Evening journal., 1906-09-03
Monday, September ;, 1906.
LABOR DAY"

THROUGHOUT the country the dayis be-
l. ing observed as one. especially devoted to
labor" that is to the men who earn their living
bv the mechanical crafts, combination OF mem
tai and manual labor.
Thousands of wor1ingmen in the different cit
les are parading, celebrating and demonstrating
They are calling to our minds the important place
that labor so-called holds in the body polite II
is holiday recognized in Delaware and many
other commonwealths, Each year it is coming
10 be more generally observed and its effects
noted. The labor unions and all men who take
notice Of the day have just right to be proud OF
it
Never in the history Of the world has labor oc-
cupicd such an exalted position The condition
Of the workneman is better 1t is improving
In this country he has unlimited suffrage, which
means that the laboriug masses are really the
controllers Of the government and responsible
for il. In most Of the European countries the
voice Of f,labor Is heard and is potent force in
the governments AS time goes on suffrage is
extended in those nations. History is largely
record Of the struggles Of the masses to better
themselves. to get more Of the worlds goods to
live happier and better lives
In production three factors are recognized
labor, land and capital Labor is the most inn
.-,eaant because it is human. Without labor the
other two factors would be inert Labor is the
active force land and capital the passive. Not
so many years ago the economic writers treated
labor as mere commodity, They dehumanzed
it. 1t was something 10 be secured at the cheap
est cost at the lowest rate of production. The
laborer was TO receive bare subsistence, merely
what would sustain life But there has been a
revolt against such a doctrine. Labor is to be
considered as human, ethical, vital And so
arose the question Of distribution, distributive
justice. until now the subjects among the en-
lightened writer's on these topics are not merely
the production Of wealth but its equitable distri-
button And it is out of this idea, this change
and exaltation Of labor that the idea Of trade un-
ions originated 1t is what makes them SO strong
to-day
The nature Of industrial and business life Gre
ates the unions. They could not disappear if it
were desirable Without organizations, the la
boring population would be in a condition of
chaos. or as Professor Clark once said they
would be dehumanized brutes. Industrial life
has changed Manufacturing is concentrated.
The little shop and the small master with few
employees. has largely gone The large factory
operated by large capital takes its place Then
follows the organization OF the working forces
just as logicallyas did the organization of indus
try into the larger mills and factories
How different is the lot Of the laborer to-day
from that of years ago. Only few years ago
much production was carried on by labor held in
the shaeIles of human slavery. Laborers not so
long ago in other countries were denied suffrage
were subjected to onerous and burdensome rules
were denied even the right to free motion and To-
comotion, we're regarded by man as mere instru-
rnents to produce or make things to create
wealth for others in times of peace and compose
the armies and navies in times of war Educa.
ton was limited and there were few opportuni
tics. Changes for the better have come slowly
The advancement has not been swift but it has
been sure. Education is practically universal Il
we have any defects in our government such e,S
ist because the masses of the people are willing
to tolerate them. A republic like ours reflects
or should reflect the sentiment of the masses. Ir
theory we have government by the masses II
It differs in practice then the fault is with the
masses: The emphasis of Labor Day, the hon
oring OF the brawn the muscle the sinew ano
the brain all combined. like they are in no Other
occupation except the mechanical arts. shoulc
cali TO mind the responsibilities OF labor Nc
other class of citizens should feel the duties o.
good citizenship more than do the men who OBJ
serve the day to-day
They should be the foes of grafters, the oppon