The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-05
HONOR FOR LABOR
Governor Stanley and Others
Make Speeches.
Capt. J. 6. Waters Delivers a
Characteristic Address.
DENOUNCE THE TRUSTS
Says That They Are Enemies of
Labor.
Two Hundred Delegates Here
Attending State Meeting.
DENOUNCE THE TRUSTS

The third annual convention of the
State Society of Labor and Industry is
in session here now. The regular public
session was held last evening in Repre-
sentative hall, and was Wen attended,
there being about 200 regular delegates
besides q number of outsiders.
Governor Stanley gave the welcome
address, saying ITS a very trite say
ing that we are indebted to labor for
all we have. I am glad to know that this
society is bringing the interests of labor
closer together. The most of US owe our
existence here to the interests of labor,
and it seems to be the lot of oul race
to labor. remember learning when
q boy the saying There is no excellence
legislation, he said: Il have in conjunc-
ton with the secretary Of this organi-
cation been endeavoring to get a law
passed by which men operating trains
might on election day have the oppor-
tunity Of voting
Following Governor StanIey's well
come George T. Whitlock, of Wichita.
president of the society, spoke a short
response, none the less pointed and full
Of good thoughts for laboring men. In
his address he went over briefly some
motives of the society, the secretary's
report and a. comparison of present con-
ditions with those of two years ago.
David Overmyer was to have spoken,
but having been called out of town the
vacancy was supplied by Capt. Joseph
G. Waters, whose theme was Capital
and Labor He believed that labor
should be protected above rything
else History shows that where the
laws benefited the hewers Of wood and
drawers of water those classes were
prosperous. The condition of the great
mass of worlnen today should be
ameliorated. The first thing working
against this amehoration is strikes,
which are the worst thing labor ever en-
cOuntered in the world" He then
showed at some length how the history
and effect of strikes bore out his state
ment- Speaking of the introduction of
labor-saving machinery, he said: It ad-.
init that the manufacture of labor-sav-
ing machinery has given work to some
men, but now by its employment some
can not get work at all. Labor-saving
machinery makes the population more
redundant" The trusts came In for sec
ond notice. He thought that great ag-
gregations of wealth had taken away
employment from the laboring men, and
that nearly all the factories had gone
to larger towns on account of the trusts
The third subject which Captain Waters
considered was tropical labor as regards
its effect upon American labor. He
thought that since employers were work.
ing for greed, If tropical labor could be
utilized more cheaply than American it
would be- If the greed Of employers
could be turned into philanthropy the
labor question would be solved he OBJ
served. He characterized the conduct of
Andrew Carnegie during the Homestead
strike as Outrageous and said that he
hoped no Kansas institution would stoop
SO low as to receive his benefactions. He
thought that the Pullman and all strikes
came from an attempt on the part of
the employer to hog all the income
Captain Waters said he had a panacea
for troubles coming from universal
wealth, and that panacea was govern
ment ownership Of railroads and other
public utilities. This he claimed would
right present abuses
Rev D. NJ Fisk, pastor Of the First
CONGREGATIONAL church, gave an address
on The Contribution of Labor toward
the Solution of the Problem of Social
Democracy" His address was scholarly
and showed much thought upon labor
questions. 1.-THE love for fair play will
win I'd rather have truth than a