Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-02

addre IS, paying a tribute to the work
ing people and drawing an impartial
word picture of the relation of en-
ployer and employed.
Senator Fairbanks Address.
Senator Fairbanks in his opening
remarks said that it was indeed fitting
that one day in the year should be
dedicated solely to the interests of la
Dor, that we should turn aside from
our accustomed activities and pay
tribute to it. Continuing he said:
The theme which is 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 our
industrial conditions, which is the
marvel and admiration of the world,
has rendered it necessary that labor
should organize Labor organizations
have their origin in the instinct of self
preservation, of mutual advancement,
OF common good, and are as natural
and legitimate as the organization of
capital. In fact, the organization of
labor and capital naturally go hand in
hand. The one is essentially the
complement of the other. The growth
OF labor organizations has been com
parativeiy rapid, and lke all growth,
has been accompanied by travail and
mistakes. 1t is not surprising that it
is so. 1t would indeed be remarkable
If it were otherwise. All great move
ments in society and all great under
taklngs in commerce are attended by
such successes and failures, by victor
les and defeats, in the accomplishment
OF their purpose The success of all
great undertakings depends upon wise
and courageous leadership.
Knowledge Is Power.
THAT labor organizations have done
much to advance the cause of labor.
there can be no doubt. They have
been earnest advocates of education,
knowing full well that knowledge is
real power. They have established
newspapers throughout the country,
1ntelligently devoted to the promotion
of their interests. They have found
ed benevolences and have paid mil
lions of dollars to their membership.
They have increased wages where in
adequate, and secured reasonable
hours OF service. They have abolish
ed or modified conditions in the sweat
shops of great cities, which were un-
dermining the health and morals of
the operatives They have stood
against the abuses of child labor They
have taught the necessity of the OBJ
servance OF contracts, knowing full
well that contracts are founded on
honor and are the basis of commercial
success. They have increased and
seek to maintain a higher moral
among their membership. They are
opposed to anarchy. Anarchy has no
greater foe than they. They know
that labor's best interests are depend
ant upon the maintenance of orderly
and stable government.
There are more than $4,000 local
labor unions in the United States, with
a membership of more than two mil
lions. What infinite good can be ac-
complished by this mighty army of
peace and industry il held true to it's
opportunity. Its success will depend
upon the character of it's leadership |
and upon it's adherence to sound and
rational principles. 1t must spurn
those who would prostitute it to the |
accomplishment of mere selfish pur
poses or mere party ends.
Arbitration.
Ou6 IuHCllOu VI OlSdulLGu ldDOI Is
to secure the recognition of its rights
by capital through pacific means. War
is destructive, and labor wars are no
exception to the rule. 1t has seemed |
to me that through organized labor
the misunderstanding between labor
and capital can be minimized turbu-
lence and disorder largely avoided and
that stable conditions may be main
tained. The strike should be the last
appeal and resol'ted to only when 9th I
er means of securing proper redress
have failed. This, indeed, is the fun
aamental theory upon which organiZ- |
ed labor is founded.
"The collisions, between labor and |
capital have been many, and they have
been destructive. During the last
twenty years these strikes and lock
outs involved a loss to employees of |
$306,6S3 ,223, ard to employers of
sl42.659,1O4. Many millions more
.