Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-20
NO POLITICS
Discussed at Mass Meet
ing Of Laboring Men.
Political Issues Talked Over
Without Partisan Reference.
Hon. c. v. Davis Tells How He Believes The
People Should Be Governed.

Labor tnion, ut which speeches We're
made by Hon. Cyrus w. Davis, Hon
Warren {. PhilbroOk. Hon. s. :. Brown,
Hon. &. T.. johnson. Harold T.. Cock.
ESD, John r.. Nelson, Esq. and Fred
Puoler
The grandstand, which has Il seating
capacity of about 1000, was certainly
hale flled. Although the meeting had
bt-n W.T.! advertised the day was eX-
cessively hot ana the large number
Was a gratifying surprise.
Prcsid, 1T Harry Talberth Of the Cen
trail Labor Union presided and Al 3
o locE called the assembly To order,
stating the purpose Of III" meeting.
Mr.. TdlbCrth said that, in the interests
If the union as well as out Of due re-
gard for thu day, he had asked the.
%po akerS To refrain from making cam
paign speeches. lie said that among
thr members Of IN union there We're
men Of all political parties and that
the union did not wish to be divided
"a party lines III their work Of upbuIll-
ing their organization ii" said, how
eyer, that the union did wish to DC
t"lfnine tn" attitude Of the gentlemen
selected to speak. one Of whom, the
Hon. Cyrus w. Davis is candsdht" for
Governor and several others of whoa
we're candidates for the state LeSis-
lattno. toward certain political issues
Of great Significance to the laDOring
man. He said that the laboring man is
criticized in WaterVillc as not having
sufficient recognition from his employer
ANA that one of the principal objects of
the meeting was to try to bring all
classes together on a common footing
that they might be better able to reach
a frank understanding on the issues
The issues upon which the men We're Ia
b.. asked to state their views. he said.
We're the child labor question, the eight
hour day question ana the initiative
and referendum.
After reminding the audience that moth
ing Of Il political natur" would ~ thrust
upon them. he introduced the first speak
CT of the day. Hon. Cyrus w. Davis.
Mr.. Davis felt signally hrnored to b.
2Llc to discuss the issues facing the Il
boring man at the pr sent time as they
never have before. He said that organ
lied labor in the United States during
tile past y years had stood for progress
ana had accomplished more in the line
of civic advancement than had all other
Influences combined; that although our
forcfathcrs had established a representa-
tive form of government according to
their ideas of self government thos"
ideas were not rs adequate to the pres
end day ana generation as they We're to
that Of 100 years ago. Mr.. Davis expert
enced a natural difficulty in covering the
ground Of his talk without making polt-
ic.I aIlusions. He defined the intiativ"
ard referendum in its simplest meaning
as the rule of the people" and CON
clu1ed his talk rs telling how, in his s.
timatiun, the people ought to be SOW
crncd.
Hon. Warren .. Philhrook said in his
Introductory remarks that he had had no
little experience III a direct way with the
people of the city, having represented
them in the legislature and in various
municipal offices ana therefore fit thai
with the feelings Of mutual understand
ing and confidence he would expect to
talk directly and frankly and TO express
his convictions with perfect readiness.
IL Speaking Of the feelings which ami
mated the breast Of a public speaker on
any deserving theme, Mr.. PhilhroOk said
that one Of three "iSms" could always W.
found. ono was patriotism, the love Of
country; another was altruism, tho lOv"
Of ones nciChbor; ana the third WAS egg
tisyn. the love OF ones self. In referring
to the great questions stirring the labor
ina. mon in the country he said u note Of
warming should H." sounded. mo great
movement recorded in history" said h..
(which has not as its motiV" power tn"
", Il-bcinic of a fellow man or community
ever survived or accomplished anything
worthy Of repetition.
"Thc opposite of patriotism is disl"y-
atty to ones country. and the opposite
Of aItIr,ism is cgotism. No movement in
history. Eowcvcr bright i may hay" h' m
in its inception. eyer succeeded if sup
ported in u split of *"ltlShness. If III"
labor organization in this " any other
city takes any public stand in spirit If
SelishncsS it will never succeed These
issues. tho eight-hour day, the child labor
,nr stiOn ana tho initiative and referrn-
Inn. | feel are the results Of motives Of
patriotism and altnism and am willing
to pledge my heart and hand to their III
tir1ate and assured success.
The speaker then sald that IN approach
ing n question IN WHICH 'Iiiliol9 ""ult
in ,vitably clash, du" regard should be
Maid IL the holders uf each. H. said that
he would do anything in his power t"
prevent children from being condemned
during tie wears or th":r minority +"
work for wages while they ought to bc
ACQUIRING an education. ana that II" had
no svmpathv in the thought that had
been intimated that larg" part Of me
fathers Of poor children were content Y
have their children work in order that
they might be Mt leisure. lie said that
he would fight for the eiEht-hour system
If dividing the q hours Of each working
day in equal periods for sleep, work and
recreation. provided that the latter time
should be used in the proper development
Of character and the advancement Of the
common happiness rather than usclcssiy
suuanler.d. Such Il condition of affairs.
he said when realized and taken proper
advantage Of would be for the general
coed of mankind and was sure TO come
in the gradual cvolutions of future days.
The other speakers Of the afternoon
talked directly to the point along those
same lines of thought and showed them
selves by similar expressions as being
heartily in sympathy with such great