Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-14


association should therefore be that
CT public education. Another purpose
should be that of influencing legisla-
ton in a legitimate manner in order
to prevent the adoption Of laws by con-
gress and the legislatures which are OF
"A socialistic nature or which extend
special favors to certain classes in the
body polite We must always remem-
| Der. however, that we stand for the
| highest ideals of citizenship and that
we should steadfastly dtsapprove of
bribery and graft and should carefully
refrain from seeking those special
| privileges which we endeavor- 10 pre-
vent others from obtaining
Another benefit to the business In
| terests to be derived from having a
strong national organization is that OF
being able to influence the policy of
| POLITICAL parties to the extent of Undue
ing these parties 10 keep socialistic
planks out OF their pll.forms and to
nominate men for public office who do
! not lean toward socialism or the nom
| enforcement of law when asked to do
| so by the labor unions. However. In
| suggesting that employers organiza-
! tons should seek to WELD Their
strength In behalf of good government;
| and against demagogues and fanatics
| in politics, 1 wish to say that too much
caution can not be exercised In order
10 prevent our movement from beeom-
ling the football of designing poiiti-
clans. Political business men have in
| the past done as much harm 20 Inc
general business interests as some OF
the most blatant agttat5rs and anar>
chists In the country. l am In favor OF
business, but not politics in business.
believe that the national organlza-
ton can be made the means or slmu-
lating interest IN the local organlza-
tons and / have given some hints OF
other ways In which benefits can ae-
erue to the various associations from
the national organization. While 1t is
to be granted that experience must be
our guide In developing specific fea-
lures of the national association when
shall furnish practical aid to Its COM
ponent bodies. yet 1t must not be for
gotten that If the national organiza-
ton attempted to he nothing more
than common center of Information
and an instrument to voice in ma
t,onal way the common desires ana
purposes of the business forces of the
country II would still be of value be-
yond estimate Our chief aim must be
to influence public thought III connec-
ton with the evils OF unionism Unless
we can produce a healthy public senti-
ment our case is hopeless. All efforts
inspired by the idea that force must be
met With force, that the way to de-
feat the unions Is to adopt and carry
out measures OF retaliation, are not
only repugnant to the Christian senu-
merits which actuate the majority OF
men, but they must also defeat their
own purpose by making industrial
strife more bitter and by tending to
drive public sympathy and support
from our common cause. 1t Is abso-
lutely necessary that we have the peo-
rle with US and believe that II we
only take the trouble to make clear TO
the public mind that we are only ask
ing fair play and the maintenance o.
law and those conditions which are
necessary to industrial growth, the
American public will not give Its YER
dict in favor Of socialism or the usur-
nation OF authority by irresponshihis
mob organizations.
The gauntlet thrown down by the
American Federation of Labor in Bos-
ton last month when it demanded OF
1.-The employers that they recognize the
closed shop principle ought to be SUI
fcient evidence to every man who mas
an interest in the country's welfare tn II
the situation which confronts US is u
the utmost gravity. The forces TINT
would dismantle our factories. destroy
our foreign commerce and send the
nation downward on the path that leads
to general poverty and despotism pos
sess great strength and influence and
in order to successfully cope with them
we must develop prestige and pow
err
Today we have an ebb in our In
dustrial tide and l say to you that tn.
cause is chiefly to be laid at the doors
OF organized labor. The thousands OF
men who have been willfully thrown
into idleness during the last year at
the idleness OF agitators, and the In
creased cost OF production occasioned
by yielding to their arbitrary and In
defensib,e demands have resulted in
losses which can not be calculated
losses that are being and must in the
future be felt by all classes OF people.
1t is time that we are doing some
thing to provide ourselves with the
necessary machinery Of organization
that will become the means OF af-
fording permanent protection for those
fundamental principles of government
which are the basis Of all our pro-
gress.
Farmers and the Union.
This being great agricultural COM
munity would like to talk briefly on
the labor question from the farmers
standpoint. The farmers have direct
interest In the healthy development Of
manufacturing and commerce. IL the
masses OF the people that live In the
cities are prosperous then they can
buy more freely of the products OF the
farm, and farm prices are maintained
But IL the market for farm products
becomes restricted because of the In
ability Of the people In the cities to
buy then farm prices must suffer. In
country like this losses that come
to one class OF citizens must In e
measure be born by all classes. So the
farmer can not hope to escape the dis
astrous results occasioned by labor
controversies in other industries.
The farmers would understand the
labor question better IL they were
brought in direct contact with the I'M
ions. and am here to say that If la
Dor becomes thoroughly organized In
the cities the farmers will likely be CIV