Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-10-20
BANQUET
WiIlCIoseN
Convention.
Officers Elected by Rail-
way Clerks.
A Good Meeting Draws Near the
End.

A banquet to be given by the Akron
division of the National Railway
Clerks association to the visiting del
egates in the Doyle block tonight VIII
mark the close of the first national
convention of the association. Those
who will speak at the banquet this
evening are: Mayor w. B. Doyle,
Hon. Geo. w. Grouse, Mr.. w. A. Up
ham, ex-Mayor w. j.. Young, Rabbi
Isador Philo and Mr.. d. J. O'Rourke.
The association decided not to af-
filiate with the American Federation
of Labor. The national officers elected
by the convention are: President, O..
Il. Myers, Toledo; first vice president.
G.. w. Matthews, Youngstown; second
vice president, Il. p. Freeman, Mime
apolis; secretary, w. w. Wagner,
Akron; treasurere, w. q. Worden, Ak
ron; Executive committee, chairman,
Il. l.. Shaw, Cleveland; N. r. Smell,
Painesville; t. d. Sprague, Hartford,
Conn; e. s. Gates, Columbus, and
r. M. Collins, jr., Montgomery, Ala,
Rabbi Isidor Philo was given an en-
thusiastic reception Sunday afternoon
when he appeared to deliver an ad-
dress to the national convention Of
the Railway Clerks association in the
Doyle block. After his address the
delegates rendered him vote Of
thanks. In his address he discussed
the necessity for association. He
said that the world pivots upon law
of association and that association is
the imperative and urgent need in
all classes of labor.
"Few people are satisfied with their
condition today he said. ''The labor
ing man Is not sa atisfied and justly
tries to better his condition. Those
who constitute the industrial world
have passions ana feelings and when
the burden of the laboring man be-
comes to great there Is an upheaval.
And what do these industrial and
economical upheavals mean? I be-
lieve that they point to better con-
dition of the world
1T is not longer question of or
ganization. That time has passed. Or
ganization on the part of the laboring
class is moral, intellectual and phys
ical necessity. 1t is only by associa-
ton that the individual can render his
best products and receive the highest
reward for his work.
"There is one thing which will solve
the labor problem. That is perfect
freedom of contract, the privilege OF
the laboring man to work where he
will: Now he is in many cases sur
rounded by circumstances which make
this impossible and capital is in posi-
tion to make the contract. The labor
ing man must be economical and OBJ
servant. Let him study and the bet
ter educated he becomes the better Il
will be for him and for all concerned
Mr. ID. j. O'Rourke,s Of Toledo, fol
lowed Rabbi Philo with short ad
dress. He said in part This organ
lzation was founded on the principles
Of fraternity. The fight is not fol
ourselves alone but for humanity. Toe
often is the finger of scorn pointed
at poor outcast, made so by the very
social conditions which surround him
Employe and employed are far re
moved today. The work Of the indi
vidual, no matter how well performed
Is not enough appreciated. The indi
vidual has become a mere cog in 8
great wheel. 1t Is to counteract these
conditions that labor unions are form
ed. Labor has adopted the tactic!
OF its employers. 1t is also necessary
not only that we have principles, bu
that we practice them.
THE great men of the Goth cen
tury, history will say, are not Car
negie, nor Rockefeller nor Morgan
but the man who breaches the grea
doctrine Of true fraternity so that cap
ital and labor, united in conjugal love
shall bring forth the children--Peace
Prosperity and Happiness"
After this address, President West
on adjourned the meeting, stating tha
there was matter OF great import
ance TO be attended to. He referre,
to the fish fry which the delegate
enjoyed at Young's. Two tallyho
carried the delegates to the fish fry.