Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-13

there was something to arbitrate, pub
lie sympathy might be too strong for
them and they might not be able to
crush out unionism once and for all,
as they openly declare they intend to
do. But can they do it?
"Is the army all that these men
think 1t is? is it not fact, after all,
that the power of the army even rests
to great extent upon the support of
the people? What would few SOL
diers be against nation?
Duties Of Military.
Without intending to be discourte-
GUS or suggesting threat, we desire
to call attention to a clear and true
statement Of this fact by Gen. Benja-
min F. Butler, of Massachusetts in his
celebrated speech of some sixty years
ago to the people of Lowell:
If the workingmen can be de-
prived of their freedom and rights by
threats Of starvation Of themselves
and their wives and children, when
they act according to the laws and
their own judgments, then they had
better be slaves indeed, having kind
masters, instead of being free men,
who are only at liberty to do what
their taskmasters impose upon them
or starve. And this question must be
settled here and now.
I know the power of these corpora
tons; know many of the men who
have been in charge. They have made
a mistake in appeal to force When
that weapon is tried they are weak
and you are strong. They have their
mills and machinery, their bricks and
their mortar, and that is the extent of
their power. You are stronger than
they. You have your right arms and
your torches, and by them we will
blot out this accursed outrage.
I" AS God lives and live. by the
living Jehovah! if one man is driven
from his employment by these men
will lead you to make Lowell what 1t
was twenty-five years ago-a sheep
pasture and a fishing place; and will
commence by applying the torch to my
own house. Let them come on. AS
we are not the aggressors, we seek
not this awful contest
Peace rests not upon the militia or
the army but upon the patience and
long suffering of the toiling mass. The
army, so far as it has any effect, is
not to quiet but to disturb; it is not to
terrorize but to make the people medi-
tate. They wonder what all this bluff
fling is for. Can few soldiers scare
the men who make armies and who
compose the flower of American man
hood? Are we serfs that we cringe at
the mention of troops?
III the laboring men are wrong, the
decision of an arbitrator without can
non or club will com mand the obedi-
ence Of every toiler affected.
Even if we are right and the arbi-
traitor decides against us, still we will
bow to that decision.
Then if the decision of one man.
unarmed and alone, can exercise this
vast power, what is the use of the sac
rif1ce of lives, calling out armies, and
making an opera bouffe Of govern
ment?
"It is evident that blunder has
been made somewhere, somehow. Let
us ascertain it's source.
A Question of Justice.
"Is it just or is 1t necessary to bring
the United States army into Chicago
in an effort to smother the cry of the
toiler for arbitration? Is it right Or
eXpedient to attempt to stiffe the de-
mand for the settlement of contro-
versy by court procedure? Is the pur
rose Of the army to prevent the carry
ing out Of written contracts that are
open to all who care to read them I:
Can you, our honored President, afford
to use the forces under your control
to stife labor's demand for peace and
the methods of peace? Why should
our attempt to get and maintain peace
be met by the army and by war?
Every laboring man knows these
facts. What will be the results upon
the citizenship of this country if, when
American citizens ask for court pro-
cedure and order thev are met by the
bullet and the Jail? Is it not time to
inquire as to the facts in the case?
I'VE submit that labor is an essen
tial Of national life. And the sympathy
and cooperation of citizenship. Unity
is a necessary fact Of DEVELOPMENT and
destroyed in industrial life than can
patriotism in political life. He is
shortsighted indeed who cannot see
that the cause of one is the cause of
all, and that the destruction or one
without protest is sooner or later the
destruction of all.
THE revolutionists we'll understood
tnat Id" dlfected at massachusetts
was, in effect. a law against South
Carolina. Franklin's saying that IF
we don't hang together we will hang
separately" has become a truism.
Shall that farsightedness, that was
praised in Massachusetts be condemn
ed in Chicago? Or shall that principle
of action that was praised yesterday
be condemned today? The thousands
of unions springing up as the trees of
the forest, answer no.
Unionism is Here to Stay.
"Unionism has come to stay. 1t is
merely the systemization of an inher-
ent law of human action.
1T is therefore better to recognize
this law and deal with it as such, and
make use of the high trait of man
hood of which it is the expression than
to commit the folly of trying to crush
il out. as George III, tried to crush out
the spirit of unity and independence
in the colonies.
Let us not awake to this fact lust
after it Is forever too late.
I'VE therefore trust that YOU will al
low presentation C the facts of the
case to you before you permit any
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