Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-09-15
BRYANTOLABORER
Democratic Nominee Talks 70
the Workingnen
THEY DO not FAVOR LAWlEssHESS
ment by Injunction Are the Best
Friends of Law and OrderFa-
Vors Labor Cabinet OmceE.

Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: I am greatly obliged to the COM
mittee for the invitation which enables
me to participate in the celebration of
| Labor day at this place. This day
has been wisely set apart by law to
emphasize the dignity of labor and
for the consideration of those sub
! jects which especially AFFECT the in
| terests of the Wage-earner. The labor
ing men constitute so large and so in
| dispensable a portion of the pOpula-
| ton that no social, economic or polit-
| zeal question can be treated without
an investigation of their connection
| Herewith But there are some Ques-
tions which touch them Immediately,
while others only operate upon them
in a general way.
The first thing to be considered is
the laboring mans ambition; what are
his aims and his purposes; for what
is ne striving? The animal needs only
food and shelter because he has moth
ing but a body to care for; but mans
wants are more numerous. The ami
NAL complains when it is hungry, and
is contented when its munger is ap-
| peased; but man, made in the image
of his Creator, is a three-fold being
and must develop the head and the
heart az well as the Dody. He is not
satisfied with mere physical existence;
neither will he be content unless all
avenues of advancement are open to
him. His possibilities must be as un-
limited as his aspirations.
In other countries and in other civ
ilizatiO1--, men have been condemned
by birth to a particular occupation,
place and caste; in this country each
man, however or wherever born, can
| strive for the highest rewards in bust
| ness, state or church, and these aVen-
ues of advancement must be kept open.
No civilization can be considered
perfect which does not plant hope
in the breast Of every c2iid born into
the world: the nearer we approach to
this ideal, the better is our civiliza-
ton. Those who complain of exist
ing conditions cannot be put aside as
d1sturbers of the peace. To seek
remedy for every abuse of govern
ment is more patriotic than to profit
by bad systems and then frown down
all criticism. There should be no an
tagonism between those engaged in
the various occupations, and there will
be none when all recognize the mutual
obligations which are due between
citizens. Our desire should be, not
to separate the people into warning
factions, but to bring them into better
acquaintance and greater sympathy
with each other. The enmity which
the poor sometimes feel toward the
rich and the contempt which the rich
somC>Nmes manifest toward the poor
would be avoided if each knew the
other better and both were content to
be guided by the strict rules of JUS
tice.
The extremes of society are really
not as far apart as they appear. Those
who work for wages today may, I'M
der good government, be employers
in few years, and the sons of those
who are employers today may in a
short time be day laborers. Since no
one can save posterity from the evil
effects of a bad law, all should strive
for legislation which will protect each
citizen in his rights and in the en-
Joyment Of the fruits of his own gen.
ius, his own industry and his own
integrity.
1t is of advantage to the rich as well
as to the poor that the children of all
have an opportunity to secure an edu-
cation; for education widens the in
dividuaPs horizon, increases his ca
pacity for usefulness, multiplies his
enioyments and make him in every
way more serviceable to society. Vic
tor Hugo has described the mob as
the human race in misery. Those who
are well-to-do have a selfish interest,
and should feel a moral concern. in
removing despair from every human
breast AS misery is lessened the Sc
curity Of property is increased; hu-
man life is protected in proportion as
happiness is promoted.
Why should the man who eats at a
well supplied table forget the man
whose toll furnishes the food? Why
should the man who warns himself
by the fire forget the man whose labor
in the forest or in the mine brings
forth the fuel? Why should the man
, clad in the best products of the loom,
forget the man whose calloused hands
make fins clothing possible? Both
the consumer and the producer are
J necessary, but of the two the producer
, | comes first in point of time and in
point OF impoE tance. Shall the rose
bud, blooming in beauty and shedding
its fragrance on the air, despise the
. roots of the bush because they come
into actual contact with the soil? De-
stroy the bud and leave the roots and
: q second bud will appear, as beautiful
and as fragrant as the first; but de-
stroy the roots and bud and bush will
perish.
5 How caa the wage-earner secure
that share Of the earth's bountfes and
the governments protection which he
deserves? The associations formed by
1 WOIA1ASmSA nave DSeR productive o.
| much good.
The labor organizations as we nov
find 1t is the product of industrial con
: dftions. The individual found himself
at disadvantage when dealing with
the corporate employer, and the or
, ganizatiOn not only enables him tc
! contend for his rights upon terms
more nearly equal, but it stimulates
2 him to study and understand the con.
ditions which surround him.
The labor organization has beer
s foremost in advocating the reform:
4 which have already been secured Sew
. eral years ago the secret ballot wa.
demanded by the wage-earners fo1
their own protection. That ballot ha.
been obtained, and through its opera
: tons those who toll for individuals o.
corporations are able to protect thei
political rights and to use the ballo
q according to their own Judgments Thi
e is long step in advance.
: There are $50 employees in the posta
Il service of Cuba, of whom only 104 ar,
Americans, and these are chiefly IL