The Colorado statesman., 1910-09-10
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 INDUSTRIAL OF non-in-
dustrlal. can endure or permanently
amount to social force II II does not
harmonize with wise and enlightened
public opinion. Hitherto we Americans
have been over-occupied with material
things, and have neglected to watch the
play OF the social forces about us. But
now we are awakening from that indif-
ference: and every form of organization
representing an important economic. poht-
ical or social force must undergo closer
scrutiny than ever before.
I think that the next quarter OF
century win be important politically In
many ways; and in none more SO than In
the labor movement. Not only are the
benefits of labor organizations more clear
ly understood than ever before. but any
shortcoming 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 un-
derstand that, in contest between em-
p1oJer and employee-a corporation and
-rades union-not only the interests of
the contestants, but the interests of the
third party-the public-must be consid-
cred. Anything like levity in provoking
a strike. on the one hand or on the other,
is certain more and more 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. II Is
possible for the laboring man to stand for
stood that strike Is a matter of last re-
sort. Our social organization Is too COM
plex for us to fail quickly to condemn
those who, with ievity or In spirit or
wanton brutality, bring about far-reach-
ing and disastrous interference with Its
normal processes. The public sympathizes
cordially with any movement for good
standard of living and for moderate hours
of employment q personally, for In
stance, cordially believe in an eight-hour
daNr anA In nna las In
plete rest) Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable con-
ditions. 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 last
resort-the public sympathy will favor the
wage workers; but It will not favor them
unless such conditions as these are ful-
filled Therefore 1t 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 curse
anywhere in American life. and nowhere
is It a greater curse than in the labor
movement. II there is one lesson which
would rather teach to my fellowAmeri-
cans than any other; II Is to hound down
the dishonest man-no matter what his
condition-and to brush aside with i'm
patient contempt the creature who only
denounces dishonesty when 1t is found In
some special social stratum. There are
dishonest capitalists, dishonest labor lead
ers dishonest lawyers. and dishonest
business men; dishonest men of great
wealth and dishonest poor men: and the
man who is a genuine reformer will de-
cline to single out any one type for ex-
elusive denunciation, but will fearlessly
attack the dishonest man as such, when
ever and wherever he is to be found.
Worthy Leaders Available.
For many years 1 have been more or
IL 1.G, ,NaI -, fat tttrn
leaders of labor unions. Some of these
men are among my close friends, whom
respect and admire as heartily as 1 do
any men in America. There are some OF
them to whom I go as freely for assist
ance and guidance, for aid and help, in
making up my mind how to deal with our
social problems. I go to the leaders of
any business or profession. 1 cannot pay
too high a tribute to the worth and integ-
rity of these men-to their sincerity and
good Judgment as leaders. But no move
ment-no leadership-however earnest and
honest, can endure unless the rank and
file live up to their duties. and search
for such leadership, and support It when
they find It. If the best men in a labor
union leave It's management and control
to men of a poorer type, the effect will be
just disastrous as when good citizens
in a city follow the same course as re-
CARDS city government The stay-at-home
man in a union is Just much RESPONSE
bic for the sins Of omission and commits
sion of his organization as the stay-at-
home man In a city is for the civic con-
dtlons under which he suffers and about
which he complains.
All that can properly be done should
be done by all of us to help upward the
standard of living and to improve the
ability of the average man to reach that
standard. There are still In the United
States great masses of skilled and unor-
ganized labor, whose conditions of work
and living are harsh and pitiable. 1t Is a
shocking indictment Of our industrial con-
dition to be told in a matter-of-course
way in a government report that thous-
ands OF workers In this country are com
PEELED to toll everyday in the week. with
out one day rest, for a wage of s45 a
month. Such a condition is bad for them,
and in the end bad for all of us. Our
commercial development should be hear
tiIy encouraged: but IL must not be al
lowed to commercialize our morals.
1t is not merely the duty of the wage
Garner but 1t is also the duty of the gen.
eral public. to that he has safe and
healthy conditions under which to carry
on his work. No worker should be COM
pelled, as n condition Of earning his daily
bread, to risk his life and limb or be
deprived OF his health. or have to work
under dangerous and bad surroundings.
Society owes the worker this because 1t
owes much to Itself. He should not
be compelled to make this matter of
contract; he ought not to be left to fight
alone for decent conditions in this respect.
His protection in the place where he
works should be guaranteed by the law of
the land In other words. he should be
protected during his working hours
against greed and carelessness on the part
of unscrupulous and thoughtless employ
ers just rs outside of those working
hours both he and his employer are pro-
tected in their lives and property against
the murderer and thief.
Far Behind Other Nations.
This opens a vitality important field OF
legislation TO the National government
and to the state alike. 1t is humiliating
to think how far we Of this country are
behind most of the other countries in
such matters. Practically all civilized
countries have. for more than a decade.