The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-09-08
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.

dustrial, can endure or permanently
amount to a social force II II does not
harmoniEe with a wise and enlightened
public opinion. Hitherto We Americans
have been over-occupisd with material
things, and have neglected to watch the
play OF the social forces about US. But
now we are awakening from that in6if-
ference; and every form Of organisation
representing an important econounic, poEt-
ical, or social force must undergo q eAoser
scrutny than ever before.
I think that the next quarter Of =
century will be important politically In
many ways; and In none more 80 than In
the labor movement. Not only are the
benefits of labor organizations more clear
ly understood than ever before, but any
shortening 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 I'M
derstand that, in a contest between en-
ployer and emplOyee-a corporation and
a trades 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 labOrinR man 70 stand for
his rights; but It must be clearly under
stood that q strike Is a matter OF last re
sort. Our social organization is too COM
pick for US TO fail quickly to condemn
those who, with levity or In a spirit Of
wGnton brutality, bring about far-reach-
ing and disastrous Interference with Its
normal processes. The public sympathtZes
cordially with any movement for a good
standard Of living and for moderate hours
II II IL SN- f0-
stance, cordially believe in sn eight-hour
day, and in one day in seven for COM
plete rest.) Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable con-
ditions, and can secure no relief without
q strike, or. indeed. where the strike is
clearly undertaken for things which are
vitality necesEary-and then only as n last
resort-the public sympathy will favor the
waEe-woTkers; but Il viii not favor them
unless such conditions az these are full
filed. Therefore II Is becoming more
than ever important that the labor move
ment should combine steady, far-sssing
leadership with discipline and control N
its ranks. Dishonest leadership is q curse
anywhere in American life, and nowhere
Is It a greater curse than in the laser
movement. II there IL one lesson which l
would rather teach TO my fellew-ARsert-
cans than any other; II is to hound down
the dishonest man-no matter what Ris
COndlkiOD-&nO 10 Drusn hSlCe NlJn lrn
patient contempt the creature who only
denounces dishonesty when IT 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 I nave been more or
less closely associated with representative
leaders Of labor unions. Some of these
men are among my close friends, whom I
respect and admire as heartily as I DO
any men in America. There are some OF
them to whom l go as freely for assist
ance and guidance, for aid and help, in
making up my mind how TO deal with our
social problems, as l go TO the leaders OF
any business or profession. I cannot pay
too high a tribute to the worth and integ-
rity OF these men-to their sincerity and
good f. igment 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 II when
they Hnd II. II the best men in a labor
union leave its management and control
TO mon OF a poorer type, Ine erect viii De
Just as disastrous as when good citizens
in a city follow the same course as re-
CARDS city government. The stay-st-heme
man In a union Is Just as much exponsi
BILE for the Gins OF omission and commits
sion Of his organization as the stay-at-
home man in a city is for the civic cen
ditions 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 tn.
standard OF living and TO improve the
ability OF the average man to reach that
andar There are still in the United
States great masses Of skilled and unor-
ganized labor, whose conditions OF work
and living are harsh and pitisble. II is a
shocking Indictment Of our Industrial CON
dition to be told in a matter-of-course
way in a government report hat thous-
ands Of workers I'm this country are com
PEELED to toll everyday in the week. with
out one day rest, for a wage OF s& a
month. Such a condition is bad for them.
and. in the end. bad for all OF us. Our
commercial development should be hear
THY encouraged: but IL must not be al
lowed to commercialize our morals.
1t Is not merely the duty OF the wage
Garner, but IT is also the duty Of tho gen
ersl public. TO see that he has safe and
healthy conditions under which TO carry
on his work. No worker should ke com
PEELED. as a condition Of earning his daily
bread. to risk his life and limb. or be
deprived Of his health. OF have TO work
under dangerous and bad surrounding
Society owes the worker this because II
owes as much to itself. He should not
be compelled to make this a matter OF
contract; he ought not to be left to light
alone for decent conditions In this respect.
His protection in the place where he
works should be guaranteed by the law o<
the land. In other words. he should Be
protected during his working hours
against greed and csrelessness on the part
OF unscrupulous and ~thopghtiess emptsy-
ers, rust as 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 q vitality important hsid Of
j
and to the state ankle. II 10 humilistin
10 think how far we ~ this country are
behind most of the other countries in
such matters. Practically all civilized
countries have. for more than a decade,
prohibited by the strictest regulations the
poisonous match industry: yet We hss
not done anything at all until very "a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iTSoTSrs agaIust thu
horS'hle danger Tire Rational govern
ment made an investigation a year ago
into this industry. which showed a condi-
- -. Il