Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-10
KENDALL TALKS
TO LABOR HOSTS
CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS
STRIKES RIGHT CHORD WITH
LISTENERS.
ECONOMY A NECESSITY
speakers on Afternoon Program at
Labor Day Celebration all Talk
Along Optimistic Lines The
Evening Diversions.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Genial, confident, and in perfect har-
mony with his audience, Hon. N. E.
Kendall of Abba closed the afternoon
session of the Labor day program late
yesterday at Caldwell park
with a splendid address in behalf of
the laboring man and his condition.
Mr.. Kendall was to be the principal
speaker Of the evening program, but
owing to the fact that it was neces-
sary for him to leave the city on an
early train, he spoke In the afternoon.
Possessing a fine voice admirably
adapted to outdoor speaking, he prov
ed to be one of the most entertaining
takers of the day. While his remarks
were brief, they were directly to the
point, and called forth much applause.
"You laboring men can get nothing
save through organization" said the
speaker, after a few Introductory re-
marks. you can get nothing from
your employers unless you demand 1t
as body and stand UP for your de-
mands as one" Following out this line
of thought, Mr.. Kendall gave con-
else history Of the miners union as
an example, showing how they have
compelled the operators to notice
them and accede to their demands. He
touched upon the remarkable results
that have been achieved thus far by
labor unions, which he said are still
In their infancy.
Demand Fair Share.
"In spite of the tremendous results
showing today you men are not DONE
he continued. THE working men ev-
erywhere are vitality interested in only
one thing-and that is, getting fair
share Of the wealth he creates. You
must present forceful demand or you
can never get what you desire"
In speaking of the perfect harmony
that should exist between the labor
unions and their leaders, he cited the
teachings of Jesus as an excellent ex-
ample to follow Bear We one anoth-
er's burdens" he said. "Let there be
no leaders, no menials all equal =
all men, striving for one common goal
the betterment of your conditions"
Mr.. Kendall then entered at length
into an Interpretation Of the Employ
ers Liability Act showing how
much misery had resulted because
there was no law in the land through
which a manned workman or a killed
laborer's family could demand help
from the employer of that man. He
gave several touching incidents of
misery that had resulted because no
such law existed.
He urged all laborers to be econom-
zeal and frugal in their living, and
dwelt at length upon the Importance
of insurance. At this juncture the
speaker raised a hearty laugh by stat
ing that he carried so much insuran ce
that his wife had often stated that he
would be worth more to her dead than
living.
In closing, Mr.. Kendall spoke OF
the opportunities at hand today for
the laboring men. "You can hear
GROWERS on every side of you saying
that the days of opportunity are past
said the speaker, "but it isn't so
They say that the time of opportunity
has been dead and buried for fifty
years but 1 can cite you case after
case of laboring men, many of them
born to the most abject poverty, who
have risen to eminence and4 wealth.
AS examples he then told briefly Of
the lives of Lincoln, and men Of later
day who have become prominent sole
ly through their own endeavors. In
conclusion he gave briefly the career
Of Dan Hamilton.
Roberts and Hamilton.
The other speakers of the afternoon
were Judge M. A. Roberts of this city
Hon. Dan Hamilton of Sigourney ant
Rev. E. A. Schell, president of the
Iowa Wesleyan university of Mt
Pleasant, the latter representing the
Methodist Episcopal conference Boil
Judge Roberts and Mr.. Hamilton
talked along much the same genera
lines as did Mr.. Kendall, assuring thu
audience that much good had reall.
faen accomplished by the allied labo
interests and that there was yet mucl
10 be looked forward to.
A particularly strong point made b.
Judge Roberts and one that was no
touched upon by the other speaker
was the statement that the laborer
should always make their demands
within reason. He declared that tn,
men should always remember tina
there were two sides to the question
that the employers have their end o
every new move to consider and tina
in the preparation and presentation o
new demands the petitioners Shout,
take both sides of the movement int
consideration and then not be to-
hasty for an answer
Mr.. Hamilton's point was that tn
should be careful in their choic
leaders you should choose for you
ders men who are reasoners an
lkers,' he said in this connection
takes a man with brain to lea
Alright. This contest between IL
!. and capital is an intellectual fght
we all thoughts Of anarchy out G
our proceedings. 1t weakens you
ause, never strengthens it, oY
AN make demands IN reason at an
time, but leave all semblance of fore
out entirely.
And be more united with you
leaders," the speaker went on. ''Yo
men are too prone to choose leade
or two among you and then sit bac
and expect the leaders to go ahea
and win for you. Don't think that a
you have to do to obtain the desire
ends is to procure your union card