The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-09-10
ADDRESS GIVEN BY
VIM. BLACKMAN SEP. 6
Oted L abOr Leader DELIVERIES Powerful Grafton on
Labor DayGood Citizenship Declared to Be
Necessary to Good Government.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
note that | have been assigned the
subject, "Organized Labor, Its Objects
and Benefits
First, let me say that it is with pleas
ure that | accepted the invitation from
the Everett Central body to be with
you on this occasion. The members of
the Everett labor unions are my per-
sonal friends of years standing and
am more than glad to be with you to-
day to show my appreciation of that
friendship and to help celebrate labor's
holiday.
Those of you who do not belong to
labor organizations, but to commercial
clubs and other organizations, Join to-
day with labor for a day of rest from
toll and to become better acquainted
with each other as neighbors and citi
zens
Labor Day is recognized as the one day
in each year that labor gives an account
of itself Organized labor is responsible
for this holiday and nearly every state
has declared by law that the first Mon
day in September of each year shall be
set aside as legal holiday for the
laborers of the nation. People in every
walk of life observe the day by closing
up their places of business and partici
pating in the exercises.
Those who sympathize with and are
making the labor question a study,
watch the progress that is being made
each year by the different trades, and
by such close observation we find that
labor unions have in the past few years
more than doubled their membership,
and the men who started the movement
a short time ago, are now joined by a
ma iority of their craft until Labor Day
is celebrated in the cities and towns, and
men and women are heard from every
platform proclaiming the justice of the
cause of the day we celebrate.
The question is often asked, "What
has labor accomplished through organi-
zation?' Labor, through its organization,
teaches its members to be sober and in
dustrious. | can remember but a few
short years ago that it was not an un-
common thing for a locomotive engineer
to go to his work intoxicated, but to-
day it is just the reverse. Now, when
an engineer so far forgets himself as to
90 to his work intoxicated, his brother
in the union takes up his case and the
unfortunate one is called upon to give
an account of his conduct. My friends,
there you find the true spirit of BROTH
erhood The fraternal hand is extended
and the brother given another trial, but
if again found wanting, he is no longer
considered worthy the protection of this
great brotherhood. After such an ey
perience ninety nine out of every hun
dred rise to the emergency and male
good men-and | want to say that to-
day the railroad men throughout this
country are sober and industrious
class.
This little example will apply 70 the
labor movement in general and such or
CARNATIONS must be given credit for
great good, not alone to themselves and
those dependent upon them, but to all
society thereby elevating the moral
character and making better citizens to
assume the responsibilities of life.
There are persons in this country who
say that organized labor takes away the
individuality of man-takes that God
given right and all that was guaranteed
by our forefathers Such persons have
never studied the question. On the con-
trary, the organization of capital has
made it absolutely necessary for labor
to organize for sefprotection. Capital
has organized for but one purpose,
and that is to make money, while
labor has organized to shorten the
hours of toll so that he who labors with
his hands may have a little time eaJl
day to improve his mind, thereby keep
ing pace with progress In that | may
add the words of the poet who said:
Eight hours for work;
Eight hours for rest
Eight hours for what you will"
Labor organizations are responsible
for the passage of child labor laws in
the various states, for the passage OF
factory inspection laws to protect EN-
ployes against dangerous machinery and
for the compulsory attendance of al
children in the public schools The
numerous things labor has accomplished
is eommendable to say the least Labor
stands ever ready to settle all distur
hances that may arise from time to tim'
between employer and employe, by arbi
tration.
| Strikes in this country have beer
many, and while deplore the strike
vet to some extent the strike has called
the attention of all classes of our citi'
zens to the labor question. Had this
class of our fellow men been at all times
submissive they would have been over
looked In the words OF a noted writer
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