The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-05
ROOSEVELT SPEAKS TO WORLD OF LABOR AT FARGO TODAY
Labog Holiday Best Friends Are Numbered
Among Organizations

Among Union Organizations.
pnrgaES2g enecrive only through such
organizations n the trades unions. to
have been one Of the most potent
forces In the past century in promot-
ing the progress Of the wage earners
and In securing larger social progress
for humanity. I believe in the prin-
ciple OF organized labor and IN the
practice OF collective bargaining. not
merely as q desirable thing for the
wage earncrs. but as something which
has been demonstrated to be essential
In the long run to their permanent
progress.
Weaknesses and Defects.
This does not mean that I unequivo-
caily indorse any or all practices that
labor organizations may happen to
adopt or any or all principles that they
may choose to enunciate. Labor Or
Ganizations have the weaknesses and
defects common to all other forms of
human organizations. Sometimes they
act very well, and sometimes they act
very badly. And I am for them when
they act well. and I am against them
when they act badly.
believe that their existence is a
necessity. believe that their aims
and purposes are generally good. and
] believe that all Of them have coca.
sionally made mistakes and that some
OF them have been guilty Of wrong.
doing.
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 de-
sires OF ambitious leaders who 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
well to remember Abraham Lincoln's
saying that ''there IL . deal Of human
nature in mankind"
Whether in q man or in an organized
body Of men the power to do good
means that such power may be twist.
ed into evil. And iE proportion as the
power grows 90 It becomes steadily
more important that 1t should be ham
died Alright. Just in proportion as in
its proper function power Is important
to social progress, % in its improper
function It becomes fraught with 90
eial disaster.
Outside critics should appreciate the
0~o>~~Stv - opno MI oA Ia ,op a ma md op-
stand and sympathize with what IL
good In IL. instead Of condemning 1t
Unfortunately. On the other hand,
those within its ranks should fearless
u analyxe the criticisms directed
against It and ruthlessly eliminate
from the practices Of its organization
those things which justify such crit
lcism and attack. This II the path, not
only Of right, but Of wisdom and safety.
Public opinion in the United States
II daily becoming moro alert and more
Intelligent and more forceful. and no
organization, whether trades union or
corporation. whether Industrial or non
Industrial, can endure OF permanently
amount to q social force II 1t does not
harmonic with q wise and enlight-
ened public opinion.
Hitherto we Americans have been
overoccupied with material things and
have neglected to watch the play Of
the social forces about US. But now
We are awakening from that indiffer-
ence: and every form Of organization
representing an important economic.
political or social force must under
60 q closer scrutiny than ever BEFORE
Contest Of Employer and Employee.
think that the next quarter Of .
century viii be important politically
In many ways; and in none more 30
than In the labor movement. Not only
are the benefits Of labor organizations
more clearly understood than ever be-
fore, but any shortcoming or vice dis
played In connection Herewith II also
moro clearly understood and more
quickly resented
The public is growing more and
moro to understand that, in q contest
between employer and employee
corporation and . trades union-not
only the interests Of the contestants,
but the interests Of the third party
the public-must b considered
Anything like levity In provoking
strike ON the one hand or on the 9TH
er II certain more and more to be re-
sented by the public. Strikes are
sometimes necessary and proper: some
times they represent the only way In
which, after all other methods have
been exhausted. It Il possible for the
laboring man to stand for his rights.
but It must be clearly understood that
q strike u q matter Of last resort.
Our social organization II too COM
plex FOR NJ to fail quickly to condemn
those who. with levity or in . spirit
Of wanton brutality. bring about far
reaching and disastrous Interference
with its normal processes. The public
sympathizes cordially with any move
ment for . good standard Of living
and for moderate hours Of employ
ment. q personally. for instance. cor
daily believe In an eight hour day
and in ons day In seven for complete
rest) Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable
conditions and can secure no relief
without . strike or. indeed. where the
strike 10 clearly undertaken for things
which are vitality necessary-and then
| only - q last resort-the public sym.
| patty win favor the wAgeworkers,