The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-09-15
GOMpfRS' SPEECH
on lABOA DAY AT CLEVELAND
OHIO.
Sound Trade Union Argume At
Parties Have Accomplished the
Most For LabOr-If Any Doubt
Then Read This Speech.


That f~ n Labor Question:. Let
Then Read This speech.
Fellow Workmen and Women: 1t
has been a thought long harbored in
my mind whether speeches are ap-
propriate on Labor Day, or whether
they do not come in conflict with the
festivities of the day. The thought
came to me whether some modification
is no necessary in celebrating Labor
Day. I believe the people of this
country have too few holidays and too
few days for physical and mental rest.
I would not interfere with the pleasure
Of my fellow laborers. It may not be
long time before the laboring men may
decide to have their speeches the day
before or the day after Labor Day, and
have Labor Day itself given up to
sports.
This day, Labor Day, is one which
has sunk deepest in the hearts of the
American people, 1t differs from all
other holidays in the year and it diff
fers in it's demonstration. We have
no battle fields to remember or heroes
to glorify, but we come together de-
claring our rights, looking back up
on the past and upon the struggle that
has been made. We claim that it is
unjust to say that those who fall on the
battle field are heroes and those who
fall on the field of industry are no
boes. We say that laborers are not re-
ceiving their just reward, and as we
come together, we declare that stronger
efforts shall be made to secure justice
for the toling masses.
Progress Due to Organization.
I'VE shall not attempt to deny that
there has been great improvement
amony the working people, but deny
that the improvement in their con-
dition dates back only one year or
two years or six years, or that it is due
to any political party. 1t is due to the
working people themselves who are
organized. We have great cause to feel
gratified at our progress if we look
back to the beginning of our country.
It is an erroeous idea that the Ameri
can people were always free and in
dependent American citizens. Only
l2O years ago white laboring men were
sold and less than 100 years ago, when
men came together to discuss the wage
question they were put into prison as
conspirators. 1t issa5s enconra ging to
HOOD 81 our s5rkingI people tod
TN all theSs struggles, in all the plat
forms, In all the theories of political
parties the only progress that has been
made in the improvement of the con-
dition of the working people has been
brought about solely and alone by the
trade union movement. I am not here
to discuss politics: I shall avoid it..
In the midst of the great political cam
paign that is coming on you will be
told this and that, but after election
you will want the trade unions to pro-
tect you. Whatever is promised you
that is in opposition to trades unionism
you should reject with contempt.
Ex There IA Labor Question:
"Some persons dispute that there is
a labor question and say that the ques-
| ton springs from the idle vaporings of
the labor agitator. Up to the present
| time labor organizing is not a profess
| sion, but hope that it will be before
| long, because professions are always
regarded as respectable. If any one
| denies that there is labor question,
ask him to go into the southern states
and see the miners working from early
| morning until late at night without a
day of rest. Let him go to the textile
| factories of the south and New Eng
land and see men walking the streets.
| and women working in the mills.
Let him go into the several shops of ali
| the large cities and see the children at
| work. Let him see the men in the
highways vainly seeking work. Let
| him ask men who are crowded out by
| trusts if there is such a thing as a
labor question. Their answers will be
| that it is the burning question of the
| hour and Of the century. On one hand
| today we find vast accumulation of
wealth. There is no small individual
employer of labor. Individual firms
are gone. Partnerships are a thing of
| the past. We see today the wonderful
production of wealth Vaster than in the
| history of men: wealth that would daze
! our forefathers. Yet no one can deny
i that there is just as much struggle
for existence today as when men work
ed according to the most primative
methods. We propose to go down into
the depth of misery and despair and
Il lift up our fellow workers.
II The Dollar Above the Man.
"This commercialism must find its
result in commercial democracy.
I little over a month ago we read Of q
great contlagration at Hoboken, an6
that men and women who jumped into
the river were allowed to perish be.
cause they told the tug men that they
had nothing to pay them for rescuing
them. That is the spirit of CONNER.
cialism of our day. It is the dollar tina
is above the man. We pass by with
scarcely comment when we see me1
in factories drive the lives out of men
women and Children. That is the result
of the commercial spirit, which know:
no God except the almighty dollar.
! II am no pessimist. Those who
know me best say that I am an Opt
mist. | am not unmindful of our pro
| fn G.