Williams news., 1903-09-19
HENRY ASHURST's SPEECH
Made on Labor Day Before Large Gath.
 ering at McCabe, Arizona

ME. CHAIRNAN:-It has been said If student of the cosmos, whose viglls are eonsecrated to trace the stars and seareh the heavens for power, was asked to describe, in a single speech the influence of the sun upon its solar system, the stu dent would stand amazed at the stupendoasness of his task
 No less immense is the task of the speaker who attempts, in a single hour, to describe the infu- enee of the laboring man upon the nation. All of the bridges which have been built, every mile of rail road or telegraph. every shaft that has been sunk, and every canal and every tunnel that has been dug, and all of the factories, mills, loco motives, cars, smelters, wharves, shops and ldepots of America and elsewhere, and all of the temples of religion, temples of learning, tenn ples of art, temples of industry and temples of mammon that outglit- ter one another, have been wrought and woven by and have been built by the sturdy sons of toll, and the number of blessings that flow from these things testify te the dignity of labor. So, my friends, you see how colossal my task would be were I to attempt to describe the Seower of the laborers and the bene- ficient in fuence upon the United States.
 Ridden by your kind invitation te come here and make a speech touehing the industrial questions; forbidden by propriety to discuss political questions, I now realize for the if Est time the true perplexity of the lit Fe maid, who, upon going out to lei rn to swim, was abjured by her mother: Yes, my darling daughter; hang your clothes on a hickory limb, but don't go near the water." The Arabs say that he who once drinks of the sweet waters of the Nile must ever afterward carry a thirst that no waters can satisfy or quench. So with those in life whose associates are and have been, the laboring man. When a person has been, like myself, born amongst. reared with and shared the trials and trinmphs of the gleanersI he has a homage for them, and fealty to them that can never be alienated or foresworn; therefore, my friends, I am thrice pleased to be with you and feel doubly well come.
 Labor day is peculiarly day of reflection, a day on which we should pause in the affairs and concerns of life and take serious counsel to- gether. It should not be spent ex- clusively in jollification, as ordi- nary holidays are spent, for it is eonsecrated to the brain and brawn of this nation Upon this occasion I desire to address myself to the men who labor, and while it is not to be expected that you will agree ~i' me upon every observation made1 l ask your patient indulgence until I conclude.
 The bases and objects of govern ment and organized society are life, libei ty and the pursuit of hap piness. Theoretically, under our government, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are gnaran- teed to all. The ingenuity, the wisdom and humanity of the fram- CTS of the American Constitution evolved that Constitution which vouchsafes to all, theoretically, these three most precious boons. It is. however, far cry and a long distance from the announcement of the theoretical question to its adoption into practical use. It de- wolves upon the people to construe, adopt and apply their rights, guar anteed by the Consultation, so that life, liberty and the pursuit of hap piness may be enjoyed by all.