The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-06
Public Is Interested With Work.
ers and Employers.
is MUCH TO COMMEND
In the Platform of the Ameri-
can Federation.
Compensation for Injuries the
Most Vital Question.

trades unions. Theodore Roosevelt
spoke words of warm commentator of
the federal judge who was presiding
and had introduced him, because the
Judge, by what he had said, had show
ed himself to be in sympathy with the
laboring man. He referred to Judge
c. F. Amidon of the district of North
Dakota, and his remarks were applaud
ed vigorously by the crowd.
In introducing Colonel Roosevelt
Judge Amidon said that the people as
sembled there should not forget that
above all the occasion was one for the
laboring men, who were holding their
annual celebration. Suggesting that Ia
boring men suffer wrongs that might
he reached by legislation Judge Amidon
called especial attention to the failure
of congress to enact a law providing
for compensation for laboring men
when injured, or for their families in
event of their death while employed.
Every government of Europe, with the
exception of Turkey, he said, had en-
acted such laws eliminating from the
question of compensation all matters of
negligence on the part of either the
employees or the employer, and fixing
a definite amount to which the en-
ployee should be entitled.
When Col. Roosevelt reached that
part Of his speech in which he advoca-
ted a working mans compensation act,
he turned to Judge Amidon. and said:
i can not help saying just one word,
as to how 1 have been delighted this
afternoon to hear utterances from a
federal judge who not only stands for
honesty and righteousness in the con-
ventional forms in which judges have
been accustomed to see them for gener-
atiOns, but who stands facing the
changing conditions and realizing that
the constitution of the United States
must be administered, if 1t is to be ad-
ministered wisely by men who sympa-
thize with and understand the needs
of the wage earners, just as they sym
pathize with and understand the needs
of all other American citizens
He Stood in the Rain.
When Col Roosevelt reached the park
he found waiting for him a throng
which filed the platform and crowded
the rising ground on every side up to
the trees which fringe the hollow Be
hind him there fluttered an old latter
ed nag. 1t was the flag under which
he delivered an Grafton on the Fourth
of July, 30 years ago at Medora N D.
shortly after he had gone out there
from the east. The flag was sent here
for the day.
When it began to rain, the colonel
looked out over the crowd at the sum-
mer hats and dresses which were be-
ing soaked and left the stand He went
out among the crowd and told the wo-
men to go up there under cover. When
ne had filled the stand with women he
sauntered through the crowd Needless
OF the rain, shaking hands and talking
with the people. After ten minutes Of
steady rain the sun broke through the
clouds and the shower was over The
people cheered, the women left the
stand, Col. Roosevelt resumed his Mace
there and the exercises of the day we're
resumed. The colonel's hands were |
stained with red from wet hunting |
winch was draped over the railing and |
one womans white dress bore a strik- |
ing resemblance to the American flag.
Tor she had leaned against a rain soak |
ed flag. Only small part of the crowd |
was driven away by the rain. Women |
with bedraggled hats and drioninp
dresses sat out the afternoon.
In NJ speech the colonel made II
GEAR mat ne did not wish to give a
pIdhket endorsement of everything |
done by labor unions, although he said
he believed them to he a necessity of
modern life and he thoroughly apnrov
ed of them. He said that he was with
the unions when they were right and
that If union did anything that was
wrong ne would be against it on that
sore whenever any man tells you"
ne continued, that a labor organiza-
ton never goes wrong, you make I'M
your mind that he is telling you what
ne knows to be an untruth."
hOOSeVelt'S Speech.
Colonel Roosevelt's speech was as
follows: %
Today-on Labor day. speak in ono
sense especially to those personally and
vitality interested in the labor strnegIa.
and yet speak of this primarily as one
aspect OF the larger social struggle
growing out of the attempts to read
just social conditions and make them
more equitable.
The nineteenth century was distinct
~ one of economic ACCOMPLISHMENTS
in the domain of production Including
transportation and the mechanics Of
exchange. The marvellous progress
made in these respects multiplied mans
productive power to an almost incon-
ceivable degree. In the matter of the
production of wealth, as much progress
was made during the nineteenth CEN
fury as during all previous periods
since history dawned-that is. the
changes brought in a single CEN
fury through machinery and steam
have been greater than the sum total |
of the changes of the preceding thou
sands of years; and these very changes
and this material progress have thrust |
upon us social and political problems
of the first magnitude. The triumphs /
of the physical sciences in the nine
teenth century represented progress /
primarily in the material elements of |
civilization. The most pressing prob
lens that confront the present century |
are not concerned with the material |
production of wealth, but with its dis
tribution. The demands of progress |
now deal not so much with the ma |
terial as with the moral and ethical |
factors of civilization. Our basic prob
lem is to see that the marvelousiy /
augmented powers of production be-
aueathed to us by the nineteenth CEN
fury shall in the twentieth be made to /
administer to the needs of the many |
rather than be exploited for the profit |
of the few.
The American wage Garner faces TINS
larger social problem in a dual ca
nacity. first, as a citizen of the re-
public charged with the full duty Of
citizenship: and next as wage Garner
-as wage worker-who. together
with his fellow workers, Is vitality con,
cerned in the question of wages ami