The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1897-09-07
LHBOR DEY.

the celebration was declared of at the last
moment, and the address was not made, but is
published as we have it in type, and have not
time to I'LL the space.-ED. MI
Mr.. President, Bretheren 0fthe Min
ers' Union, and Ladies and Gen.
uemen:
Our friendly and welcome
gathering is to celebrate in honor
of and in the behalf of the cause
of organized labor. This cause
has become so important to our
nation that our legislators have
seen fit to make this a holiday, a
sacred day. 1t is fitting that we
she uld thus meet in social life, to
discuss what may be for the in
ter est of this class of toilers, and
to celebrate this annual of it's re.
turn with music and banners and
rejoicing; although it is our be.
lief and hope as we'll, that all
other Orders or Unions will join
in this days rejoicing; and, ulti-
mately will harmonic in the
great work.
THE ORIGIN OF ORGANIZED
LABOR.
The system of all organized
labor has been a matter of self.
prese walton. Those requiring
labor to carry on their schemes
Ct ever-increasing profits hac
combined to procure the enact
ment of statutes and made com
binations-all tending to encom-
pass labor in it's web, until Its re-
ward was barely sufficient to
sustain life in many portions Of
our nation. And, at the present
time, the result of these comb
nations under these unjust stat
utes is marked by millions of un-
employed and thousands on
thousands who are hopelessly
left to starve. We need not go
to India to correct bad manage
ment or to bestow our charity
except it shall be to blind the
eyes of our people to the sorrow
and hunger that prevails at
home.
W. have missionary work, in
superabundance, here, at less ex-
pense, with nobler results. Let
us perform this first and do it
well and, then, if we have char
ity to bestow, we might give a
helping hand to Ireland, The
Queen is rich, She and her home
people will care for India.
1t is their acts that have des.
troyed India. let them make the
atonement. They have reaped
the reward of the destruction,
let them pay for the redemption.
THE CONFLICT.
There is, in the present state
of society a living conflict be-
tween the employer and the EN-.
ployed or. rather, between capt.
al and labor, 1t is the constant
effort of capital to cbta.u no
toll from each one in its employ
at less wages, Would it MT 3.
more just to combine to raise the
price of the products of labor,
and give unto labor a living re.
ward ? We fear our men of great
wealth have reversed the correct
rule,
But, on the other hand, some
laborers, either from an indolent
nature or from a disposition tc
resist the aggressive demand Of
the employee seek, in turn, tc
do as little work as possible, an6
to receive as much pay as may
by any means, be forced from
those who need help to carry or
their enterprises. But this las
charge is not applicable to the
mass of our laborers. The mos
of laboring men and women arc
DESTROYS of doing faithful work
Iof Ialr pay; and, II capital would
join to that end, life would be
sweeter, home happier, anc
there would be less injustice
starvation and death in our land
We pray for their aid in this
good work. But while the lab
orers are willing to give of theil
abundance of strength and skill
to aid those who have work tt
be performed, | fear it Is not sc
universally the case with those
who need labor, to be willing t.
yield of their abundance of prof
flair share to those who have
made their gains possible, Thi,
is MISUNDERSTANDING; and her,
comes a conflict that will neve
end-except in slavery to thos,
who toll; or in general reform
or in a revolution Of blood. an,
that too probably in our genera
ton. | am no alarmist and hav,
the utmost faith in the final good
ness and ability of the Americai