairs si,h1s !a 6 bang send f0G rapres lsSIslntiTs
except their elected ones. to look after their in.
6o.oOo,ooo people tried to secure an adVantaFe
nmohnting to 500. 100000 over the remaining
to less than So apiece for the GO.OoO, 600; but il
thaiIs 10. 100000 secure an advantage OF
amounts to $40 apiece for those securing it. In
the first instance the 10000, 900 would each re.
profitable, while the 10000. 900 would each sui
FER SO much loss. as to justify strong resistance.
each receive enough to stimulate the contest
while the &c. co0,0 600 would each suffer so littleas
to make resistance less energetic. Thus 1t is that
the few are able to obtain great advantages Mt
the eEpense Of the many. because the advantage
inddiiSidu Iip loss SUFFERED 81 by '" the many is w Often 'a so
fRHsnso as to- G escape pc attention OF 90, The So, masses,
Into other peoples pockets. have sufficient rea:
s9S for I rsj0iIG!!ns b If they Ca can - succeed , { in keepinR
loud applause and much iaughier.i
Touching the labor question:. Mr.. Bryan said:
cannot overcsiimate the influence Of labor
organizations in teaching the people to
meat. q9p'f believe Sif in our Seeiff form OF Of s sovsrn:
meat; ! believe int T. Is the best form
1 %as soEssn"s no. f besnu ssSi It is by pt !he MIND IN at IF
IT'S methods; best, not because It is perfect
der It the American people can secure
as good government as the American
good government the people ihemselvos must
be alert 10 their responsibilities as citizens;
must nnderstand the questions presented
TO them, and organized labor has done as
among Us to bring the people face to face with
the great economic qhesilons which confront
tion must rest the welfare, Of our people, rHir'f '"u'
Labor organizations have been largely. in
fact almost entirely. responsible for the
fact that in skilled labor wages have not
fallen, as much as prices. although, while
have not always succeeded in Keeping
employment MP TO full time. While giving TO
these organizations crciit for what they
have done, it Is only fair to suggest that
neither labor organizations nor any other
form OF protection can. secure to labor
permanent immunity Il the general level OF
prices continues to fall. The idle man Is the
menace TO the man who has employment, and
tho number OF idle men must necessarily in.
crease II we have n money system which con
Btantly raises the value OF the dollar and con.
Btantly lowers The market value OF the products
OF labor. 4 few cheers. but the applause was
mot gcneral.l
"Now. my friends, that Is all that l want to
say on the subject upon which | like TO talk
mostethe money question. l don't expect to
elaborate on the subject. because, while the la
boring men arc concerned in the proper set
Element OF the question. whether il be
IN my way or, in. some other way,
their interests are identified with the intereyts