The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-01
10000 men IN Line
AParticularly Impressive Labor Day
at the Kansas Cities ... vs.
..'> To-day.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana Tells
Why Labor Combination Is
a Necessity.
Kansas City, Sc

Kansas City, Sept. 1.-Ten thousand
union workmen in the trades Of both
Kansas Cities paraded the downtown
streets here this forenoon. Heading the
procession were number of carriages
bearing city officials and the speakers of
the day, chief among them being United
States Senator Charles w. Fairbanks Of
Indiana. The parade ended at 1 o'clock.
when 10000 persons listened to the
speech making. The principal address was
delivered by Senator Fairbanks. He spoke
in part as follows:
I'VE are SO bound together as a people
that we are necessarily concerned in each
others welfare. There Is no such thing
as complete and absolute independence.
There has been decided advance in the
cause Of labor during comparatively re-
cent years The evolution in our indus
trial 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 mu-
tual advancement, of common good, and
are as natural and legitimate as the Or
ganization Of capital.
1.-The growth of labor organiza tons has
been comparatively rapid, and like all
growth, has been accompanied by travail
and mistakes. But it is most reassur
ing fact that the principal leaders of the
great labor organizations to-day are men
who have been chosen because of their
sound judgment, their wisdom and their
Integrity of purpose.
There are more than Is, 900 local labor
unions in the United States, with a men,
bership of more than 100000. What in
finite good can be accomplished by this
mighty army of peace and industry if held
true to it's opportunity. Its success will
depend upon the character Of Its leader
ship and upon it's adherence to sound and
rational principles.
Arbitration.
Zone function. Of organized labor is to
secure the recognition of its rights by
capital through pacific means. War is
destructive, and labor wars are no excep-
ton to the rule. 1t has seemed to me
that through organized labor the misun-
Outstanding between labor and capital can
be minimized, turbulence and disorder
largely avoided, and that stable conditions
may be maintained. The strike should
be the last appeal and resorted to only
when other means of securing proper
redress have failed. This, indeed, is the
fundamental theory upon which organized
labor is founded.
ital have been many, and they have been
destructive. During the last twenty
years these strikes and lockouts involved
a loss to employees of $306, $3.50, 223, and tC
| employers of $142, $50, 104 Many millions
more have been lost to those who were
| not Immediately involved in the strikes
but who were dependent upon the con-
! tinuance of production, which was sus-
| pended.
Compulsory arbitration has been sug-
| gested, but it has found few advocates. II
| is not acceptable to either interest and
| wherever it has been attempted it has
been abandoned, except in New Zealand
where the experiment is not proving alto
gether satisfactory, and has not accom-
| plished all its authors had hoped, Com.
pulsory arbitration Is regarded as an un.
necessary and grievous limitation upor
the freedom Of both labor and capital. II
reduces labor to slavery and Is a menacs
Eto capital. It is destructive to free agen-
cy.. The relations between these tive
| great forces are so delicate that they are
| not to be governed by the rigid fiat of the
! congress or the legislat ure.
| ''The true solution of the questions arts
| ing between labor and capital lies in al
awakened public conscience; in a thorough
incubation of principles of fair dealing
among men; in organization and in wise
humane leadership, and in the establish
ment Of boards of concilia ton and arbitra
ton, which are absolutely free from tn,
polluting touch Of selfish interests or polit
ical demagogues. to which the interest
! concerned may freely and confidently ap
| peal.
Zone Of the most gratifying and re
/ assuring developments of recent years ha
| been the formation of the Civic Fedora
| ton. 1t is composed of the representa-
| tives Of both labor and capital The func
| lions Of the federation are essentially ad
| visory. 1t has but once failed to effec
settlement of the differences attempte
by it, and that was in the case of the deplor
able strike now in progress in the anthra
cite coal regions Of Pennsylvania. TIL
work of the Civic Federation will b
watched with hopeful interest That /
will be successful in all cases in effectin
satisfactory settlements no one believe:
1 but there is no doubt that it will be abb
in many cases to point the way to jus
solution of the matters in difference.