Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-20

GenTlGmen:-ln opening InlS SoA- I vention for the transaction of bus1-l 1 1ness, take pleasure in extending warm greeting and welcome to the ac- credited representatives of the l5O,- I0OO men and boys whose heroic strug- gle for living wages and American conditions of employment has won the Admiration of the whole civilized world. Language is inadequate to ex- press the sense of pride feel in you and those you represent. Your noble defense of the principles of unionism endearS you to every man and every !! woman in our land who works for a I livelihood. When the history of the ] struggles of toilers shall be written, it's pages will record no event more important, no people more ably de- tended. no battle more bravely fought than the contest which l earnestly hope is now about to be happily ended.
 It is not my purpose to review the progress of the strike or even to enumerate the important events which T have now passed into history. I'm printed indelibly upon the hearts of our people are the memories of the sufferings and hardships which have been and are being endurd. For five I long months the eyes of the nation have been centered upon your actions and it is a pleasure to say that the [ great heart of the American people throbbed in sympathy with you. It is, of course, a source of deep regret that the millions of underpaid work men in our great cities should be the most acute sufferers by reason of this contest between ourselves and our employers. But strange as it may appear hundreds upon hundreds of those who suffered most from lack of fuel sent words of commendatiOn and Iencourag cement to us and in many in stances declared that they would en- dure any prfvation in order that the miners and their families might se- cure sufficient wage to enable them to enjoy little happiness and sun shine instead of the gloom and sad ness which has been their lot for many years.
 The debt of gratitude we owe our f fellow workmen in this and other 1 lands, the debt of gratitude we owe a I generous public and a friendly press who have supported and sustained us during this memorable strike can never be adequately repaid.
 l For our opponents we entertain no
 feeling of malice. While they have
 maligned our characters. impugned our
 motives and sought the victory by
 methods which we should scorn to
 us, yet on this day when we secured
 an avenue of redress, on this day
 when the realization of our hopes and
 ambitions seems near when the pros pect of brighter and happier future 7 seems assured, we should hold out to : them the hand of friendship and ask , them to join us in providing for such business relations as shall for all time establish peace and tranquility in the , coal fields.
 The day is past when great organi- : zatfons of capital can maintain the : false position that their employes shall be denied the right to organize into compact bodies and speak through
 the organization of which they are
 members. We recognize the right of
 capital to consolidate, to federate and
 to speak and act through it's
 organization, but in accordine
 these rights and privileges
 to capital we demand and shall assert
 the same privileges for those who toll
 BetWeen the combination of capital
 on the one hand and the organization
 or labor on the other, there should be
 ana need be no irreconcilabIe conflict:
 each is factor in the economic de
 Velopment- of our civilization, and the
 application of business Judgment and
 plain common sense by each would en-
 able them to work in harmony. While
 the interests of labor and capital are
 not by any means identical, they are
 nevertheless reciprocal; each is depend.
 ent upon the other and under our | form 0T1f
 per without the other. Abraham Lin.
 coin truly said that .eapitaI is the
 fruit of labor and could not exist if
 labor had not first existed: labor there fore deserves the first consideration. J That this fundamental principle will be recognized by the tribunal selected by the president of the United States
 have no reason to doubt.
 The grave question which you hayf been called upon to consider fo-day ? demands and must receive your most
 careful thought. Personally I should
 have preferred an adjustment of the
 difficulties existing in the anthracite fields by conference with the anthra ! cite mine owners and without the in terventiOn of agencies not directly in
 volved, but recognize the fact that
 relations between ourselves and the mine operators have become SC . strained as to render direct negotia- : ton at this time impossible If the z consequehces of this strike affected
 only the interests of the operators and mine workers there would be less req ] son for the intervention of third par : ty. but the fact that a coal famine was upon the people of eastern and sea.
 board states and threatened to become
 a national calamity justifies the actior of the chief executive of our nation z in his earnest effort to bring about ar
 early resumption of mining
 i. The proposition submitted for yOul n consideration may have objectionable \ features. and in It's detail may no s meet with the unanimous approval oa I our people. but 1t is inmeasurably bet . ter as now presented than when orig - inallv offered by the representative E of the coal corporafi lions. am firm l. ln mx com vict}on that fhe prompt nc g eepeanee of thIs proposal will seeurl