The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-09-14

Oh IAdDOF,i mas kept anu proposes 10
keep pace Herewith.
The wheels of industry cannot be
halted or turned back, nor should
they be, even if that were possible.
Welcoming industrial progress, labor
must be ever alert to meet new condi-
tons, recognizing that eternal vigi-
lance is the price of industrial as we'll
as political liberty.
THE working people cannot hope to
maintain their rights or progressive
position in the varying phases of mod
ern society unless they organize and
exercise all those functions which, as
workmen and citizens, it is their privi-
lege apd their duty to exercise.
Labor makes no demand upon gov
eminent or society which is not
equally accorded to all the people of
our country. 1t can and will be salts
fed with nothing else.
Congress No Friend of Labor.
Several presidents of the United
States have in their messages to con-
gress. urged the passage of equitable
legislation in behalf of the working
people, but congress has been entirely
preoccupied looking after the interests
of vast corporations and predatory
wealth.
Congressman and senators in their
frenzied rush after the almighty dollar
have been Indifferent or hostile to the
rights of man. They have had no time
and as little inclination to support the
reasonable labor measures, the enact
ment of which we have urged, and
which contained beneficent features
for all our people without an obnox-
ious provision to anyone.
Patience ceased to be a virtue, and
On March 81, 1906, the representatives
of labor presented bill of grievances
to the president and those responsible
for legislation or failure of legislation
in congress, reciting the failure or re-
fusal of the party in power to adopt or
enforce legislation in the interests of
the toiling millions of our country. Al
ter setting forth labor's grievances and
requests and urging early action, we
closed that now famous document with
this statement:
but if perchance you may not
heed us, we shall appeal to the con-
science and support of our fellow citi-
zens.'
Relief Asked for Refused.
1.-THE relief asked for has not been
granted. Congress has turned deaf
ear to the voices of the masses of our
people; and, true to our declaration,
we now appeal to the working people,
aye, to all the American people, unit
eddy, to demonstrate their determine
ion that this republic of ours shall
continue to be of, for and by the peo-
pie, rather than of. for and by the al
mighty dollar.
The toiling masses of our country
are as much, If not more, interested in
good government than our fellow citf
zens in other walks of life. In line
with the contention herein stated, the
American Federation of Labor made
it's declaration of political policy, as
already quoted above. And in line
Herewith we hope, and have the right
to expect, to arouse the citizenship of
our common country, interested in
good government, to the apathy or
hostility of the party in power to the
real interests of the people, SO that
men more honest, faithful and pro-
gressive may be elected as the peo-
pies representatives.
IF it has come to a condition in this,
the greatest and wealthiest nation on
earth, that the almighty dollar is to be
worshiped to an extent of forgetting