Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1907-09-07
Vast Gathering Listens to Editor
Politician On Use and Abuse OF
Combinations
EVERY MAN A woRK1NeMAN
Capital But An Accumulation Of
Wealth Which Employer and
Employee Should Divide
Fairly-Arbitrate Matters

records from almost every standpoint .
The principal speaker was William .
Randolph Hearst. He did not speak I
on politics. but confined himself 90 a I
subject I'm which men who toll are
particularly Interested
The exposition officials say his name (
has been one 10 conjure with. From
all points IN the South-Atlauta. Bir-
mingh0m. Mobile and Savannah
among the rest--camc delegations Of
enthusiasts anxious % hear Mr.. Hearst
even though his address viii not out
line q political policy.
Large bodies 81 labor union mem
bers are here from Washington. Rich
mond and Baltimore. The organiza-
uons from the surrounding counties
turned out IN crowds. ten thousand
alone coming from Newport News.
Samuel Gompers was one OF the
speakers.
Mr.. Hcarst's speech.
Mr.. Hearst spoke as follows:
My Friends.-Labor Day should
rank with tho y urth OF July as a
characteristic American holiday. The
Fourth OF Jul. commentaries the
means by which wc gained our indie
pcndence as "a nation. and Labor Day
commemorate the means hy WEIGH
we have made our nation the most
most prosperous of any ia The world.
Some nations have grown great by
conquCring their weaker ncighbors
Others have grown rich 10y despoiling
dependent colonies. but this nation
has grown % be the greatest ana the
richest Of ali through The peaceful dee
veiopment OF its own resources. by
the honest labor OF It's citizens.
In country where aN men are
v-or6ingmcn there should Doe greater
n - h.f II
understanding and sympathy. ~ is en-
behalf OF this better undcrstaut ain 4
that I speak today. I have NO pa
tence with the prejudices which exist
between alleged classes when the
classes themselves Go not really exist
There S. no reason for hostility bee
tween employer and cmployc. between
capitalist and wage-carner
Capital is but the accumulation ~
wealth which employer and cmployt
create together.
Wage are hut the division 90
profits Both employer and em-
ployc are entitled to their share
Of the profits. and "a long a. the
division l. just and cquablC there
l. no occasion for cunliict. ~ the
division L. not just. 10 can always
De- made - hN arbitration. ana
there l. sin no occasion for con-
nict.
Capltalistic combinations I'm re-
straint OF trade and ina establish
mcnt of monopoly are not COM
binatiou~ tor production. hut for
! cNtortion. and activity of this
character l. not industry. but rob
berry.
There l. the Same difference be-
tween legitimate organization and
criminal combination a. there II
between commerce and piracy.
between house building and house
breaking
But united effort IS always more q
\ fective than distracted effort. and or
ganization and combination may D
said 90 DE beneficial whenever thel
) objects are legitimate.
Prosperity means. first. the creatio
/ OF wealth. and then the distribute
II OF wealth. We all realize The aovau
tage ~ putting money into circuia
ton. but how are We going 20 pJ
= money into circulation on any lars
scale except .u good wages 90 worker
and good prices 90 farmers?
The effectiveness ~ combination
OF capital is seen in their enormot
power for good. and their menace li'
IN the misuse OF that enormous pow'
FOR evil.
There l. no greater danger 10
our form OF government, To our
j popular rights and our public
morals than tie corrupt use OF
the great power OF corporate
wealth.
\ The Seducing of Schmitz.
Ia san Francisco mayor was
elected some six years ago who
for four years conducted his Of
fee with credit TO himself and
satisfaction To his fellow men.
After the great fire certain
greedy public service corporations
saw i'm that dread disaster merely
AN. opportunity TO loot "A helpless
city. They set To work with full
intent TO debauch the city gov
ernment and plumber the city Of
its public property.
Unhappily. the Mayor fell. and
many others fell. Hundreds of
thousands OF dollars were dis
tributed TN brides To secure
profitable hut dishonest privileges.
The pillage was becoming "A
riot when the District Attorneys
Office stepped I'm TO protect the
city and prosecute the malefac-
tors.
You hear much today OF how
a mayor OF san Francisco has
fallen. but YOU hear little of how
powerful public service corpora
lions tempted "A Wrctched human
being with great wealth and
brought a once respected man q
rnin and disgrace
There IS no greater traitor 10 I
nation than the man who has ma
his money under the liberal insu
lions OF this Government, and W
uses that money TO undermine tn
Institutions and debauch the Cove
ment.
Let US recognize and reward
good which honest corporations
compiish. but let US. with equal J
tice. condemn and punish the I
which corrupt corporations spread
Let US govern our corporations
we do our individual citizens. Let
make laws impartially for all. Z
then make all impartiaily obedient
the laws