The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-08

ton. Each found amusement il his own
way Many listened to the speaking,
others strolled around. throwing at the
niger babies patronizing the stands
| and seeing the sights. Still others loung-
1 ed on the grass in little groups, or went
boating on the rver. Every one expressed
himself as pleased with the celebration
and was sorry when 1t was interrupted
by the rain.
/ Father Then, Congressman Victor
Murdoch, Judge c. c. Stanley and Mayor
Mclean were the orators of the day.
This part of the program was short and
was listened to with much interest.
Father Then was the principal speak
er OF the afternoon and his address held
the attention of the audience for forty
minutes and elected much favorable
comment He intermingled humor with
logic. eloquent appeals, apt illustrations,
and anecdotes, and at one time would
have his audience laughing. and at an
other leaning forward with interest or
applauding.
In opening his address he congratu-
lated the committee on their choice OF
speakers, saying that it was fitting that
on this occasion they chose none 70 adj
dress them but workingmen. He went on
to prove that all four of the speakers
were known as hard workers. He said
Congressman Murdoch is a laboring
man. He works two hours a day and is
so strict In this regard that he will allow
his private secretary TO work but two
hours also. Judge Stanley puts in an
! he
also does from three days to six months
work-that is, through the people that
appear before him. The other two speak
ers. Ben Mclean and myself, are also
great workers. as We work the people all
the year.
His address was a eulogy On labor.
His leading theme was that God intended
man TO work and that the common well
fare OF mankind and the country depend
ed upon the condition Of the laboring
people. He said: "Exalt labor and the
condition OF mankind. OF society and of
the country Is improved; degrade labor
and you sink the country in the mire Of
luxury, which can only end in extinction
In the labor union is found the saliva
ton and ennobling of labor, but if the
insist absolutely on merit"
He characterized trade and labor union
ism as great movement for the better
nlent OF mankind, but stated that man.
had created nothing that had the stamp
of perfecti0n>upon 1t. and appealed to the
unions to insist absolutely upon honor
and merit If they are 10 do the greatest
good. After discussing labor unions, he
paid tribute TO labor, his theme being
that in labor alone is man able to perfect
himself, body and soul. He character
lied the middle or laboring class by
their patriotism. He pictured the results
Of labor, saying that the most beautiful
Of these results was the home. He
argued that there should be no classes in
America and that the only test for man
should be honesty and worth and for
woman purity. He closed with tribute
to America.
The other speakers delivered Dried adj
dresses. which were warmly applauded.
In his address Congressman Murdoch
traced the workingman from his pri-
meval condition to the present time.
the hand had wrought.
mayor mclean invited anu HelcoIifeu
the people to a full enjoyment of their
gala day, and promised the cooperation
of the city In the celebratio
Judge Stanley has been indisposed dur
Ing the last few days but he appeared
and thanked them for inviting him to
speak and in few words paid tribute
to labor. and offered the unions encour-
agement.