The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-09-04
Senator Fairbanks Delivers
q Notable Address At
Kansas City.
LABOR MUST BE FREE
With All the Prerogatives Which
Pertain TO FreedOm-What Organ
lied Labor Has Accomplished.
The Serious Problems Attendant
Upon Foreign Immigration-COn-
diti0ns Are Growing Better.

AduSdS Oity, MO., SSpt. l. nc Ia
Dor organizations of Kansas City
united in q notable observance of la
boris holiday. An imposing procession
in which thousands of wage-earners
participated, was the feature of the
morning. At the afternoon meeting.
held in a grove near the city. Senator
Charles w. Fairbanks, of Indiana. was
the guest of honor and the speaker of
the day. He was heard by large
audience. which received his address
with every mark of approval. Senator
Fairbanks said:
"Mr. Chairman, members Of the Ia
Dor organizations of Kansas City. fell
low citizens: We do we'll to celebrate
Labor Day. 1t is fitting, indeed, that
one day in all the year should be dedi-
Gated solely to the interests of labor;
that we should turn aside from our
accustomed activities and pay tribute
to it. In almost every city. village
and hamlet, from ore end of the re-
public to the other, countless thou
sands are rejoicing in day which, by
congressional and legislative act, and
by common consent, is set apart in
nearly every state of the Union, in the
District of Columbia and the territor-
les. in order that we may take note of
the interests of that vast army which
follows the banner of labor 1t is well
that we should pay our tribute to this
potent influence in building up and
making great and strong the repub-
lie. No other has done so much in
bringing the country to its present
position of strength and power-the
very greatest among the nations Of
the earth. 1t is fitting time to teach
our children that labor is honorable,
and that only through it can we pos
sibly hope to achieve the beneficent
ends for which society is established
or government founded So long as
labor is deemed honorable there need
be no concern as to the future. There
is peril only when labor lie regarded
as degrading.
I'VE are essentially a nation of Ia
borers, and we have no hospitality for
human drones. Indeed, the nation is
the rich fruit of labor. for our ances-
tors-noble and splendid men and wo-
hot ar q
right arms carved out of the wilder.
ness this great republic. They felled
the forests, founded mighty cities,
spanned the rivers and knitted togeth-
er all sections of the country with
vast highways of commerce, the tele-
reclaimed the waste places, and on
every hand have taught the necessity
and the true virtue and dignity of
labor
There are many questions which
vitality affect labor, and which have re-
attention of publicists and economists.
1t Is a gratifying fact that more peo-
pie are studying labor problems today
than ever before, and that those who
are disposed to study them are no
longer regarded as singular, but as
sober thinkers. DESTROYS of promoting
Justice. elevating the condition of their
fellow-men and advancing the we'll
being of society. No higher motive
than this can actuate men.
I'VE are so bound together as a peo-
pie that we are necessarily concerned
In each others welfare. Whatever
adversely affects any considerable
number of our population adversely
Affects. in q measure. all others, and
conversely, what benefits any consid.
cradle number necessarily benefits, in
some degree. all others. There is no
such thing as complete and absolute
independence. and 1t il well that 1t is
so. Our interests are 30 interlaced
In the loom Of the Almighty that we
cannot live apart If we would. and we
would not II we could.
Organized Labor.
THE theme which il uppermost on
occasions like this Is organized labor
There has been a decided advance in
the cause Of labor during comparative
ly recent years. The evolution in ouI
Industrial conditions. which is the
marvel and admiration Of the world
has rendered 1t necessary that labor
should organize. Labor organizations
have their origin In the instinct oil
self-preservation, of mutual advance
ment, of common good, and are as nat
ural and legitimate as the organiza
ton of capital. In fact, the organiza
ton of labor aud capital naturally &c
hand in hand The one is essentially
the complement Of the other.
"The growth of labor organization.
has been comparatively rapid, and
like all growth, has been accompanied
by travail and mistakes. It would. in
deed, be remarkable II 1t were other
WISE All great movements in society
aAd all great undertakings in com
merce, are attended by successes and
failures, by victories and defeats, II
the accomplishment of their purpose
The success of all great undertaking
depends upon wise and courageou'
leadership.
Those who represent the various
labor organizations are charged will
important and delicate responsible
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