The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-18
BIG MEETINGS AT GLENS FALLS.
Col. Roosevelt Speaks on the Labor Ques'
ton in the Opera HouHe.

Col. Roosevelt Speaks on the Labor Cues
ton in the Opera House.
GLENs FALLS. Oct. 17.-As Col. Roosevelt's
train neared this place the blare OF a brass
band penetrated the car windows. The citizens
OF Glens Falls had conn down to make their
political guests welcome. All hands were loaded
into hacks and taken to the Rockwell House.
Col. Roosevelt, Lieut. Gov. Woodruff. and Gen.
Woodford went to State Treasurer Colvin's to
dinner. There were three big meetings at Z
O'Clock. The biggest was in the main hall OF
the Opera House. and was presided over by
NJ. B. Little OF the Mckinley League. The big
speech at this meeting was made by Col. Roose-
welt. After talking for q moment to the volun-
teers he found in front OF him. he turned to
labor subjects, and said:
II realize fully that l have been nominated
for Governor because the mass Of my fellow
Republicans showed their belief that l should
be nominated. And exactly as l know that l
| owe my nomination to the people. so. II elected.
1 shall feel that l owe my election to the peo-
pie. and to the people 1 shall hold myself ac-
countable for the administration OF the great
office intrusted to my hands. And l shall
strive so to administer it as to make each citi-
zen OF New York feel a little prouder at the
end of my term Of office that he is a citizen Of
New York. Iwant to thank you for the way
you have greeted me.
Now a word as To what we are given to call
the interests Of labor. So far as possible l hope
always to treat the interests OF every mar as I
do those of every other man-that is. to treat
all alike as Americans. But we have all OF us
grown to recognize that in the complex con-
dition OF modern life it Is necessary on certain
points to consider the interests Of men in
groups. Workmen who work primarily with
their hands form a great body. with pecul-
lar and special interests. This being the
fact, it Is wise to recognize it. for 1t is
always wise to recognize facts. During the
last fifteen years most OF us have. l think,
seen q good deal OF light upon these labor
problems. know 1 have. Fifteen years ago
1 shrunk from taking part in any steps for their
solution. which l now believe to be wise and
Rro %es wise " so3 to ABB a6o iHdie the frene convict or fsat Contract inst
OF labor under certain conditions. 1 still
s seSIIflhe 4p IS fsF0 he first at reqn nsit 'H and that
u man must always rely chiefly ppon his
l recognize now. ms | did not recognize and rs
few people recognized then, the very great
good that can be accomplished by mems acting
In combination with each other. in the form oil
trades unions. or otherwise. but furthermore
tb@ e in SaS e'i q The fnf state sateY should hon Hif nsv sr'b be "t caiied
upon to interfere unless we are certain thatth
end is good and that Il cannot be as vel at.
three facts are established. thcn II becomes oul
duty TO soc that the state docs interfere And
no general law can be laid down that will apply
to all cases. Each must be Judged on III
merits, and we must follow neither the doc
trinaire who would have the State do every,
thing or that other doctrinaire who woulC
have the State do nothing, We have the righi
have the right 10 make and enforce law agains
sweat shops in tenement houses. II is right K
take such steps for the same reason to estab
lish q police and lire system, when the growth
Of the community reaches a point when IT Ia M
longer desirable to leave to each man the pro
lection of his own property:
My attention was first wildly drawn TO thes'
questions fifteen years ago, when In the New
York Legislature. was in connection will
the bill prohibiting the manufacture OF cigar
in enement houses. Like many other .younI
men | had been trained in what was styled tn,
Manchester school OF political economy. and
started in my Investigations with the theor,
that the state should not Interfere with, wha
either landlord OF tenant did In the building
After thorough investigation l became con
vincud that the tenement house cigar factor
system was productive of great evils. both Z
| those who were their immediate, victims and I
in working for its abolition. It was thi
that first set me to study the labor problem
and the problems Of life in the quarters Of GU
big cities from which certain bodies OF GU
/ studied them from the standpoint either G
+. the theorist or the political demagoRue.,
: have been over them at hrst hand. and ais
, with men like Jacob Reiss. MIR. Arthur ,,No
, Shaw. Mr.. Reynolds Of the University Settle
+, ment. aud various leaders and organizers {
n the different trades unions. l became coy
|, WINGED that II was necessary TO have III
I all workingmen, am happy 70 say th;
> the great bulk of the Legislation beneficial
! Wedding Invitations.