The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-05

| has secured reductions In the hours OF
labor, factory inspection laws. laws lot
the safety and protection OF health, child
labor. compulsory education, boards OF
Cancellation and arbitration, and numer-
ous other laws FOR the improvement and
ameIloration of the condition OF the
| masses, and among other laws Of recent
enactment may be mentioned our own
state law creating the State Society OF
Labor and Industry. The passage OF THIS
law without doubt marks the most I'M
nortant advancement in the progress OF
organized labor that has ever been made,
and furnishes a fitting climax OF the eI-
forts and achievements OF organized
labor in this. the closing years OF the
nineteenth century. Perhaps the most
prominent feature of the law Is that
which enables the labor associations and
societies of the state to name the Of
hcials Of the state labor bureau. thus re-
moving this important branch OF our
state government from the domain OF
partisan politics. The annual conventions
of the State Society Of Labor and In
dustry composed OF men fresh from the
factory, railway, field and shop who are
familiar with the needs and wants OF
labor will constitute an important FACTOR
in the initiation of beneficial legislation
for our social and industrial life. Ana
let me say to the toiling masses that
their emancipation must be wrought by
the hand of labor alone. "He who would
be free must first strike the blow" On
ha
demanding a higher education on social
conditions. The onward march IS phe-
nomenal. Students of the economic con-
ditions multiply by thousands. Labor
and economic literature is read by the
millions daily. These are cheering signs
OF progress in our present civilization
And It is well, for too long has the Gre
atoms of organized capital monoDohzed
the products of labor. Too long have the
combines and trusts held sway and given
out TO labor a pittance upon which To
subsist. Too long has labor been sub
servient, the willing slave with bowed
head acting at the dictates Of the master.
It has been the custom in the PAST 10
view labor as a suppliant for privileges
rather than on the plane of equally.
what shall we do for labor?" is tHe
usual tone OF recognition handed down
for centuries. But bark! Far above the
maddening roar and din Of the workshop
and from ali lines and branches of labor
we hear a strong voice asking the Ques-
ton: what shall labor do for itself?''
The answer Is in evidence here today.
Labor can organize, 1t can consolidate
and unity its forces. 1t can educate the
masses along the line Of self govern
ment: Il can then demand and command.
Such are the possibilities through organ
ization and education. We must con-
tinue along these lines until consti,u-
tions, courts and laws based upon pr.n-
ciples Of Justice shall deal with equality
with all our people. To the thoughtful
student OF the progress cf the age our
industrial systems have assumed phase
almost revolutionary in character in the
last century. Beginning with the simpler
forms OF organization in our society
along competitive lines OF trade our com
merce has extended until az the present
time We see around US vast monoDo,ies
and trusts engaging in every line Of COM :
merce. Considering their extensive raTt-
flea tons Il may we'll be said that Il IS
"a condition and not a theory that con-
fronts Us" \ condition that has evolved
out OF the brains % ambitious men |ho
have taken advantage 81 the law and
have strayed from the old practices OF
honest and legitimate competition in inii-
vidual lines For a moment let Us dag
nose the origin and progress ,os these n
dustr.al mcno9olies. As in al sOecuia-
ton. wealth means power. the more
power. Thus he tendency to concen-
trate capital. increase the chances %
power and control OF the f4,d or terri
tory Of cp-rari n. Thus m1nacoll=s are
or gina;eI and organized. There are bli
two recognized me hods q business: The
and the nnonoH ,Iizr.c. Taev
present the extremes OF ;wD systems d.
rectly opposite. and opposed in eve-y IS
sentIal Yet the latter t. THE outgrovth
O fthe former. due % an abu-e q r,awe-
and a lack OF regulation The .Bonsy-o-
listic system prints % ~ Interference
with SIS plans and through .-z a--a1iez
SEEKS 10 coatroi all The avenue -ka- Eai
II wealth and power. Even though 9: bs
to sacrifice the l-dlyid-al ard
coerce the people. IL forces ne q nina
;ion Of al competition. either il the u-y-
duct!on or the dis;riSctiol q produces.
ant forces the wou.d-te competitor into
retirement Therefore. he must &, -
great army % unemployed ana adj ore
more 20 the struggling rii... re .ha; have
been and A-e bring product ~ our
m1Eopolistic system The Trends = ihsss
n -ngpoiss claim tia. her neth Is az
legitimate, that by operating isrge cap
Ia under one management. thz, ~ n n
Ifscturing products N IA-ee cuzEtI,ie<.
buying materials n sh,olos6s aDd train
Ioats a, reduced rates. tia; n sbtalnI-g
~ cot, that in aEssrsbut-
as Their goods 20 the Consumer Without
the use OF the informed a-y OF whole-