New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-22
BRYAN AND BECK CLASH.
FORGETS PEACE" TEXT.
Roosevelt Hailed as Second Peter
StuYresG7t.

ScceCl
on Peace" last night at the Holland Society
dinner at the Waldorf Astoria. and in reply 70
vigorous attack made by ex-Assistant Atsor-
ney General Jarcs ii. Beck Of Philadelphia
against The ren9cng and dangerous attitude OF
labor leaders and labor organizations. replied in
a most dramatic and sense tlonaI manner de-
nouncing the heads of stock watering concerns
and men who use E-cney in elections to corrupt
the voters
II all came at the last OF the speaking after
ar Bryan had devoted himself for half an hour
to peace principles as excmpIihed by the estah-
hshrent OF the Peace tribunal at The Hague
4Een. as his hearers began to wonder II he
would let Mr. Beck's challenge go unnoticed
hr. Bryan turned Mir. Beck and raising his
voice to pitch that swept it through the ball
room like the breeze before a storm. he said:
When my friend here suggests a danger from
labcr organizations / wish TO call attention 70
other and greater dangers. Greater than any
danger that can come from organized labor is
the stock jobbing and stock watered organiza-
tions that plunder the people and defy the laws
Of The land (Applause) There is far less danger
from labor orga nizations than there is from the
use or money in elections and the use of money
oy uhsefupGIous men IN buying and selling
franchises. The use of money in elections Is
greater menace to this country than any danger
from labor organizations. (Appause)
L saw at Rome great arena where centuries
ago brave but helpless men and women were
led forth 10 die at the onslaught of wild beasts.
They were the early Christian martyrs. They
knelt and invoked power. that while Il was
not sufficient to save them from annhilation.
was stronger than the Iegious of Rome 1t was
the power of love. L found in Russia an
apostle of peace In Russia. where there az
the command OF the Gar a million armed
soldiers 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 gov
srn!neht ss IS not able TO stop the spread OF the
doctrine OF peace. and this apostle of love is so
strong that while they punish those who circu-
late his writings. they do not dare 10 lay their
hands on the himself.
We cannot bring peace by attacking labor
ganizattons Give labor organizations credit for
what they have done for America and American
citizenship They have elevated that citizen
ship. They have rendered the ballot more
lian ballot. Is il degrading for labor TO ask for
a reduction in the hours OF labor? We love
children and do all we can 70 elevate them. IL
We drive the laborer from the bench TO the bed
what chance is there for him to assist in the
spiritual and moral elevation of his children?
(Applause1
Raising his voice to it's maximum of vibrancv.
the speaker turned to the specially invited
guests and said:
"A man who is fit to die for his country
/ ought to be permitted TO live for it,
Instantly there thunder of applause bv
/ men who sprang to their feet and cheered and
/ waved handkerchiefs- Not every one got up
| There were many who sat with closey-shut laws
/ and red faces. and who looked defiance at the
| sreaker, just if they would like to have a
/ chance TO say something themselves.
| Why not give these men the protection that
justice demands continued Mr. Bryan. Why
their children in the factories r,sBle--n GSarSed
| in mind and soul. And yer these children are
| made in the image of God. just your chiIdre5I
| are and YOU must love them. Just you love
your own children" (Great applause. ard cries
/ of That's right")
Here Mr.. Bryan paused and made as II about
to stop speaking. Immediately there were cries
for him TO go on.
II didn't have much chance TO see YOU in the
last campaign" said he. You thought we
radical We were not. We simply asked for
that which thought to he right. Beware tho
radicals who come after Us-the who viii
not be content to stop the wrong. but who will
demand that you go back and restore the
wrong"
This ended Mr.. Bryan's apparently unprenled-
itated outburst-an Outburst doubtless prompted
by Mr.. Beck's brilliant arraignrent of what he
deemed to be an overreaching and wicked spirit
Of organized labor This part of Mr.. Becks
speech was as follows:
BECK'S ATTACK ON LABOR.
If do not misread history. the prosperity oe
the Dutch people was founded upon a principle
which is vitally essential to the progress aud
happiness of any people. and that is the in
alienable right of every man TO work for whom
he pleases and at what wage he pleases. and
enjoy freely the fruits of his toll. This prin-
cipIe is in some need of vindication in this
into the world work. 10 is not only his bur-
den: il is his right. and any form of social
tyranny which contravenes this right Is in
fiT.itely miSchieVOuS
In vain are written constitutions. with their
paper guarantee of life, liberty and pursuit OF
happiness. if the RIGHT of the humhlest citizen
to earn his bread in the sweat OF his brow is
thus denied. Such right is in no respect incon-.
sistent with the right of labor TO organize The
Dutch people had their labor guilds, and they
fittingly emphasized the dignity OF their several
occupations, But if any labor guild in Holland
should have attempted 10 prescribe fealty TO ic
organization. a condition OF the right
TO labor. the workmen of Holland would have,
risen against this offensive form of tyranny a5
readily as against that of the Duke of Ava
The tyranny of the boycott in it's attempt to
club the free labor of our land into slavish sub
mission TO labor Oligarchy has been strongly
illustrated within few months i'm the city OF
Chicago. where its people were not even given
permission to bury their dead unless they en-
ptoyed a union driver on a union hearSe CEs
citizen of Chicago showed that ne had some
what of the old Dutch hatred OF tyranny, for.
with his dead child in ordinary carriage. Es
sat upon the drivers seat with rife across his
lap and vowed that he would kill the first man
who stopped his free progress 10 his dead child's
grave
over. the right of every man TO enjoy the fruir
of his labor. whether considerable OF incon-
Siderab BILE. basic social condition. There
was no envy or hatred of wealth. I cannot but
think that the commercial prosperity OF Hoi-
land was due in large measure 10 the good feel
ing between all classes of society. Its peopss
did divide religious and political questions
but never the principle of meun et tuum.
To-day. however, told eminent au-
thority that a struggle IL on between the plain
people and organized wealth. With veTv great
respect to those who thus view the corning con-
test, and in no way questioning either their sin
cerity or high motives, yet venture 10 assert
that this line of cleavage between the classes ia
as mischievous as IL is lacking in Justification
No greater injury can be done TO tEe progress of
the American people than To throw the fireHra,d
of class hatred into their raidSI.