Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-04-12


upon the waters, has returned.
President Hayes came here, said
the Senator, practically stranger,
in a critical time. He had been con-
fronted with great obstacles, but with
wisdom, moderation, calmness. al
ways with fairness, he solved the
problem. He won the respect of the
community and taught the people
how workingmen could conduct them
selves in the hour of trial. He came
here as a friend, not foe; to help,
not to injure; to build up, not to
tear down. That in word was the
history of the labor movement Con-
tinuing, the speaker said that labor,
like everything else, organizes, COM
bines, Trades, like bodies of people,
believing in a particular religious
dogma, form a societF. When men
do this they become brothers and
friends; they become fraternal. That
helps civilization. 1t helps society
Senator Stokes then spoke of the re-
lations of CAPT al1and labor, and gave
certain advice labor that would
benefit and hep and closed, urging
the men to make organization the
watchword, and with another tribute
to President Hayes, concluded his
very able argument.
Such an ovation as given President
Hayes indicated how the men appre-
ciated his efforts, respected and ad-
mired the man. and it too had the
effect of embarrassing him consider
ably. He decared that this was
the happieSt, proudest moment of his
life, and never before had he received
such encouragement. 1t would be
impossible to quote President Hayes
in brief space 1t would be unfair
to attempt to cut his address in re-
porting and rob it of it's merit and
dictation. He refused to alone re-
ceive the credit for the work that
had been accomplished here. The
changed conditions were wrought
by the loyal stand of the trade, by
the encouragement of the people of
the community. While defending
the strike of year ago, he declared
he hoped there would never be an
other here. There should not The
effort of his organization was to
prevent. He wanted prosperity for
the manufacturers for that was the
| Ilpncnapitu nf oop To
wanted the highest possible wages
for the men, and he wanted that
wage paid in cash that the workman
and his family might have the ad-
vantages that the wages would bring.
He wanted the children not only to
have ordinary education, but the ad-
vantage of the arts and accomplish
mentS.
He did not come here to tear down
the company store. He paid his re-
spect to some store systems, but the
company had a right to do store
business and the men had a right to
deal there. He did, however, object
to any attempt to interfere with. cash
payment of the wages If the COM
pany store wanted mans trade sutfi-
GENTLY to give him credit, then the
store should permit the wage earners
the privilege of coming to the store
and paying his bills as any other
man would.
He spoke of the efforts of the
Board of Trade to locate industry
here. He thought such action COM
mendable, but, he urged the Board to
always have in mind that the pros
perity of the town depended upon the
wage earners, and-if manufacturing
spectators wanted to come to
BridgetOn to get the advantage of
cheap labor, then the Board would
be doing Bridgeton great service
when it declared to that speculator,
! "We don't want you; our wage earn
erS want the very best wages in the
country" This suggestion he made
very forcibly and firmly held the
position that town could not pros
per filled with class Of manufacture
ers who were jumping all around the
country trying to locate where wages
could be cut and shaved.
He took occasion in closing to thank
the glass workers and the people
OF Bridgeton for their distinguished
consideration, and said that he hoped
these occasions would be annual
events, and urged that in the future
the business men, the professional
men, the manufacturers might be
brought to talk together with the
wofkmen. 81
This. address terminated the very
successful banquet, and three ringing
cheers were. given the President.
i The committee having the matter