Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-05

There had been some trouble over
labor matters in Lewistown in the
| past, but the speaker believed it had
been due, not to the real working
men, but to few individuals, since
| departed, who worked only with their
mouths. Since they had betaken
| themselves elsewhere, good will and
| contentment prevailed, and it would
| always prevail, he believed, when any
| differences that might arise between
capital and labor We're settled on an
| equitable basis. Lewistown and Fer
| gus county had made great progress
in the past few years. and Mr.. Ayers
! believed the time was near at hand
when capital and labor would sit
down together and strive to bring
this great republic to perfection. He
hoped that the spirit of commercialism
| had not overshadowed the spirit of pa
| triotism, and that it never would do
SO. The nearer all classes of citi-
zens came together. the nearer they
would come to realizing an ideal gov
ernment.
Judge Cheadie's Address.
Mr.. De Kalb then introduced Judge
E. X. Cheadle, who made an eloquent,
earnest and thoughtful address, which
| was listened to throughout with wrapt
attention.
Judge Cheadle congratulated the
unions on having the largest attend
ance and the finest parade ever held
| in Lewistown on such an occasion
within his recollection. The pleasant
| surroundings were also worthy of
| note, as he could recall the time
when there was lack of harmony
| among the workers here. In this
republic new holiday had been add
ed to the list-a day given over to
honor the men who toll.
| All the material wealth of the coun-
try, said the speaker, was but the
result of labor applied to the resour-
ces Of nature, and while it was sell
dom that labor had full and proper
recognition, that was due largely to
imperfect organization on the part of
those who toll. There should really
be no distinction between those who
worked, for all used the brain as we'll
as the hands, and hard and fast lines
between the different kinds of work
ers could not be drawn. The only dis
tinction was between those who toll.
|
those who did not labor at all, pro-
ducing nothing. and being in reality
mere parasites living upon the efforts
that described the condition of those
who worked. 1t meant being all to-
gether in the same boat, and that
was the real condition of all who
were trying to earn living by some
I III Sv,sI nf 1nh srl, &c
man to some reward for his useful ser.
vices to society should be recogniz.
ed. The parasite, on the other hand
the n-producer-should simply
work or starve. The man who lived
upon the efforts of others, being able
himself to work, and refusing to do
so, ought not to be allowed to con-
tinue in any civilized community.
1t concerned every one of them,
from the president of the United
States down to the humblest citizen,
to see that the highest possible stand
ard of citizenship should be estab.
lished and maintained among the
workers. 1t was to the interest of
wealth to see that manhood did not
decay. The poet had told the fate
of the land where this occurred, and
all knew that it was true. 1t was a
great mistake when wealth was ele
waited above manhood in a country
like ours. Manhood without wealth
could get along very well, but wealth
without manhood back of it would
have no real value. This is a great
country, but it was not the 100000
miles of railway, the foe kdnsa
miles of railway, the flocks and herds
the rich mines, the great factories
and the vast extent of fertile coun
try that made it great. America was
great bbecause its people were great
1t was great in the manhood of its
citizens. What was wanted was not
so much a rich country, but a race
of men whose aspirations were as
high as the heavens. An abundance
of resources and riches might be an
actual drawback to nation. When
Rome was poor, her manhood was de
velOped, and she became the greatest
nation in the world. With conquest
and Opulence, her greatness vanishe
ed. and Rome became pitiful figure
in the history Of the world
1t was far better for a nation, the
speaker thought to have a genera
| "uO WOuIu ledu IcI SOuS u DdttIc
in which they might die by ten thous
ands, than for country to be led by
men who were great only because
the were rich. II was neither wealth
nor an abundance of natural resour
ces that make country great.
Passing to another line of thought
, Judge Cheadle said he objected Il
, the division of Americans into class
; es. It was unamerican. 1t ought tt
, be good enough for any man to sim
, ply be an American, and when clas!
. distinctions were introduced in thi!
' country, a great deal was done to de
: stroy what had been accomplished
t by the founders of this nation. Hay
: ing classes would finally bring bacl
2 the conditions from which we hat
e emerged, when every man who work
= ed would wear livery. Instead o
n that everything should be done t
!. raise the standard of those who work
e ed.
s There was on foot move for tn
l. reneal of the Chinese exclusion act
8 and for the admission of Japanes
n coolies. The speaker hoped this el
Il fort would not prevail. Both thes
l. Asiatic nations were alien to us Il
|. every way. and the could never be
r. come citizens of this country. The