The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-09-07
Mr.. Bryan to LabOring Men.

KANSAS CITY, Sept. 2.-Labor Day
was marked by the largest and most
imposing parade of labor unions ever
seen here and by the participation of
VIM. ]. Bryan in the procession and
exercises. Eight thousand men marched
through the streets, grouped In their
unions, and each union wearing a dis
tiDguishing uniform. Mr.. Bryan oocu-
pied carriage at the head of the line
and was cheered whenever recognized.
The orator of the afternoon was VIM.
j. Bryan. The pavilion at the park
was crowded to suffocation.
Mr.. Bryan took for his text the Bible
verse, "Mnzzle not the OK that treadeth
out the corn:
Mr.. Bryan said:
Each decade Of our history shows
greater production Of wealth, and the
men who produce 1t have less to show
for it. Is this II good condition. A
right condition. The solution of the
problem that confronts us is in legisla-
tion-not In legislation for or against
classes, but for equal justice before the
law. The strike today is the only wea
pom the laborer has, but 1t is weak and
inefficient.
IF the laboring men were half as
active on election day Ms they are in en-
forcement Of their strikes they would
WELD force that would right the evils
which beset them.
1.-The greatest danger Of today Is
private monopoly. Not that any one
monopoly is worse than others, but that
the principle is bad which tolerates any
private monopoly.
II have heard that the true solution
Of the problem is for the laboring man
to divide profits with the trusts. That
has been given as an argument for the
trusts, Such u thing would be immoral
and impolitic. 1t would be like divid-
ing the spoils Of the highwayman. 1t
would be like permitting y man TO rife
your pockets and then offer TO divide
the proceeds with you. Today the only
people who are In sympathy with you
are the others who toll In other parts of
the Lords vineyard, In the present
great steel strike where did the first
expressions Of sympathy come fromf
From Texas. They have no steel mills
there. They are farmers. They are
tillers Of the soil and laborers like your
selves. want TO warn you TO resist
the overtures Of the trusts. Beware
when corporations ask you TO join them.
The farmers can stand the encroach
ments Of the trusts longer than you can.
The farmers live Of their farms, When
the trust prices get 80 high that the
farmers cannot buy they will eat the
products OF their own industry. Their
wives can even 20 back 10 the primitive
method Of making clothes by weaving
But when the farmers can no longer
pay trust prices then there will be no
demand for the products Of your toll
and you can make no more wages,
1.-THE offer Of the trusts 10 divide
with the laboring man IL n pitfall, Can
you trust the corporations to divide
honestlyf No. How many of you
would like to try lawsuit when the
Judge on the bench is the opposing
party to the suitf There are good
judges, good juries, yet do You want
judges aud juries to try cases when
they are interested IN the outcome
themselves1 When you permit private
monopoly to dictate terms Of division
then you place yourselves wholly At
their mercy, You allow them 10 water
their stock and then expect them to d.
vide with labor on Just basis.
lyon are witnessing battle between
labor and the great steel trust This
trust WIS willing 10 uniopize some Of