Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-06
Enable Families to Live According to
y American Ideals.
LABOR AND sOCl

|
10 thousands Of worklnsmen Of North Da-
kota Theodore Roosevelt outlined his be-
lief as to what should be done for the
benefit OF the laborng classes in America.
Speaking at the Labor day celebration at
Island park he gave mis- doctrine follows:
our ideals should be- rate of wages
sufficient to enable workmen to live In
manner oonformRblo to American ideals and
20 educate their children and to provide
for sickness and old age; the abolition Of
child labor; legislation to prevent indus
trial accidents and automatic compensation
for losses caused by these Industrial acct
dents"
Colonel Roosevelt also declared for a
workday OF not more than eight hours |
release from employment one day in seven
days. abolition of the sweat shop system.
sanitary inspection OF factory, workshop, !
mine and home, Fairgrounds for all children
and free schools. free tuition and compul-
sorry education.
The colonel said that labor unions were |
necessity OF modern life The working |
man, he said, should be protected by law
from the greed and carelessness OF un-
scrupulous employers, Just as both en-
ployer and employe are protected by law
in their lives and property against the
murderer and the thief. To accomplish
this, Colonel Roosevelt said, national and
state laws should be passed.
Colonel ROOseveIt's Address.
Colonel Roosevelts apeech was as followst
"Today-on Labor day--I speak in one
sense especially 70 those personally and
vitality interested In the labor struggle; and
get speak OF this primarily as one aspect
nf the larger social struggle growing out
Of the attempts TO readjust social condi-
lions and make them moro equitable.
''The nineteenth century was distinctly
.one Of economic trlumphs-triumphs in the
domain Of production. including transporta-
Y don and the mechanlc OF exchange. Tho
n marvellous progress made In these respects
u multiplied mans productive power to an
SAlmost inconceivable degree.l In the matter
g,Se tha production Of wealth, as much prog
y ress was made during the nineteenth CEN
t1iry as during all previous periods since
history dawned-that is. the changes
brought In single century through
machinery and steam have been greater
than the sum total Of the changes OF the
4 peceding thousands Of years; and these
very changes and this material progress
have thrust upon US social and political
problems OF the first magnitude The tri-
umphs of the physical sciences in the nine
4 teenth century represented progress pri-
\marily in the material elements OF civihxa-
ton. The most pressing problems that con-
front the present century are not concerned
with the material production of wealth.
but with it's distribution. The demands OF
progress now deal not SO much with the
moral and ethical factors OF civilization
Our basic problem is to see that the mar
velously augmented powers OF production
bequeathed to us by the ninenteenth cen
ahal In ha ftra ha Aa m a
minister to the needs OF the many rather
- than be exploited for kae profit Of the few.
THE American wage Garner faces this
n larger social problem In q dual capacity f;
first as a citizen OF the republic charged
with the f,iR duty OF oitizenship: and next
as & aSe-earner-as q wage worker who.
together with his fellow workers, Is vitally
concerned IN the question OF wages and
general conditions Of employment. which
affect not only his well-being and that of
: his wife and children. but the opportunities
Spt all workers for higher development.
Organization IA Necessary.
1T !s true OF wage workers, as OF all
bther citizens, that most Of their progress
must depend upon their own initiative and
\ their own efforts Nevertheless there are
three different factors in this progress.
IN There is. first the share which the man $
own individual qualities must determine.
This is the most important OF all, for moth
ing can supply the place Of individual ca
pacity. Yet there sre two other factors
also OF prime importance, namely, what
can be done by the wage workers in CO.
operation with one another, and what can
be done by government-that is. by the In
strument through which all the people work
collectively. Wages and other most import
ant conditions OF employment must remain
largely outside OF government control. mus
be left for Adjustme by free contract be-
tween employers and wage-earners, subject
20 legislation which will prevent conditions
which compel man or woman to accept
wages representing less than will ensure
decent living.
But to attempt to leave this merely tC
individual action means the absolute de
strucuon OF individualism; for where tn,
individual is 80 weak that he, perforcs, hR,
TO accept whatever strongly organized
body chooses TO give him, his individua
liberty becomes a mere sham and mock
cry. II is indispensably necessary, in ordei
10 preserve 10 the largest degree our system
OF individualism. that there should be ef
fective and organised collective action. Tn,
wage-eaners must act Jointly through IN,
< process OF collective bargaining. in Erea
! Industrial enterprises. Only thus can the,
be put upon a plane OF economic eoualit,
y with their corporate employers. Only thu
Is freedom OF contract made real thin
and not mere legal fiction. There ar
4 occasional occupations where this is no
" necessary, but, speaking broadley, II is nee
essary throughout the great world OF or
ganiked industry. l believe this practice @
eollecuYe pargainlng, effective only throug
suol - s93uons AZ the trades unions. I
- IA OF the most potent force
AnN . 2. century IN promoting the prog
! ress OF the wage-earners and In securin
larger social progress for humanity whel
ever there ls organized capital on a cor
1continuea ON Tenth PaVs1