The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-11
TWO SPIRITED TALKS.
Discussion Of the Economic Questions
by ]. w. Slayton and U. P. Geiger.
Two Federation of Labor Delegates.
Academy of Music Well Filled with
Enthusiastic Workmen.

Two addresses, filled with spirit and
marked with utterances that conveyed
the plainest meaning in the most direct
way. were made in the Academy or
Music last night. under the auspices
of the Central Labor union.
The speakers We're j. W. Slaytoh,
from the western part of the state ana
T.. p. Geger. of Dayton. Ohio. Both
are delegates to the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor convention. now i'll
progress in Scranton.
The audience that greeted them was
not a large one, but it was enthusiastic.
50 enthusiastic that all of the more
pointed statements of the speakers
were applauded to the echo. In the
gathering were several women. VINO
showed an earnest interest in the pro-
ceedings.
The purpose of both speakers was to
point out and emphasize the necessity
of the union of workmen if they would
accomplish what the speakers said was
necessary. the establishment or for
nation of an economic society. which
would give to the worliingn,an. the
toiler. that which he produced. and
would make the capitalist toll for the
wealth which he was not enjoying.
they said. at the expense of the bodily
comforts of their employees.
This thought was uppermosi in the
talk of both speakers. that they should
bring abou, II change in the relations
OF capital and labor. such as would
bring about Il different division than
at present.
4
fOrcibe of the two. He is intensely
in earnest and when he wakes warn,
he makes Il stirring talk. He said that
the Wase-earners were suffering from
blanket injunctionS and lockout or
ders from the court. wholly because
they We're divided by the cry of the
capitalists who stirred up religious and
other prejudices. to all of which the
wOrkmen listened and pondered over.
the one thinking that perhaps he was
better than the other. This gave the
opportunity to fiji the legislatures with
men who made laws for the working
man that the courts punctured with
holes through which the corporation
lawyers could be seen crawling. He
urged the men to stand together and
elect men to the legislatures who would
enact fit legislation. and to put on the
bench Judges who would interpret the
laws and leave it to the executive de
partments to carry them out.
Mr. Geiger pitched into the "traitor
Gus" officials who We're purpOsely
evadinS the duty binding on them of
enforcing the anti-child labor laws on
the statute books of Pennsylvania.
This sending of children to the break
er and the silk mill before they have
matured physically was Il means of
making them abject slaves to the cap
italis1s later in life; they had less Wig
or and strength to battle for their
rights.
Mr.. Geiser produced many arguments
in support of his pronosition that the
present economic system denied III"
workingman of his just share of the
wealth that was the result of his ,oi
This system. he claimed. would con-
tnuc so long as the lahorer does not
own the tools by which he produced the
wealth. and So long as the capitalist
continued to monopolize everything in
sight. at the same time refusing to
work his four. or five. or eight hours
per day lik" the men who gave to him
his wealth.
The time is coming. Mr.. Geigcr pre-
aicted when the wage -earncr will own
his own tools and when the capitalist
will have to work. Then the wage
Garner will be in a position to give the
other fellow the kind of injunction that
he deserves.
In conclusion he urged organization
as the means to bring about the equal
ily that he claimed should exist.
Among those who accompanied the
speakers to Carbondale We're +. j.
Shea and Fred Surne. of the executive
committee of the striking employees of
the Scranton Railway company.
Another Meeting Thursday.
There will be another public meeting
in tn" Academy of Music on Thursday
night. Besides Mr.. Slayton and Mr..
Geiger. Delegate Barnes of Phladel-
phia. and Max Hayes. the western
political labor light. viii speak. The
party will arrive here in the early
evening, and will visit and address the
different labor unions OF the town be-
fore appearing AT the public meeting.
Two of the speakers will go to Forest
City and talk to the miners of that
place and NandIinS.
Another Case of niOhthe