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


address at the Portland Labor Day ex-
ercises, September 4. The address in
part follows:
Each American, whether he works
with his head or his hands; whether he
is an employer or a wage Garner; no
matter where he was born or what creed
he processes, is entitled to be Judged by
his fellows on his worth as a man. In
return he is bound in honor to do his
best to give to every man a fair deal,
for no man deserves more and no man
should receive less.''
MIR. Chairman, and friends; l have
chosen these words from a recent public
address OF prominent member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen-
Theodore Roosevelt. In their spirit it
will be my endeavor to speak to you
today.
1t is in the nature of man to follow
example when he will not give heed to
precept, and it rejoices me today to
know that the American citizen has
continually before him "a pillar of
cloud by day and pillar of fire by
night - the life and character of the
noblest among living men - the presi-
dent of the United States. He it is
who saws, "Each American is entitled
to be judged on his wortL as a man."
He it is who says, "Every man de-
serves fair deal - neither more nor
less.' These are the truths that power
ls denying in practice, but which over
million American workingmen are
banded together to defend.
1t was the "Bard of Avon" who said:
"Oh, it is excellent to have a giants
strength, but it is tyrannous to use it
like giant" The power which gold
confers does not possess the character
OF benevolence. True. there have been
instances wherein men have acquired
power and used it gently, but they are
rare-and as refreshing-as the showers
that come in summer. The abuse of
power is, the rule, and it is the abuse
of power which is giving the people
concern.
The quarrel is not 80 much with the
man who has power as with the condi-
tions which bestow it. The system
which makes the happiness and we'll
being OF thousands subject to the ca
price OF an individual, or an association
OF individuals, is wrong, and to diffuse
this power among the people should be
the ambition of every man, whether in
private or in public life.
My brothers, have not come to YOU
with a message of pessimism. One
cannot breathe the free air of Idaho's
glorious valleys and not catch the sun
shine in his life; so when say to you
that there are great wrongs to be right
ed in this land we love so we'll, would
have you know that l believe they can
be and will be righted-righted by the
genius, and in the wrath if need be of
him who is greater than all the crowned
sovereigns that have been or are-your
brother and mine-the American citi-
zen.
Ours is government designed to es-
tablish man in the fulness of liberty,
and its people will not be shackled in
mind or in industry, because shackles
strong enough for that purpose have
never yet been forged.
But they are patient nation, the
American people. Conscious of the
strength of race of giants, they have
elected to remain gentle under provoca-
tion to strike, and strike hard. But he
who says they are afraid does not read
their history Alright.
There are five men in this country
today who, acting in concert, could
stop the wheels of industry and bring
about the desolation that follows panic.
True, they don't do lit wouldn't pay
in>dollays and cents just now; but the
power is theirs.-the power that the
people must regain. 1t does not alter
the condition any to say that one of
these men is prominent member of
the Baptist church; the church long
ago found him burden. 1t does not
subtract anything from the danger to
say that another of these power en-
throned men is erecting free libraries
OF marble and granite. In the eyes of
labor these are but the monuments
offered by stricken conscience to She
martyred toilers of Homestead and Lat
timer - martyrs to the despotism of
power.
From servile courts they have wrung
the brutal injunction, and with the
fruits of labor toll purchased legisla-
tion to keep themselves in power-then
asked applause for erecting schools that
the children of the poor are not permit
ted the leisure to attend, and for filling
libraries with books that they do not
know how to read.
l rejoice that the despotism of power
does not rest so heavily upon the men
and women of the golden west as upon
the toilers of the eastern states. Life
in this Eden-land gives an interpreta-
tion to liberty that they have not ex