Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-05
OPPRESSION OF EMPLOYEES MUST CEASE
Outbreaks viii Continue Until Abuses
Which Cause Them Are Removed.
EQUALITY OF PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES
Great Need of the Times 10 Fraternal
Cooperation Between Capital and
Labor - Resolutions Are
Adopted.

CHICAGO Dec flames W. van Z
of ST. Louis. president Of the National r :
ISOLATION OF Manufacturers, C(iivered the
principal address today before the conven-
ton Of the Citizens Industrial sssociAuoS,
Mr.. Van Cleve condemned strongly men
who oppressed their employees, declaring
such man to be "a worse citizen than the
demagogue he assails."
Mr Van Cleve said IN part:
Mr Chairman and Gentlemen; am in
vited 10 address YOU today as the president
OF the National Association OF Manuluc-
turers, which represents millions OF WORK
ers and billions Of dollars OF capital. II IS
by far the strongest organization OF any
sort In this country. Ny subject VIII De
the Citizens Industrial Association from
the Standpoint Of the Manufacture
II is vel for US to understand that some
OF the captains OF industry, the heads OF
great aggregations OF capital and some EN-
ployerB of labor in general are responsible
for Gompers and Hearst
In this am happy. to say that Gompers
was overwhelmingly beaten in his crusade
for class coDscrlption- Every candidate be
opposed was elected. Hearst was defeated,
but only by e0O00 votes. not by the 10000
or 100000 all OF us would liked TO have seen.
hut have we killed Gompersism and Hearst
tsmy That is the question. They were only
The outbreaks cannot be ended perma-
nenty until the abuses which caused them
have been removed.
Assaults on social sanity and the public
order may be renewed two years hence.
The marplots were never more numerous
than now. Possibly they are on the in
crease. We have the Brysns. the Reufs.
the MOrans and the Schmitzes in 1906. Let
US beware lest in neglecting to cure the
abuses which created these disturbers We
nants IN 1905.
Originally the labor unions were called into
being BY the oppressi n OF me employers.
In several ways they have done good ser
vice TO the workers. 1bey haze promoted
friendly feeling and cultivated spirit
OF nflDIulneEG among - IN AL so Is OF
!. Occupations They have aided In advancing
~ ages and thus have obtained for labor a
larger share of wealth the cooperation OF
labor and capital produced. AS fair men
we must concede all this.
Evils Are Apparent.
Nevertheless, while recognizing and COM
nisndlng the good the unions have done.
we cannot close our eyes to the evils some
OF their teachings are melting. In the in
terest Dt industfiai pnafe and lasting har-
mony between employers and woTkmen we
must oppose those principles and methods
Of the unions which have been opposed by
the most prominent men OF the country,
men friendly 10 labor and champions. az a
square deal for capital and labor alike.
Those men condemn, as we do:
second-The restriction of the number of
Third-The boycott
Fourth-The attempt by labor leaders to
draw class lines and to make the labOrers
believe the employers are their enemies.
We must also patriotic Americans,
condemn the hlaekllsting and prescription
by the American Federation OF Labor in
the recent elections. The laborers outside
the unions-Who constitute ten times as
many workers as within the unions-are op-
posed TO the enactment Of laws which the
labor union bosses are attempting to push
As an ally IN combating the extremists
who would revOlutionize society and assai
all good citizens should welcome such Co
!, operation as the labor unions AFFORD. Fol
this reason the emPleysr who would Ike I'
inatslY is blind to his own interests as vel
- fsithiess to his duty TO the genera
We must. IN particular, show the oppres
sive employer that he Is raising up agains
himself and putting weapon, ,ndn. IN hls his S1s
chief makers warring on society. We mus
chow this employer he Is a worse eiuzel
thar the demagogue ne assaiis
Equality Of Privilege.
The principle OF Americanlsm Is eQuAlit!
/ emb,oyeT and empioys into fraiernal co
Operation Each Is necessary 10 ule other
Welfere. If the worker - 1lseontenteo ~. th
sunfer Strife between classes has no ploc
IN the social economy OF democratic Amer
tea Leave that 10 our Europe@h heisA
The American people mus. stand b. tn
American doctrine OF equal chances TOT "a
community must be encouraged 70 make IN
best possible use Of his talents We mus
GEtauAhn Aa4c aEAtNpAa AeA s-++'
free employment bureaus for all. We mus
support free legal departments, where tn
oppressed ones, no matter now poor the
may be- can secure aid 20 justice.
We must curb the s-eed OF the autOcrau
employer. We must show the worker tina
AZ Is best for him 20 render a fair day
work for a fair days pay, We must prov
the true relation of capital and labor ,
fraternity, not war. The same reward 70
riTbt conduct aud the same punishment 70
wrong doing must await rich and poo
alike Thus we shall abolish strikes an
foCkouts. refnove an Che workers desire 10
enact rnent OF anu-iniuncuon laws and e.
tablish an era OF Industrial peace through
out America
Resolutions Are Adopted.
Resolutions denouncing child labor an
=, calling for the establishment Of trad
schools throughout the United States wer
passed by the association just before tn
close OF the cohventiOn.
Charles W. Post OF Battle Creek. Mich
was reelected president; r. c. Nunemache
OF Louisville and James W. Van Cleave q
n Louis were elected vice presidents IN
RoIlowing men were chosen as members O
the goFeruing board;
Geore p. Bent. Chicago; T. J. Mahoney
omaha A. G. Brown. Sioux Falls, S. d.
j. W Franks, Peoria, IN.
The conventi0n viii be held next year 1
battle Greek. Mich.
7 RUSSIAN PRISONER ESCAPES
c..1. Gernhunf Convicted oF Orsra,