The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-03

AT the exercises in connection with
the opening of the rooms of the North
End Republican club Thursday night,
in the Auditorium. an address, of
which the following is part, was
made by II. j. Reynolds, the Republic
can candidate for legislature in the
First district:
The hand that holds Alal,lin's lamp must be
the hand of toll. This nation rests on the
shoulders of the laboring man. Therefore, let
us feel that this is our country and that the
shield Of protection must be placed over our
labor. Let us be loyal one to another; then
the rich cannot oppress the poor. for the poor
are in the majority The laboring men, those OF
us who in some way work for our living, can
elect every senator, every congressman. every
legislature and every judge. We can make the
Jaws and we can interpret the laws so If capital
oppresscs labor in these United States, and it
does, we. the hboriny element, arc simply our.
selves to blame. For, dear friends, the ballot
Is the throne of tic laboring man. ihe ballot
box is the ark OF the covenant.
Unless we sec TO it that every man who has
vote votes, and unless VIC see to it that every
honest vote is counted, the days OF our re.
public are numbered.
| an, not only in favor of frct speech, but I
am also in favor Of absolutely honest bal.
lot. There is one king in this country, one
supreme ear, and this is the legally expressed
will of the people.
Corporation, or class of men who wants So
worth OF work for 81 are not honest, and. more.
over. they are utterly hca,tlcss. Why should Ia.
Dor fill the world with wealth and live in
want? No doubt you will all agree with me
when say reasonable labor is a source Of joy.
TO work for wife and child. to toll for those
we love, is lmppiness prvdcd, however, we are
paid enough to make them happy. But to work
like slave, to see your dear wife and little
children poorly clad, to sit at table where
food is coarse and scarce. to rise at four or five
in the morning, to work all day and throw
your tired bones upon miserable bed ut night,
TO live without leisure, without making those
you love comfortable and happy. this is not
living. gentlemen; it is dying a slow, lingering
cr'lcifxion. The hours OF labor should be
shortened. With the vast and wonderful i'm
provements OF the nineteenth century there
should not only be the ncccssaries of life for
those who toll, but comforts and luxures as
well. What is reasonable price for labor? !
answer, such a price that will enable him to
live rs he ought to live. To have the comforts
of life. to be able to lay by something for his
declining years, to own his home, his fire.
side. SO that lie can preserve the feeling OF man.
Gentlemen, from my early youth to the present
day have been very closely identified with the
son of toll, having entered the preparatory
school known to you and l as the breaker,
graduated from the breaker to enter the col
lcgc of the Sloan and Central mines; therefore,
| deeply sympathizc with every honest effort
made by the children OF labor to improve their
conditions.
In conclusion I wish to say to you, should
you elect me as your representative to the leg
islature l am the sole proprietor of myself: no
corporations, 40 clique of men have deed OF
trust what little brain | have, and as long |
as | can get my part of the common air /
am going to exercise my honest convictions