New-York tribune., 1903-03-23
JEROME RAPS CARNEGIE.
IS QUIZZED BY {. f. U.
Promises to Tell COmmitfPF Names
of Labor Leaders 1CCused
of ErtOrtiOT-

Of ErtOrtiOn-
The features Of the day at yesterdays meet
ing Of the Central Federated Union Eere the
presence Of District Attorney Jerome and
heart-to-heart talk he had with tho r3eAtjuE on
grating and other subjects Two extra ser
geants-at-arms, who had been app0 nted m aid
the official doorkeeper to keep order. found their
task sinecure. more people came than
could have filled the hall twice Only dele
gates who could show their cards and reporters
were admitted. There was noisy crowd out
side all the afternoon. and two or three men who
slipped in without authority, weSe put out
One policeman guarded the street door Of the
University Settlement building where the Cen
trail Federated Union meets ard inside the hall
were several county detectives Mr Jerome
rived at 2:25 D. n. and five minutes later the
meeting opened He iTrvfted to speak soon
after the minutes OF the preceding meeting were
read. He received with applause. and
turned the tables on some aggressive question
ers after his speech was over He began:
1t is with the greatest oS pleasure that I
cept your invitation to come before you this
afternoon, because l want you TO size up
and l want to size you up 1 read great deal
in the newspapers about what 7 was supposed
to say regarding labor leaders, so much that in
fact l do not know what SAID. 1 read so much
about the meetings here that I expected TO see
q squad OF policemen outside and detachment
Of soldiers inside to preserve order.
l was born in this city. and grew from youth
to manhood here, but 1 have never said a thing
that did not believe II made a mistake and
found it out afterward. I have always been
ready to acknowledge It. have never done
thing that 1 was not willing to submit 10 the
scrutiny OF any citizen. and 1 proud OF It,
But am not an epduOTne Of all knowledge IN
heaven and earth. There few things which
I know better than most people, which have
given special study 10 and which you do NOT
know well l. and there are things
which you know better than 1 or any one else
do not hesitate at any time to speak what IS
in my mind. If am In error am willing TO
take it back 1t is not man fashion to refuse to
take back a statement when you know you
have been in the wrong. tAppIauseD
In playing any game I want to follow the
rules Of the game. Let US obey the law in the
first place. and if it is q bad law let US change
it That is the best way to get good laws.
CAPITAL AND LABOR
AS to capital and labor. there is nothing senti-
mental in their relations The capitalists want
all they get, and the stronger Will win, and
ought to win. The wOrkiHgman ought to win.
and he will win If he persists tADplauseD
have no use for the people who talk graft and
octopus ON the one side and labor tyranny Oh
the other There two great opposing forces,
each wanting all that it can get If l had Gy
wish 1 would say that labor should get the big
gest share The good Of the whole for the
greater majority Is better than the GOOD OF Z
small minority Let US look the thing fairly in
the face. The capitalist cannot say to You, L
am hoIer than thou, and you cannot say II to
| the capitalist.
| Distrust all men who come to you with broad
| schemes for settling all social and economic
| questions permanently Do you think you can
| alter this plastic life, which is ever chanEIH=,
! by nostruns2 Can any scheme he invented
| which will be a cureaH for evils TO come: Not
| on your life. The social and economic system
| "a always in a state of evolution. Ever since
| man was able to stand his hind legs. he has
been striving for all he can get You dF.. E'lAE
| to win if you are the stronger anu I' - IL
| Won are the weaker Don't accept any N.i@h<-
/ washv stuff about the brotherhood of man Cr
! economic forces inherent rights If you are
| strong you win; If you are not. you lose
| HIT AT ANDREW CARNEGIE
| Speaking of gifts. Mr.. Jerome said.
| It IS well enough to build public libraries for
| the people. but God help the man VII" works
| ten hours day and has a taste for lij'Fatu
! He is tired for reading classical W"TAS
| believe the men think the money ""uIi "e pei
| ter in the pockets of the people at Homestead
| than in libraries
| would rather hustle for the money and set X
| that way. If he has to take man by the th:o''-
| l have no favor for criminals. but S,lirI Iii'"S
| think I would rather steal than reg me Si[u-'-
| tiOn is a fight to a finish. Obedience 10 TE" Ia
| is one OF the rules OF democratic government
| however. and Il democratic ConTnuillt! "uEHl "
| be strong enough to elect men Of the people.
! Violence on the part Of labor during strikes Is
| tad, however. The capitalist has the money,
/ and could drive labor TO the wall As at Home
| stead. ptal had the money I" put guns III tne
| field for its protection Nothing - SI'h a set
| back To labor in its struggles as violence No
man is more respected on both sides. ana justly
| so, than John Mitchell M stronger words
| 9Gainst violence could he used than John Mitch
| eli uttered II the capitalist IS wrong III go
| tbe whole limit the law gives If ha is brought
! - Salt " ne and II he workers start violence
| and their cases come before me-, they'll get the
! "gaf.' too
| on the subject Of graft. he said
Even boards OF aldermen and legislatures
| could not he sold if there not people 20 huy
| them Railroads have been able Z" got iran
| chisps The Pennsylvania Railroad. the New
| York Central the New-YOrk. NcW-Haven and
| Hartford and other rich railroads have S"r con
/ troll of great routes. Do You think that all II
/ tLar, pet' privileges on account Of tn" VirtUOus
/ character of their motives or their great desire
! tn he benefactors to the public think You
/ don't believe il. l don't. I know Of legislatures
/ which have done things not strictly IT-aI- mere
| nubc office Even the liquor saloons are mixed
/ nm i'm the graft system know thdt ministers
| baar the voice Of God calling to them most
| IoudIv 10 go to places where there ar" me pl--
| gest salaries There are plenty Of honest men:
| hnt the principle OF graft is part of our social
| system, and is everywhere
"GRAFTERS" IN UNIONS
! DO YOU believe that, with all this. org7 nizsd
| abor is the only pure and iTp@cCah!e thing ON
/ earth? I don't think so Human nature - the
| same whether in a labor union or outside OF IL
| There are plenty OF honest men in labor unions.
| hut there must be grafters there. too.
/ What I said at uptown East SIDE nleetlnS
| was that many labor leaders could be bought
| IN boots and breeCheS. do not know all was
| however | talked with several labor leaders.
| and they agreed with me- I heard that at a
/ rneeting Of the American Federation OF LaH'r
| charges were banded about ny lan'T men
/ against other men WhlCh were ""iNt ''''U "'S
| thing I ever said
| co1oa ~ Won may not like me. People who
/ make friends make enemies No man can I-ld
/ o- drive or draw with string am ready
| TO quit office at any time II nave {" S<''Tlll'e
| nv, seIf-respect No has higher app:e-
/ tta or Office than I have,