Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-22
BRYAN AN6BEck tilt
At Peace Banquet of Holland
Society
IF
IN NEW YORK CITY
ORGANIZED LABOR AND oRGANIz-
ED cAP1TAL DISCUSSED.
President Roosevelt. Sent Regrets and
Was Toasted-Speakers Who
Talked Of Peace.

j
| William J. Bryan cut loose from his set
speech on Peace last night at the Hol-
| land Society dinner at the Waldorf-Astorfa,
/ and in reply to vigorous attack made by
| ex- A ssistant Attorney General James M.
| Beck of Philadelphia, against the menacing
/ and dangerous attitude of labor leaders and
| labor organiza lions, replied in the most
| dramatic and sensational manner, de-
/ nouncing the heads of stock watering con-
Germs and men who use money in elections
| to corrupt the voters
1t all came at the last of the speaking.
| after Mr.. Bryan had devoted himself for
| half an hour to peace principles as exempli-
| fled by the establishment of the peace tri-
bunal at The Hague. Then, as his hearers
began to wonder if he would let Mr. Beck s
challenge go unnoticed. Mr.. Bryan turned
to Mr. Beck, and, raising his voice to a
pitch that swept it through the ball room
like the breeze before storm. he said:
When my friend here suggests danger
from labor organizations wish to cali at
tention to other and greater dangers.
Greater than any danger that can come
from organized labor is the stock jobbing
and stock watered organiza lions that plum
der the people and defy the laws of the
land (Applause.) There is far less danger
from labor organizations than there is from
the use of money in elections and the use
and selling franchises. The of money
in elections is greater menace to this
country than any danger from labor or
CARNATIONS. Applause)
What He Saw in Rome.
/ saw at Rome a great arena where CEN
turtles ago brave but helpless men and wo-
men were led forth to die at the onslaught
of wild beasts. They were the early Chris
tan martyrs They knelt and invoked a
power that, while it was not sufficient to
save them from humiliation, was stronger
than the IegonS of Rome. 1t was the power
of love. 1 found in Russia an apostle of
peace. In Russia, where there are at the
command of the czar million armed SOL
diers. the government of Russia will not
allow the circulation Of the writings of this
man of peace.
Aye, the government will imprison any
one found circulating his writings, and yet
the government is not able to stop the
apostle of love is SO strong that, while they
punish those who circulate his writings,
they do not dare to lay their hands on the
man himself. as -
organizations. Give labor organizations
credit for what they have done for America
and American citizenship. They have ele-
waited that citizenship They have rendered
country the Australian ballot. Is it de-
grading for, labor to ask for a reduction in
the hours of labor? we love our children
and do all we can to elevate them. If we
what chance is there for him to assist in
the spiritual and mora1s elevation of his
children? Applause. i''''7
Raising his voiesstos its cmsximum of vi
brancy, the speaker turned to the specially
| invited guests and said! - az 20
Evokes refApplause.
"a man who is fit TO die for his country
Instantly there was q thunder of applause
by men who sprang to their feet and cheer
ed and waved -handkereh,efs.t Not every
with closely shut jaws and red faces, and
who looked defiance at the speaker, just as
if they would like to have chance to say
something themselves b., ~, = .,,...-,.. ..,i
why not give these men the protection
that justice demands?" continued Mr..
Bryan. why not deal with them as
brethren? Go and their children in the
factories. Children dwarfed in mind and
soul And yet these children are made in
| the image of God. just as your children are.
and you must love them, just as you love
your own children. Great applause. and
cries of That's rightro
|. Here Mr.. Bryan paused and made as if
about to stop speaking Immediately
| there were cries for him TO go on. -
Il didn't have much chance to see you
in the last campaign, said he. You
We simply asked for that which we
thought to be right. Beware the radicals
who come after us-the men who will not
be content to stop the wrong. but who
store the wrong"
This ended Mr.. Bryans apparently
unprecedented outbu-st an outburst
doubtless prompted by Mr.. Beck's bril-
liant arraignment of what he deemed to
be an Overreaching and wicked spirit of
organized labor. This part of Mr. Beck's
speech was as follows
Beck's Attack ON Labor.
If 1 do not misread history the pros
perity of the Dutch people was founded
upon principle which is vitality essential
to the progress and happiness of any peo-
pie, and that is the inalienable right of
every man to work for whom he pleases
and at what wage ne pleases, and to en-
JOY freely the fruits of his toll. This
this country and at this hour. Man was
brought into the world TO work. 1t is not
only his burden. 1t is his right. and any
fern of social tyranny which contravenes
this right is infinitely mischieyous
The tyranny of the boycott in its at
tempt to club the free labor of our land
into slavish submission to labor oil
garchy has been strongly illustrated with
In few months in the city of Chicago.
where Its people were not even given
permission to bury their dead unless they
employed, union driver on. union
hearse. One citizen of Chicago showed
| that he had somewhat of the old Dutch
hatred of tyranny, for. with his dead
child IN an ordinary carriage, he sat upon
the drivers seat with "a rifle across his
lap and vowed that he would kill the first
man who stopped his free progress to his
dead child's grave. iEiesb
Today we are told on eminent authority
that struggle is on Detween the plain
people and organized wealth" With very
great respect to those who thus view the
coming contest. and in no way question:
ing either their sincerity or high motives,
yet venture to assertuthat this line of
cleavage between dhe classes is as mis-
chieyous as 1t Is lacking in justification.
NO greater injury CAM be done to the
progress of the American people than to
throw the flrebrand of class hatred into
their midst
DR.. Lorimer'sf Remarks.
But for Mr. Becks positiveness and for
Mr.. Bryans rhetorical pugnacity the palm
of adding the greatest degree of spice to