Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-07
BRYAN TO WORkINGMEN
Silver Leader Addresses Tremendous Gather.
ing at St. Louis.
While COmTnending Trades Union,
and Education for the TOiler, He
Talks Politics, Too.

The feature of the Labor day celebration
in st. Louis, Mo, yesterday was adj
dress by w j. Bryan at Concordia Park.
The biggest crowd ever seen in the park
greeted the speaker. His speech through
out was enthusiastically applauded. Pre-
vious to the meeting MIR. Bryan reviewed
parade of 1J,UD0 laboring men. He spoke
in part follows:
w lille l find pleasure in participating in
the exercises of this day, l am also act
uated by a sense of duty, because the OBJ
servance of Labor day affords me an OPP
portunity of discussion of those questions
which especially concern the producers of
wealth. In Il pamphlet written by a dis
tinguished New York banker find the as
sertion that the prosperity of farmers and
1aborers depends upon the prosperity of the
business man. So long as one entertaih$
such idea ne is certain to entertain
erroneous views upon social and political
questions All of the literary. professional
and commercial classes will find upon in
vestigation that they rest upon those whose
brain and muscle convert the natural re-
sources of the country into material wealth.
Not only must any real prosperity begin
with those who toll, but the nations pro-
gress toward higher civilization must be
measured by the progress made by the pro-
ducing classes. Under every form of gov
eminent it has been possible to point to a
few persons possessed of means and re-
finement. but it is the average progress.
not the progress of the few. that must be
considered The Improvement to be hoped
for must come from efforts outside of poll
tics.
Mental discipline, moral training, habits
Of industry and economy all have their
part in improving the general condition OF
our people. and yet the influence of leSis-
lation must not be overlooked. A form Of
government like ours makes it possible for
the people to have such legislation as they
desire. but even then it is possible for d
few persons to overreach the people "a
whole. The welfare of the people must be
sought. not in the securing of special priv
ileges to themselves. but in the denying of
special privileges to any one.
THE labor organization has been one of
the most potent influences in improving
the condition of the wage-earners. Labor
organizations almost entirely respon-
sihle for the fact that the skilled labor
wages have not fallen as much prices,
although they have not always succeeded
In keeping employment up to full time.
While giving to these organizations
credit for what they have done it 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
fall. The iI.le man is the menace to the
man who has employment, and the num-
ber of idle men must necessarily in
crease if we have a money system which
and constantly lowers the market value
of the products of labor. Arbitration of
differences between large corporate en-
ployers and their employees is one of the
political reforms most needed by wage
earners- Until arbitration is secured the
strike is the only weapon within the reach
OF labor Society at large is interested
in the application of the principle of arb,-
tration to the differences which arise from
time TO time between corporations and the
employees.
Laborlug people have a special interest
just now in securing relief from what is
aptly described as government by injunc-
t1on- The extent to which the writ of
injunction has been abused within recent
years has aroused hostility which is al
most universal. 1t is only a question of
time when government by injunction will
be cured by legislation. The main pur-
pose Of the writ of injunction is to avoid
trial by jury Trial by jury is more i'm
portant TO the American people today than
il ever was before in our nations history
IL was originally intended as a protection
against royalty and it is today the main
protection of the people against plutocracy
winch Is to this country what royalty is
under monarchial form of government ~
AT night Mr. Bryan was given a reception
at the Jefferson club. At least 5000 people
attended.