The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-05-26

Coodby, Faithful Servant"

well done, good and faithful servant. As
nation honors its heroes, SO we honor you."
Mr.. Jas. w. Van Cleave had this handed to
him IN tablet form BY the National Manufac-
3nrers' association when he retired from the
presidency Of the organization.
the association also gave Van a pretty.
blood-red ruby pin and check for $4,000.
Nice. wasn't It?
X0u did q splendid work. and laboring men will
4No hate to see you go. though for another
You proposed to spend $1,500,000 to kill
&bor unions. We do not know how much you
&pe0t. but Ne do know that you didn't kill or
gound any labor union.
It's nice that the manufacturers appreciate
ar efforts. though they all do not approve Of
you did Union laborers may give you no
blet. no check, nor ruby pin, but they will never
prget you, or cease to thank you for making SO
Hear the Issue between your kind of capital and
0nfon labor.
Van Cleave set q lot of people to thinking.
n his hotheaded brash way he arrayed class
against mass, and demonstrated that the preda-
tory classes would deny to the laboring masses
00mmon rights and privileges; they would or
xantEe and kill the organizations OF their work
IN, making mere tools of these men.
Il Isn't often that we have q plutocrat who
faIks % much as Van Cleave has, or who would
4nre g 60 as far as he He believes that the
mock him down. He wasn't very successful in
l1e operation. but 1t is good to know how his
3fiends feel about IL.
/. ~ study questions which he has been SO ignor-
ontly discussing for the past three years, and
y1l1 be honest about 1t, he will what ire
Aendous work he did for organized labor. and
low mistaken he was in his fight for the capital
1T cause. First, he will have to learn that all
men are born equal. and have under our form
pf government equal rights to life. liberty and
happiness He will find that rich and powerful
men have been and trying to corner for
themselves all the best things in life, enslaving
their fellows and are pursuing happiness at the
cost Of unhappiness to many of their neighbors.
Van Cleave will learn that this condition
has led to very serious situation in this coun-.
J: ~, not unlike the situation France found her.
oelf In. and to relieve which she suffered the
s&orr0rs OF the Bloody Terror He will learn
that men who feel oppressed in this country
# have learned how to THINK, that they now
know Of weapons which are better than bullets
f6H4 guns that they wiSh to have oppressive evils
E&pFrected by lawful and honorable means. To
S<ld themselves of unfair masters they would sub
Qrotect wealth and property improperly acquired
or uselessly employed.
The retiring president of the manufacture
EGrB' association will learn that the creation of
labor unions Is step In the direction of demo-
cratic government In labor unions men obtain
posit1ons of power and influence not as they do in
our present commercial republic. by mere possess
sion of wealth. but by force of character and in
1efisct and by the greater force and the nobler
one of justice and good will toward their fellows
Such are few of the truths Van Cleave
may learn IL he will inquire. And perhaps some
day he will wonder at his Boosting. foolish words
% the year 1899 and himself see how he rendered
service to the enemy"