Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-06
Mr.. ROOSEVELT'S
LABOR PLATFORM

Continued from First PageJ
siderable scale. believe in the principle
Of organized labor and in the practice of
collective bargaining not merely as a de-
/ slrabe thing for the wage-earners, but as
something which has been demonstrated
10 be essential in the long run to their
permanent progress.
Weaknesses and Defects.
This does not mean that unequivocaly
indorse any or all practices that labor or
ganizations may happen TO adopt, or any
or all principles that they may choose to
enunciate. Labor organizations have the
weaknesses and defects common to all
other forms Of human organizations Some
times they act very we'll and sometimes
they act very badly; and l am for them
when they act well and am against them
when they act badly. l believe that their
existence is a necessity; believe that their
aims and purposes are generally good; and
believe that all Of them have occasionally
made mistakes, and that some OF them
have been guilty of wronsdoing. Just in
80 far as they are strong and effective they
! tempt designing men who seek TO control
| them for their own interests, and stimulate
/ the desires Of ambitious leaders VINO may
| be clever, crooked men, or who may be
honest but visionary and foolish. In other
words. in treating OF labor unions, as in
treating Of corporations, or Of humanity
generally, we will do we'll to remember
Abraham Lincoln's saying that there Is
deal Of human nature in mankind"
Whether in a man or in an organized body
Of mon, the power to do good means that
such power may be twisted into evil, and
in proportion as the power grows, so 1t
! becomes steadily more important that It
I should be handled Alright. Just in proper
ton as in its proper function power Is i'm
! portant to social progress, so in It's i'm
proper function It becomes fraught with
social disaster.
Outside critics should appreciate the
necessity OF organized labor, and under
stand ana sympathize with what is good in
1t. instead OF condemning It indiscrimi-
nately. On the other hand, those within its
ranks should fearlessly analyze the criu-
clsms directed against 1t and ruthessly elm
mate from the practices OF its organization
those things which justify such criticism
and attack. This is the path, not only Of
right, but OF wisdom and safety. Public
opinion in the United States is daily be-
coming more alert and more intelligent and
more forceful and no organization,
whether trades union or corporation,
endure permanently amount to a social
force II 1t does not harmonic with a wise
and enlightened public opinion. Hitherto
we Americans have been over-occupied
with material things, and have neglected
to watch the play OF the social forces
about U.S. But now we are awakening from
that indifference; and every form of or
ganization representing an important econ
onic political, or social force must I'M
dergo closer scrutiny than ever before.
, Interest of tho Public.
II think that the next quarter Of a CEN
, fury will be important politically in many
ways, and in none more so than in the
! labor movement Not only are the bene-
fits of labor organizations more clearly
understood than ever before, but any
) shortcoming or vice displayed in con-
nection Herewith is also more clearly un-
derstood and more quickly resented. The
public is growing more and more to I'M
derstand that. in a contest between en-
, ployer and employee corporation and a
trades union-not only the interests OF the
contestants, but the interests of the third
r party-the public-nust be considered Any.
thing like evity In provoking a strike or
. the one hand or on the other, is certain
! more and more TO be resented by the pub
i lie. Strikes are sometimes necessary and
proper; sometimes they represent the only
3 way in which, after all other methods
( have been exhausted, 1t Is possible for tho
\ laboring man to stand for his rights; bu'
8 it must be Clearly understood that strik,
\ is matter OF last resort and OF course
violence, lawlessness and mob rule mus
= be promptly and sternly dealt with. NJ
I matter what the cause may be that ex
. cites them.
. Strikes Sometimes Necessary.
n "Our social organization is too complex
! for us to fail quickly TO condemn those who
with levity or in a spirit of wanton bru
!, TALLY, bring about far-reaching and disas
q !trous interference with It's normal processes
l, The public sympathizes cordially with an!
s movement for a good standard OF Hvinl
!. and for moderate hours of employment. {
). personally, for instance, cordially beliov
d In an eight-hour day and in one day Il
seven for complete rest) Where men an
n women are worked under harsh and intoler
e, able conditions and can secure no relic
= without a strike, or. indeed, where tn
le strike is clearly undertaken for thing
Of which are vitality necessary-and then onl
I; as a last reSort-the public sympathy wi
20 favor the wageworkers, but II will no
l. favor them unless such conditions as thes
a are fulfilled, and II Will condemn them
Ne they resort 10 lawless violence. Therefor,
m II is becoming more than ever importar
~ that the labor movement should combin
~ steady. far-seeing leadership with disciprn
es and control IN its ranks. Dishonest leader
\ ship is a curse anywhere IN American III,
e. and nowhere is II a greater curse than
1e the labor movement. II there is one lesso
al which l would rather teach to my fello'
le Americans than any other, II is to houn
ie down the dishonest man-no matter whs
ne his condition-and to brush aside with in
" patient contempt the creature who onl
Il denounces dishonesty when II is foun
y. in some special social stratum. There al
OF dishonest capitalists dishonest labor leaC
II. ers, dishonest lawyers, and dishonest bus
er ness men; dishonest men OF great wealt
ne and dishonest poor men; and the man wi
10 is a genuine recormer will decline TO sing
IN out any one type for exclusive denunciatio
but viii feaTlessly attack the dishonest ms
as as such, whenever and wherever he is
al be found.
he For many years have been more
o less closely associated with representa-,
IS leaders OF labor organized and uno
he ranized Some OF these men are among n
ny cloae friendS whom l reslect and admi