Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-10-04
PROVES PROSPERITY.
The Nations Condition Shown In
Labor Day Demonstration.
striking Contrast Compared with the
Conditions " hich surrounded
the Same Class of Men
Four Years Ago.

Four Years Ago.
The demonstrations in every city
and hamlet in this country on Labor
day, when the industrial populations
poured through the streets in march
ing order, were certainly gratifying,
whether regarded merely as a pictur-
esque display Of the forces of So
ciety or as a token of the united
spirit which guides the destiny of the
nineteenth century workman. Rank
after rank the marchers in labors
great annual parade presented the
most convincing evidence of the indus
trial prosperity that prevails through
out the United States. In it's personal
appearance, as well as in numbers, the
testimony admitted Of no question.
For hours an army Of wel-fed, we'll
dressed cheerful workingmen filed
through the streets of all large cities,
and in small hamets the parades were
none the less marked. This years
Labor day parade was essentially
demonstration Of the employed fairly
aglow with the signsof satisfaction over
plenty of labor at more remunerative
wages than labor has known in six
years This years demonstration was
the largest, the best-dressed the best
fed and the best paid procession Of
worllingmen this country has ever
seen. There was expansion in its step,
its smile and it's waist measure.
Scarcely four years ago, under the
last Democratic administration, there
was a great agitation for free soup
houses, where the workingmen who
were out OF work. under President
Cleveland's administration. could get
free soup to keep them from starv-
| ing. Those same workingmen. under
only a couple of years of William Nc
! Kinleys administration, are now eat
| ing Sirloin steaks, and the grounds
where the thousands Of soup houses
stood four years ago, are now covered
with factories, employing thousands
of men al good wages Yet the dem
ocratic party leaders, from Mr.. Bry-
an down, are trying to have the work
ingmen 10 vote TO 90 back TO the soup
house condition again. The American
workingman will not vote himself out
of a good steady job at good wages
| for all the soup houses that the last
| Democratic administration produced.
They are all voters. Every man who
holds i'm his hand an implement of la
Dor also holds a ballot For the first
time in the history Of the labor move
ment i'm this country and under a re-
publican administration, the general
prosperity Of the country includes the
prosperity of labor. The steadily in
creasing prosperity in the business
world was distinctly reflected in the
neat and satisfied appearance of the
different organizations. The men and
women marched like people who are
self-confident and self-assertive-who
know that they are a mighty force in
the work Of widening and strengthen
ing the nations fields of industry.
| They marched like men who dignitied
labor by stamping it with their own
manliness.
OF all our annual exhibitions none is
more impressive than that of Labor
| day. 1t is "A grand demonstration OF
wealth-produciug forces, and of the
opportunities which come to men in
| this free country under a republican
| form of government and administra-
| ton The thousands of workers who
make up these annual parades are in
| truth. as is often said, the Drawn and
siuew of the nation. but they also rep
resent a progressive intelligence such
as IL would bc impossible to discover
in the same citizenship of other lands.
From their ranks will spring many OF
the men of affairs and influential pub
lie men Of the future.
Questions of politics should not be
mixed with the principles which are
at the root Of all labor organizations.
Labor is organized for purely eco
nomic purposes But this year the
issue at stake is one which vitality af-
fects the economic welfare of the
whole people, and it is only natural
that the workiugmen should regard
it as worthy Of their best study, both
as individuals and as members of
trade organizations. They will not
let democratic calamity howlers fool
them. as they have not yet forgotten
the last democratic times" of only
few years ago. We hear of their
philanthropy and immense donations
to the poor, but when they give a
dollar they take two dollars off the
workers wages.
A majority Of the people of this
country don't want to ruin the indus
tries of the country nor do they want
an aristocracy Of class. They want
government by and for the peo-
pie. such as we have had for the past
four years. and will have for the next
four labor voting-selfishly perhaps
for its own prosperity.
When the worllingman is prosper
Gus. the whole nation is prosperous.
Better Lend Than Borrow.
Mr.. Bryan views with alarm" the
fact that Americans are lending
money to Great Britain, Germany and