The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-07
Power OF Wealth.

Mr.. Roosevelt. in n recent speech.
told you that he was an optimist on
the question of unionism: so am |. He
told you that 1t was II force with
boundless powers of good. and he be
lieyed 1t: SO do |. But looming over
the horizon there comes another power
the power of wealth. the fnordinate
power of combined millions. | confess
that the only fear l ever entertained
in regard to our future is whether
there viii be found any adequate rem
edy To stay and check the increasing
power of Incorporated wealth. Few
indeed, are the public men that dare
defy it. Our politicians have bowed
and cringed and fawned to This power
and IDOL until they are hump backed
In their idolitry. 1t is To the great
masses of the people we must look in
the hope that their sense of danger
may be aroused I'm time Ia grannie
successfully with 1t. PRESIDENT Ropse-
Welt granrled with the monster. The
unions are graphing with Ii. ami with
the peoples help and Gods will they
will carry it through. Who but~-the
uninn~and our ex-nresiient and pub
'+iir sentiment compelled the anthracite
magnates to submit to arbitration. and
compelled in other eases obedience to
our lawse
The strength nj unionism lies both In
its promise and in its accomplishments
tn him who has not read the signs
of the time. nor the pages Of history
tn him who has not fathomed the far
reaching and subtle Influence of union
ism. its power and it, achievements
will out-fahle fairy lore.
The founders of the old aft-guilds
knew that there was no safety in the
use of Il prejudice: they huilded
strong and long because they builded
not upon passion or error. but upon II
moral principle. The main design and
general movement nj tito founders of
unionlsm has ever been tn ameliorate
the condition and insure the elevation
of man. While uniunism IL not Ii re-
liginus institution, its ethical work
approaches that of church; while it
is not Il political party. il has shaped
the course Of legislation and our COM
mon destiny la an astonishing dc
gree, and While il Is not purely an
economical entity. ii has created. and
is solving some Of the mightlpst auas-
tsnns which have ever agitatcd - pen
pie.
kiug~craft as ii ruling power is at
an end in America: ii is the workmen
who are putting firth their hands to
govern. Was 1t not Il meeting like
this in New York in 1884 that first
j agitated the proposition to open pub
lie lands To actual settlers. and that
first started the crusade against those
: nounGlass land grants Was it not
through the unflagging efforts 81
unionism that the old laws which i'm
prisoned an honest man for debt was
repealed that bankruptcy laws were
adopted2-that the old conspiracy
/ laws by which meritorious employe
became a criminal by consulting with
his fellows and asking for an increase
Of wages. were abolished? Was il not
! in compliance with its demands that
labor bureaus, national and state
were organized that the government
revoked land grants OF millions of
acres Ia diIatory railroads which failed
tn comply with the terms of the gift?
Wh"r" d. you find stronger advocate
IF OUR public school systam-that safe
guard of American liherty-than
among uni"ns@ In our struggle with
: slave power. were they mot found on