West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-09-13

vantage they may not only do injus-
uce but even forfeit a larger future
gain. The strike. the only weapon OF
the employe at present. is a two
edged sword and may iniure the
workman as much as the employer,
and even when wholly successful Il
Is apt TO leave a rambling I'm the bosom
OF the wage-earneT that should not be
there
Government by Injunction.
No reference to the labor question
Us complete that does not include
some mention OF what is known as
government by injunction As the
main purpose of the writ Ia to evade
trial by Jury it is really an attack
upon the jury system and ought to
arouse unanimous protest So long
as the meanest thief In guaranteed
trial by jury jury ought not to be
denied 10 wage-earners However,
as the writ is usually invoked In case
OF strife. the Importance OF the
subject would be very much reduced
by the adoption of a system OF arbi.
tration, because arbitration would
very much reduce. even>if IL did not
entirely remove. the probability OF a
strike.
Just another word In regard TO the
laborlng man. The struggle to secure
an cighthour day is an international
struggle. and II is sure to be settled
In favor OF the workingman's conten-
ton. The BENEFITS OF the labor saving
machine have not been distributed
with equity. The producer has enor.
mously multiplied his capacity, but
SO far the owner OF the machine
has received too much OF the increase
and the laborer too little.
Those who oppose the eight-hour
day do II. | am convinced. more be-
cause OF ignorance OF conditions than
because OF lack OF sympathy with those
who toll The removal of work from
the house to the factory has sepa.
rated the husband from his wife and
the father from his children. while
the growth OF our cities has put an
increasing distance between the home
and the workshop. Then. too. more
Is demanded OF the laboring man now
than formerly; he is citizen az we'll
as laborer and must have time for
the study G! public questions II he is
TO be an intelligent sovereign. To
drive him from his bed To his task
and from his task back TO his bed IL
to deprive the family OF his compan-
ionship. society OF his services and
politics OF his influence.
Dives Into Political Questions.
Thus far have dwclt upon sub.
jocts which may not be regarded as
strictly partisan. but | am sure that
you viii pardon me n IA this presence
] betray my interest In those policies
for which the Democratic party
= y 4.
To make Democratic speech for al.
most a year and no one-not even a
political oaemy-could be so cruel as
to forbid ma 10 speak OF those policies
Oh ii!7 occasion. Our opponents have
derived not only partisan pleasure
but also partisan advantage from the
division caused in our party by the
money question. They ought not.
therefore. begrudGe us the satisfac-
tioa that We find in the fact that un.
expected conditions have removed the
cause OF our differences and permit
tod us TO present united front on
present issues. The uaIookedfor and
unprecedented Increase I'm the produc-
tiOn or gold has brought a victory to
Doth the advocates OF gold and the
advocates Of bimetallism-the former
kooping the gold standard which they
wanted and the latter securing the
larger volume OF money for which
the5 contended. We who favor bImet.
allism are satisfied with our victory.
II the friends OF monometallism are
satisfied with theirs. and we can I'm.
vite them 20 contest OF zeal and
endurance In the effort TO restore to
the people tie rights which have been
gradually taken from them by the
trusts.
What Exposures Prove.
The Investigations which have been
In progress during the past year have
disclosed the business methods OF
those VINO u few years ago resented
any inspection OF their schemes and
hid their rascality under high sound
ing phrases. These Investigations
have also disclosed the source OF the
enormous campaign funds which have
been used 70 debauch elections and
corrupt the ballot.
The people see now what they
should have seen before. namely. that
no party can oxterminate the trusta
so long as II owes It's political success
TO contributions from the trusts. The
great corporations do not contribute
their money to any party except for
Immunity expressly promised or clear.
ly Implied. The president has recon.
mended legislation on this subject
but so far his party has failed to re-.
spond
While men may differ as to the rel.
atiye Importance OF issues. ana while
the next campaign will largely shape
the lines upon which tho coming pres
idential campaign will be fought. I
think II Is safe 10 say that at present
the paramount issue I'm the minds Of
the large majority OF the people is
the trust Issue ! congratulate Pres
ldent Roosevelt upon the steps which
he has taken TO enforce the antitrust
law. and my qualification is not less
ened by the fact that he has followed
the Democratic rather than the Re-
publican platform I'm evory advance
he has made
Tariff and the Trusts.
Tho tariff question Is very closely
allied % the trust question and the
reduction OF the tariff furnishes an
oasy means OF limiting the extortion
which the truft5 can practice.
While absolute free trade would
not necessarily make a trust impossi.
bic stlll 60 IS probable that very few
manufacturing establishments would
iare To- enter Into trust n the presI.
dent we're empowered 20 put upon
The free list articles competing with
those controlled Jy a trust While I
shall take occasion at an early day to
consider tho tariff question more at
length. 7 can not permit this oppor.
lunity 20 pass without expressing the
opinion that the principle embodied
IN the protective tariff has been the
fruitful source OF a great deal Of DO.