Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-10-06

Chlnese empire.
You all have reason to khnow what
that would mean to American labor
and to American institutions. Yet
under the hypocritical pretext that to
continue to exclude Chinese from this
country will be to forfeit our trade
with China, the despotism of power de-
clares that the bars must come down.
1t spoke through a national gathering
here the other day-spoke cowardly and
to the shame of the states represented.
But the time will soon be at hand for
American labor to speak and when it
comes it will say in thunder tones that
will reverberate through every corridor
of the nations capitol, that the repub-
lies sacred soil shall never become
haven for race Of men who do not
want to call it "home;" that because
manhood, and not the dollar, is the
standard of value in measuring great
ness-we do not want, and will not
have, the trade of China, if it must
bring the labor of China with it.
Do you ask me how the despotism of
power must be overthrown? Brothers,
l believe in the ballot-the easiest
weapon to use, and the one weapon of
which power stands in deadly fear.
Use it, workers of Oregon, but first Join
hands.
And believe that the ballot should
be in the hands of every American wo-
man. There is no phase of existence
that woman has not frightened, and
the American political system will be-
come free from tarnish and take on lus-
tire whenever woman is established in
the elective franchise. Years AGO we
struck the word "man" from the con-
stitution OF my state, and every election
day since then has seen the husbands
and wives, the fathers and mothers of
Idaho travelling hand in hand in the
steadfast ways OF citizenship. And we
would not return these wives and
mothers OF Idaho to subjection any
more than we would take the other
steps backward into barbarism. The
happy experience of the past few years
has rendered us proof against ridicule
and the false doctrine of the superb
ority of man. When men say to us
that that the ballot degrades woman
hood-but they don't say that to the
men Of Idaho; it wouldn't be we'll with
them if they did.
Yes, the workers of this country will
come into their own through the ballot
box, and through the ballot box alone.
They will obey the laws as they find
them but change them when they are
wrong. Power prefers to obey the laws
it pleases to obey - and break the
others at will. But examples set by
power will not remain very long. Each
day is developing strong men in the
public service-men 80 strong that they
are demanding obedience to the law
alike from the hovel and the palace.
The proper employment Of the ballot
will develop more of them. Then
the despotism of power will pass for
ever. This is the last word of counsel
that would leave with you today Do
not let the superficial things of life
blind your eyes to the things substan-
tial. Men with the reins of power in
their hands will try it, either directly
or through their minions in congress.
Don't be deceived. When your con-
gresham talks to you about larger
navy or the dual tariff, remind him
that national employers liability will
be on the calendar as unfinished busi-
ness" the coming session and ask him
what he intends to do about it.. He
may be endeavoring to keep a sinking
bark afloat on the comfortless ocean of
polictical eminence by stopping the
leaks with the doctrine of class hatred.
When he lies to you about your home
being in danger of Mormon invasion,
tell him that you are quite willing to
take care of your own homes-and re-
mind him that he will find national
S-hour5 measure pending in congress
which is designed to give you two hours
more each day in which to do it. Then
if he fails to perform your will, replace
him with some one else. There are
men among your citizens who are brave
enough and eloquent enough to stand
up on the floors of congress and fight
the battles of the people; send them to
represent you.
Shall I add word of testimony re-
garding the institution of labor union
ism? During the years that 1 have
held membership in organized labor
have always found patriotism to be it's
invigorating principle. 1t delights me
to contemplate the splendid I,work for
human society that it has done and is
continually striving to do. In every
struggle to place the race of man upon
higher ground labor unionism has been
in the vanguard, battling with courage
and devotion as honor shows the way.
1t has not always won-but all of its
victories have been for civilization and
for peace, and the good that it is doing
today we can neither measure nor COM
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