The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-08


and is II not true?-that lack OF sym
pathy. one with another Is at the root
or most OF the problems OF society ana
government.
The world is growing toward brother
hood. and our nation is leading the
way. There Is more altruism In this
country than anywhere else In the
world. and more today than there ever
has been before There Is more recog-
milton OF the kinship that exists be-
tween us, more thought about the ques-
lions which concern common human.
ity than at any preceding time. The
labor organization is part OF this
great movement Of the masses toward
closer fellowship 1t has worked won
ders In the past and It's work Is only
commenced.
The labor organization helps those
outside OF 1t as It's members because
the increased wages and improved con-
ditlons are shared by non union men
as well as by union men.
Perfection Not Claimed.
Do not understand me TO say that
labor organization is perfect; the
spoken OF group than OF individuals
The labor organization is composed OF
men; ITS affairs are controlled by hu-
man beings, and human beings are not
perfect All that man touches Is stain =
ed with mans imperfections, and his
frailty can be traced through all his
works But fortunately for the labor
ing man. the judgment pronounced
against his mistakes must be tempered
by the fact that those with whom the
laboring man comes into contact are
also likely to err. When the employe
deals with the employer. he is dealing
with one of like passions with him
self. Each Is likely to be insistent
upon what he believes to be right: and
right. Is likely TO be colored by selfish
interests and affected by incomplete
information as to the facts. II the
empioye has some times restored to vio-
lence TO enforce his wishes, the en-
ployer has sometimes employed his
position to secure an unfair share or
OF the law to place limitations upon
both and the security OF our govern
ment il found I'm the fact that both
moments, will join I'm the enactment
of laws which will restrain them In
moments OF temptation. Some assume
that labor is lawless and that to set
tie the labor question permanently we
need only enforce the law vigorously.
yield 10 none In insistence upon obed-
fence to the law. Law Is necessary In
essential 10 peace and order but we
must remedy abuses by law IL we
would insure respect for. and obedience
TO. law
by the citizen in n government like
ours IL that the ballot In both shield
and sword-lt protects him from In
quiry and enforces his rights
The first thing that Is needed for a
better understanding OF labor dues.
tions Is the recognition or the equal
mate acquaintance. We have rights
that may be called natural rights: they
are inherent: we have them because
we are human beings The govern
the government cannot rightfully with
draw them from us.
A long step toward the elevation OF
labor TO it's proper position In the ma
tion's deliberations is TO be found In
tho establishment OF a department OF
labor. with a cabinet ofncer at its
recognition. and the executive t. en-
Titled TO the assistance which such an
official could render him. I regard the
inauguration Of this reform as the
who toll Will have voice in the de.
liborations OF the presidents council
chamber
The labor organization has been seri-
ously handicapped by the fact that II
has bcen--and I am not sure that II
has not been done unwittingly--yoked
up with the Industrial combinations
known ms trusts. The proneness OF
trust defenders to use the labor or
ganiZation az an excuse Tor compiha.
----r,-r--r---------i---T +-Trrfr-t ras aroused
tho suspicion that thov have been
c1assed together for the purpose of
shielding tho combinations OF capital.
~ the result of eighteen years OF anti
trust legislation, only one man has
been given n penal sentence for vfo-
IatIng the federal law ON this subject,
mud that man WINS n member OF labor
organization rather than n trust mag
mate. The Iaboring man IL justified in
his demand that n distfncttOu shall be
drawn between the labor organization
and the Industrial monopoly.
The trust and the labor organiza-
ton cannot be described In the same
language. The trust maRnates have
used their. power to amass swollen
fortunes while no one will say that the
labor organization has as yet secured
for It's members more than their share
of the profits arising from their work
But there are fundamental differences
The trust f. n combination Of dollars
the labor organization IL an assocta-
tion OF human beings. In n trust a few
men attempt To control the product al
members unite for the protection ri
that which L. their own. namely, their
own labor. which, being necessary "a
their existence. IL n part of them. Tn,
trust denis with dead matters the In no,
organization deals with life and witt
Intellectual and moral forces. No i'm.
partial student Of the subject will den,
the right az the lnboring man to ex.
eInptfou from the operation Of the ex.
isting aptf-trust law.
~ the labor Organization needs tn h,
regulated nv law, let ~ be regulate,
nv n law which deals with man ne mar
and not by law thnt was Htmed 90
prevent the cornerinx Of n comuodit,
ar the forc-tnlltng Of the market.
I shall not speak OF the eight -houl
day, or OF the employers liability act
because both OF the leading partie,
have Endorsed these reforms; the-onll
question TO be considered is:/whict
: rTTrv CEn rCSr bc rrUsrpr 10 STCurl
these reforms? I need hardly assure
YOU that I am heartily In favor Of
both reforms
Two Pertinent Questions.
Thorn two questions, however
I intimately connected WITH Tie 1Hru-
problem upon which the Democratic
/ and Republican parties do not agree
/ and ! not only feel at liberty TO die
cuss these. but under the circum-
1 stances. l have no right to ignore
| functions and the other TO contempt
cases arising under injunctions. TIL.
/ Republican convention did not deal
1 candidly with the laboring man on