The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-09-09
LABOR DAY ADDRESS IS
MADE BY COL. ROOSEVELT
Speaking at Fargo, He Discusses the Problems
Of Trades Unionism and the Great Need
Of Proper Legislation for the Wage
Garner.

| corporation, whether lnuuStrlal or nOn-ln
dustrlal can endure or permanent
amount TO Il social force if it does no
| harmonlze with a wise and enlightene
public opinion. Hitherto we American
have been over-occupied with materia
things. and have neglected to watch tn
play Of the social forces about us. Blu
now We are awakening from that ndif
ference; and every form Of organization
representing an important economic, poltt
ical, or social force must undergo a cIoseI
scrutiny than ever before,
I think that the next quarter Of
century will be important politically II
many ways; and in none more so than If
| the labor movement. Not only are the
! benefits of labor organizations more clear
| ~ understood than ever before, but any
! shortening or vice displayed in connec-
! ton Herewith is also more clearly under
! stood and more quickly resented The
| public Is growing more and more to I'M
| derstand that. in a contest between en-
ployer and employee-a corporation and
trades union-not only the interests Of
the contestants, but the interests Of the
third party-the puhliC-must be consid-
cred. Anything like levty In provoking
strike, on the one hand or on the other
ls certain more and mere to be resented
by the public. Strikes are sometimes nee
essary and proper; sometimes they rep
resent the only way in which, after all
other methods have been exhausted it Is
possible for the laboring man to stand for
ms rights; but 1t must be clearly under
STOOD that strike Is matter Of last re-
sort Our social organization Is too COM
pick for US to fail quickly to condemn
those who, with levity or In a spirit Of
Wanton brutality, bring about far-reach-
ing and disastrous interference with It's
normal processes. The public sympathizes
cordially with any movement for a good
standard Of living and for moderate hours
or employment Il personally, for in
stance, cordially believe in an eight-hour
day, and in one day in seven for com
piete rest1 Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable con-
diti0ns and can secure no relief without
strike, or indeed. where the strike Is
clearly undertaken for things which are
vitality necessary-and then only as a last
resort-the public sympathy will favor the
wage workers: but it will not favor them
unless such conditions as these are full
filled. Therefore it Is becoming more
than ever important that the labor move
ment should combine steady. far-seeing
leadership with discipline and control IN |
Its ranks. Dishonest leadership Is a curse |
anyEbere IN American llfe, and nowhere |
Is 1t greater curse than In the labor |
movement. If there is one lesson which I |
would rather teach to my fellow-Ameri-
cans than any other; It IS to hound down
he dishonest man-no matter what his
to brush aside with ini- !
patient contempt the creature who only
tenounces dishonesty when It is found in
some special social stratum There are
dishonest capitalists, dishonest labor lead
rs, dishonest lawyers, and dishonest
business men; dishonest men Of great
wealth and dishonest poor men: and the
nan who is a genuine reformer will de-
line to single out any one type for ex-
iustVe denunciation, but will fearess1y
ttack the dishonest man as such, when
yer and wherever he is to be found
Worthy Leaders Available.
For many years I have been more or
ass closely associated with representative
eadefs of labor unions Some of these
len are among my close friends, whom I |
aspect and admire as heartily as 7 do
ny men in America. There are some of |
nem 10 whom | go as freely for assist
nee and guidance, for aid and help, in |
laking up my mind how to deal with our
3cfai problems, as I go to the leaders Of
ny business or profession. I cannot pay
20 high tribute to the worth and integ-
ty or these men--to their sincerity and
BOD Judgment as leaders. But no move
ent-no leadership-however earnest and ,
3nest can endure unless the rank and |
e live up to their duties, and search -,
r such leadership, and support It when :
ley find 1t. If the best men in a labor =.
non leave Its management and control
men OF poorer type, the effect will be .
st as disastrous as when good citizens :;
city follow the same course as re-
lrds city government The stay-at-home =
an In union is just as much response !,
e for the sins of omission and commits =
IN OF his organization as the stay-at- -
me man in city is for the civic con- y
tons under which he suffers and about -
lich he complains. >
All that can properly be done should :.
done by all Of US to help upward the =
andard of living and to improve the u
lily or the average man to reach that
fndaro Ihere are still in the United !
ates great masses Of skilled and unor
nized labor. whose conditions of work
d living are harsh and pitiable It is a y
ocktng indictment Of our industrial con- -,
ION to be told in matter u
y IN government report that thOus- OF
rs or workers IN this country are com n,
led to toll everyday in the week, with -,
one day rest, for wage of s45 -
'nth Such a condition is bad for them "
q. in the end, bad for all of us Our II
hmeFcial development should be hear n,
encouraged; but II must not be al -.
fed to commercfalIze our morals. u
Is not merely the duty Of the wage III
'ner. but it is also the duty Of the gen s,
/ public, to see that he has safe and
llfhy cNnditio"s under which 70 Garry
MS work. No worker should be com Ia
led as condition Of earning his daily ar
adj TO risk his life and limb or he w
rived Of his health or have 70 WORT, -,
Ter dangerous and bad SURROUNDINGS 'i
lety owes the worker this because II al
IS as much to itself. He should not | nj
compelled to make this a matter of
tract: he ought not to be left TO aght
ne for decent conditions In this respact WI
protection in the place where he Ne
ks should be guaranteed by the law Of th
land In other words. he should be co.
tected during his working hours oo
inst greed and careIessness on the MARI ri
Inscriptions and thoughtless empIov- 70
just as outside of those working til,
rs both he and his employer are pro- 49,,
ed IN their lives and property against LIZ
murderer and thief SUI
Far Behind Other Nations.
MS opens vitality important field Of
station TO the National government
TO the state alike II Is humiliati,e