East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-09-05

rdTBO, N. ~, ctpt. "a bIedt Ia
Dor Day celebration and Homecoming,
with Theodore Roosevelt in the star
role, brought thousands Of people to
the North Dakota metropolis today.
Colonel Roosevelt at one time owned
and operated a ranch in this state, and
many of his former neighbors were
among those who greeted the the
doughty rough rider and African
statesman upon his arrival here. Col
onel Roosevelt came here as the guest
of the Federation of Labor. and his
address was devoted principally to the
expression of his we'll known views on
labor questions.
Roosevelt laid the cornerstone OF
the new library at Hillsboro and later
shook hands in the park. Hundreds
OF laboring men listened to his speech.
The Roosevelt party leaves tonight for
ST. Paul.
Roosevelrs Speech.
Today-on Labor Day-I speak in
one sense especially to those person
ally and vitality interested In the Ia
Dor struggle; and, yet 1 speak of this
primarily as one aspect OF the larger
social struggle growing out of the at
tempts to readjust social conditions
and make them more equitable.
The nineteenth century was dis
tinctly one of economic triumphs-
triumphs in the domain OF produc-
ton, including transportation and the
mechanics of exchange. The marvel
Gus progress made in these respects
multiplied mans productive power to
. an almost inconceivable degree. In
the matter Of the production Of wealth
as much progress was made during
the nineteenth century as during-all
previous periods since history dawn
ed: that is. the changes brought in
a single century through machinery
and steam have been greater than
the sum total of the changes OF the
preceding thousands 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 ply
steal sciences in the nineteenth CEN
tury represented progress primarily
in the material elements OF civiliza-
ton. The most pressing problems that
concerned with the material produc-
ton of wealth, but with It's distribu-
ton. The demands of progress now
deal not so much with the material as
with the moral and ethical factors OF
civilization. Our basic problem is to
see that the marvellous augmented
powers of production bequeathed to
us by the nineteenth century shall in
the twentieth be made to administer
to the needs of the many rather than
be exploited for the profit of the few.
Wage Earners.
The American wage-earner faces
this larger social problem in dual
capacity: first. as a citizen Of the re-
public charged with the full duty of
citizenship; and next as a wage-earn-
er-as a wage ge-worker-who, togeth-
er with his fellow workers, is vitality
concerned in the question of wages
and general conditions of employ
ment which affect not only his well
being and that of his wife and chill
dren, but the opportunities OF all
workers for a higher development
It is true of wage-workers, as of
progress must depend upon their own
initiative and their own efforts. New
ertheless. there are three different
factors in this progress. There is,
first. the share which the mans own
individual qualities must determine.
This is the most important of all, for
nothing can supply the place OF
Individual capacity Yet there are
two other factors also of prime i'm
portance; namely, what can be done
by the wage-workers in cooperation
with one another; and what can be
done by government-that is, by the
instrument through which all the peo-
pie work collectively. Wages and
other most important conditions OF
employment must remain largely
outside of government control; must
be left for adjustment by free con-
tract between employers and wage
earners. But to attempt to leave this
merely to individual action means the
absolute destruction of individualism
for where the individual is so weak
that he. perforce, has to accept what
ever a strongly organized body choos-
es to give him, his individual liberty
becomes a mere sham and mockery