The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-06

CeL Levvis Speaks of Organized In.
Der md Aeansng Of the Holiday.

Bar and Meaning 81 the Holiday.
Chairman Armstrong next presented .
ssas audience Congressman Lewis, briefly
saying that the speaker needed no intro
cscslon TO Seattle audience. Col. Lewis
came promptly forward w!th Chester
neldian ho~. ard began his Grafton
I presume" said he. Mr.. Chairman ana
ladies and gentlemen. that you have prob
ably come to the conclusion by this tine
asE talking. GAughter.) This suggestion
reminds me Of two Irishnan who me. By
chance. One asked the other where he
"az going TO Noiahgra Falls.' was the
reply. IN broad brogue sF.hwat.' said
Lac hfsf Irishraan in establishment, IS that
pace runnin' YETI So I fancy when you,
1eiiow citizens, see ne booked for a new
speech, o. come 10 hear me az yo, have
to-day, You are inclined 10 repeat cae
Exclamation o. the Irishnan. ana say,
" at' Is he running YETI" n.aughter1
Col Levi. acknowledged the compliment
paid him By the chairman. who had snoksn
o. ann as friend OF the Western Central
Labor Union. He claimed that ht. bore \
peculiar relation 10 the audience because
o. his early career il Seattle. saying that
during the hardss1ips ne had to contend
with. when wealthy friends mad been un-
able or unwilling 10 assist ham. he had
round Trends among the iaboring men.
ana mat whatever success he had attained
tn HE ne owed IL 20 his friends Of the
western Central Labor Union. He next
paid handsome tribute 10 the address
Just delivered by Gov. Rogers, pronsylinc-
Ing IT able and classical Lavish with Mn
compliments, he also thanked the foliew-
ers OF Henry George who now lies in
state In heaven" for giving up their cele-
psdlloh 10 Join the general cause OF labor
Advancing more directly 10 his theme.
Col Lewis warned his auditors OF the idea
enat Labor day was mere holiday. urs-
Ing that 1t was something more than an
occasion Tor sport and recreation; that il
was chosen anniversary upon which tn,
iaooring people especially might come TO-
gesher for suitable and worthy sugges-
tons, calculated TO advance their inter-
esss. As an anniversary, commemorative
and educative, he compared Ii 10 Easter
morning. whose bright resurrection dawn
ne painted IN poetic co.ors as observed by
the disciples Of the lowly Nazarene. and 10
the national anniversary OF American
freedom, the Fourth Of July. "On the ma
tons birthday" said he I'VE as citizens
join in its festivities not merely because It
IS holiday, but because II gives us an
opportunity to instill into the minds OF our
children the great principles OF freedom on
which the American republic is founded"
Reasons for Labor Day.
He argued that Labor day should be cele-
hrated In a similar spirit, as a great day
OF justice. In an Ideal world. the speaker
contended. In world Of perfect freedom
and equal rights. such celebrations would
be unnecessary. and labor unions them
selves would have no reason for existing.
II was only the struggle between the two
great conflicting interests In the world that
rendered them necessary.
He spoke In touching terms of the homo
life OF the workingman. saying that hut
for the dependent mother or wife and chill
dren al home the iahorer would be willing
TO meet his oppressor face to face single
handed and in any case OF gross provoca-
ton desnoi.sh him the spot. He ad-
yanced the, Idea that the real object Of
labor erganiza tons is not 10 take from cap
ital its property, but 10 claim fer .ab0r
what II has already earned and what.
therefore. r.ghtfully belongs 10 II.
Another false conception against which
the speaker cautioned his auditors was the
~ for the purpose OF raising wages. II
gaining an extra dollar were all the work
Ing man had In view, he said, Il would be
easy for him 20 work on through the night
and thus make money. He depicted the
sad side OF the life Of an honest laborer
who had TO get up a, o'clock in the morn
ing. leaving his children stll asleep. and
hasten away 10 his days work, and on re-
turning home at night had the privilege 81
merely kissdng the sleeping eyeIids OF his
little babe, with no opportunity Of even
getting acquainted with his own children.
What right has any man or set ~ men,
he asked ito compel men 10 labor thus
from day to day and die without knowing
what Is 10 become OF their wives and chil-
dreur Is life then. 10 be made mere *
sstencee Is the laboTer 20 have m ku0wl-
edge of the stars that twinkle above his
head. OF the flowers az the earth. of the
world OF nature and OF art that is around
him on every side9 He canno: gain a
knowledge az these things without oppor-
fun,y. and he cannot have the Opportunity
without tign. II IS for this reason and
with this object In view that labor unions
address Themselves TO he task OF securing
better hours, They demand proper hours
for working nlen. not merely fer physical
rest. but fer the cultivation Of horne lie
and OF the higher side " humanity"
Not n Favor. But Right.
TIE demands Of the laborcr. the speaker
said. were made not as asking q favor.
bat a right. IL order 70 secure For himself
"A larger and just proportion o. what was
originally his own by right Of creation.
lie quoted from, Daniel Webster 10 TIRE e.
feet that time viii come when cagsl;al
will realize that the capital of capital IS
labor, and applied tina prophecy - the CO.
ericrtS OF labor unions
lie deprecated the charge made from
certain sources that the object % labor
unions Is 10 war against wealth. 'faose
who make such p statement" said ne.
simply show themselves iEDoramtlseS.
We make no war against wealth as wealth.
We war against the Dad uses 10 which t1at
wealth fs piTt in depressing the lanorTr.
ard against the unjust methods oaaich are
Yesorted 10 In order 70 acquire IL, 81 Ear
from hating wealth or warning against IL.
the wcil-iator~rsed idhorer recognizes the
fact that .he acquisition - wealth g the
goal toward Whtch his OWE efforts tend
Col f.sw.s drew ptcheisc picture ( he
work .ugvnen who had lnArS@ed out a. theSr
ceuntrv's cali ~ fgEi az SANTIAGO. and