The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-04

hours and higher wages? Must the
American workman labor for lower
wages and longer hours to enable the
American manufacturers 10 compete
with other nations? He answered these
questions satisfactorily.
Liberty, progress and enlightenment
went hand In hand with better labor
conditions. England and the United
States. where labor was best paid and
hours shortest, we're the rivals in com
mercial and industrial prosperity.
These countries we're demanding the
open door from China, a country where
wages we're six cents a day, and work
ers put in 1S to 20 hours. They wanted
more and better labor organizations.
As workers and producers OF this
nations great wealth--they demanded
more wages, and they we're deter.
mined and will have more wages in fu-
ture.
I'VE want more today. more tomor.
row, and will never quit asking more. 81
Uaughter).
He showed that from the tramp to-
the millionaire all wanted more, and
why should not the men and women
who perform the worlds work get a
little more? II was the tactics or
tyrants TO divide the people against
each other
Union and unity were the hope OF
the world. II was a far cry from the
day when women dragged coal cars in
mines to the present, when the hon.
ored governor Of the state honored
them with his presence.
The time was when society closed
It's doors on the men who contended
for labor unions. Laborers even
turned their backs on these earlier
champions Of their cause. Now not
church could fll It's pews unless It rec.
ognlzed the rights OF labor.
But the greatest advance had been
made in the hearts OF the laborers
themselves There were now over
two million men and women I'm this
country in labor unions. To the lowest
and most oppressed they extended a
helping hand.
Anarchy, chaos and disorder, and
the possession Of wealth made a curse
would be the result of abolishing labor
unions. Destroy the trade unions and
a worse condition OF things would en-
sue The grand army OF labor would
progress toward industrial as well as
political liberty. The producers Of
wealth were entitled 20 first consldera.
tiOn-a living wage-a comparative
state Of comfort under a given condi-
tlon OF civilization.
When would the pendulum swing
from the present noodtide OF pros.
perlty to the ebbtlde OF Industrial cri.
sis and stagnatlon? No one could tell.
Mans first right was to employment.
lie ridiculed oyerproduction but did
not oifer a solution OF the problem.
The worker had so little time aud
money that they could not consume as
they would II they had higher wage
and more leisure TO cultivate better
tastes-more time to live and love and
enjoy the good things OF this world
Oregon might be better situated than
some other states. but wage condl.
tlons would find their level This
movement stood for all the legitimate
rights OF labor and Of producers. The
toiling masses were chcercd by pro
gross here
Especially In the South. where they
are making a fight TO abolish child Ia.
bor In these states the voter had to
pass an educational test. But the
white children were being kept In the
factories aud out OF school and the
negro children were kept In the school
and out OF the factories. What would
be the result In the voting population
In 20 years? Too many children were
being worked In factories. This should
be- changed in the next legislature.
Labor unions everywhere stood for
better public schools lie asked assis.
tance for the anthracite miners and
the Roseburg strikers, The latter
asked for &2.OO a day for street labor.
and the Salem unions should stand by
them
lie closed with an eloquent plea for
a continuance of the spirit OF unity
and solidarity In the Salem labor or
ganizations. and ne was heartily
cheered.