Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-09-17
Benefits Derived From Existing
Relations Between Labor
and Capital.
Measures Suggested That VIII
Bring Prosperity and More
Manufactures.
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE NOW CONCEDED

In accordance with the announcement
in our last issue, we publish this week the
address delivered at Phoenix Hill on the
evening of Labor Day by Mr. Charles N.
Jacques. The orator has for years made
study of the labor problem, and we
commend the perusal of his remarks to
our readers. In addition to being a stu
dent he is an orator of ability with a
pleasing address, and would prove not
only a first-class representative of labor,
but of municipal and business interests
as well.
Mr.. Jacques said in substance:
Fully approaching the honor to myself
and my organization in being selected as
orator of the day, feel called upon to ex-
ercise the constitutional right of every
American citizen, and frequently availed
of by American workmen, to register
"kick." was deprived of the advantage
of suggestions as to the issues l should
discuss, and when l requested such cour-
tesies was dismissed with the remark:
go, go long; you know what to talk
about. Give us any old thing only don't
make it too long"
But in an address upon labor one is
embarrassed not So much for what TO say
as what not to say; by where to begin as
where not to begin; by want of theory
as surfeit of contradictory theories; by
lack of authorities as a superabundance
of conflicting authorities. Under all forms
of government all kinds of civilization.
among all races of people, in all countries
and chimes, circumstances and conditions,
since the world began, is the era and ais
tory of labor. The field is wide and va
ried enough for any theory, and the facts
sufficient to prove almost anything one
may choose to advocate. The subject is
as old as Adam.
But am not going back to the days of
Adam and attempt a speech covering the
field of 1000 years, for there are those
here who would call "time." You are
not here to listen to a long dissertation
on labor, a plea for its rights or a woeful
tale of its grievances. This is labor's
day off, We have laid aside our work,
and with friendly invitation to all labor,
union and non-union, to employers and
business men-everybody-we have gath
cred for recreation and congratulation,
and we have much to feel grateful for.
Living in the richest country, under
the only government of the people, by
the people and for the people, with the
freedom and rights of all men recognized
and protected by law; country of boun-
teens resources, thrifty people whose
push and industry have developed will
derness to lead the agricultural and in
dustrial products of the world, spreading
out from a narrow strip along the Atlantic
till it extends from ocean to ocean, and
increasing in population from about
8, 100, 900 to over 100000 900 in a century;
and in which every right and opportunity
of men for betterment is accorded to all,
regardless of class or condition; where
employment is more diversified, hours of
labor shorter, wages higher, the condi-
ton of workmen better. their rights recog-
nized and opportunities greater than in
any other land.
In this wonderful progress which has
brought the United States to the front in
the progress, the wealth, productiveness
and civilization of the world, American
labor has kept pace. Today the Ameri-
can workman stands far ahead of his fell
low-laborers in other countries. Time
was when laborer's day of toll was from
sun to sun. Then it became ten hours.
Now it is recognized by The Government
and by many private employers as eight
hours, and some workmen need only
labor six or seven hours. Wages have
steadily increased. In no country do
workmen live, dress, enjoy the advantages
of education, comforts and pleasures of
life, as here; own their homes, become
well-to-do, and have open to them every
avenue of improvement and progress.
In country developing so fast circum-
stances have arisen where such privileges
seemed for a time curtailed, more, how
ever, by periods of depression than any
other cause, and the struggle of labor has
been hard and its condition impoverished,
though never universally so nor to the
extent of other Countries
Labor continues to enjoy steady bet
terment of conditions. But what is the
subject of the most congratulation is the
amicable relations between capital and
industrial labor. 1t was not so long ago
that the right of labor to organize was de-
MED by capital. Now, after years of
struggle, no one will deny the right of
labor to unity. In that struggle much
was lost. While capital suffered, labor
always was worsted. The strife engen-
dered a spirit of hate and malice-seemed
to bring forth spirit of destruction to
property and life. Whatever labor may
have resorted to under great provocation,
il is not alone, at times, in resorting to
violence; but when workmen forgot their
duty as citizens, violated the law and re-
sisted its authority, they also forgot their
obligations to organized labor, violated
its law and defed its authority, for organ
lied labor has never approved lawlessness,
but always urges respect for law and au-
thorizes only lawful methods for redress