The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-06
At Fargo, North Dakota, the Former President Speaks
 UpOn[abOr Subjects
HEAVY RAINFALL NEARLY
 SPO|LS THE OCCASION
Roosevelt Gives Up the stand to Some Ladies Who were Getting Wet and Goes Into the Crowd Shak-
 ing Hands

| Fargo, N, D., September 5.-In an ad- dress here today before a large Labor Day crowd in which were hundreds of members of labor unions Theodore Roosevelt spoke words of warm com mendation of the federal judge who was presiding and had introduced him because the judge by what he had said had shown himself to be in sympathy with the laboring man. He referred to Judge c. E. Amidon of the district of North Dakota and his remarks were applauded vigorously by the crowd. Fargo's Labor Day celebration was almost spoiled by rain which fell in- termittently throughout the day, but the programme was carried out be- tween the showers. Colonel Roosevelt was on the speakers stand at Island Park in this city where the principal exercises of the day were held when the heaviest shower came up. He put on his raincoat. buttoning it up under his chin and pulling his hat over his eyes, left the shelter afforded by the canvas covering of the stand and went out into the rain to make room for the women whose hats were being soaked.
 Introducing Colonel Roosevelt, Judge Amidon said the people assembled there should not forget that, above all, the occasion was one for the laboring men who were holding their annual cele- bration.
 Wrongs of Laboring Men Suggesting that laboring men suffer wrongs that might be righted by iegis- lation Judge Amidon called especial att tention to the failure of Congress to enact a law providing for compensa- tion for laboring men when injured or for tn cir families in the event of their | death while employed
 | Every- government of Europe with | the exception of Turkey, he said, had enacted such laws. eliminating from the question of compensation all mat ters of negligence on the part of either the employees or the empoyer and fix ing a definite amount to which the employe should be entitled. When Colonel Roosevelt reached that part of his speech in which he advo- cated a workingman's compensation act, he turned to Judge Amidon and said:
 q cannot help saying just one word as to how I have been delighted this afternoon to hear utterances from a. federal judge who looks ahead, from a federal judge who not ony stands for honesty and righteousness in the con- ventional forms in which judges have been accustomed to see them for gen erations, but who stands facing the changing conditions and realizing that the constitution of the United States must be administered. If 1t Is to be ad- ministered wisely. by men who sympa- thize with and understand the needs of the wage workers just as they sym pathize with and understand the needs of all other American citizens"
 Laying n Cornerstone
 Colonel Roosevelt began the day by laying the cornerstone of library build ing at Fargo college. Several hundred persons stood on the college campus in drizzling rain to hear his speech. From the college Colonel Roosevelt went to his hotel for luncheon and then the aft ernoon's celegration began.
 parade, headed by the trades unions of Fargo, traversed the principal streets of the city and Colonel Roosevelt, who rode in an automobile, was cheered con- stantly by crowds which filled the side- walks
 As the parade neared Island park the union men dropped out and lined up along both sides of the street. saluting Colo nel Roosevelt he passed. The colonel stopped at the entrance to the park and from his automobile reviewed that part of the parade which had been following him. The United Commercial Travellers of North Dakota, who had large rep- resentation In the line, helped to amuse the crowd. They had an old stage coach, on top of which was a man dressed to lmpersonate Colonel Roosevelt He was carrying a rife aimed at stuffed bear lying at his feet.
 When Colonel Roosevelt reached the park he found throng which filled the platform and crowded the rising ground on every side. Behind him there fluttered an old tattered flag. It was the flag under which he delivered an ora- ton the Fourth of July 30 years ago at Meodora, N. D., shortly after he had gone out there from the east. The flag was sent here for the day.
 Down Pour of Rain
 A selection by the band came first on the programme and the musicians were hardly more than well started when rain began to fall. It sprinkled at first and then descended in a steady downpour. The music was extinguished and there was a scramble for cover. As many per sons as could get under the speakers stand did so, but only fraction of tho crowd was able to shield Itself in that way.
 The speakers stand, was uncovered and Colonel Roosevelt hurriedly put on his raincoat. In a few minutes a canvas roof which kept out most of the rain. was rigged up. The colonel looked out over the crowd, at the summer hats and dresses which were being soaked, and left the stand. He went out among the crowd and told the women to go up there under cover. When he had filled the stand with women he sauntered through the crowd. needless of the rain, shaking hands and talking with the people.
 After 10 minutes of steady downpour the sun suddenly broke through the clouds and the shower was over. The people cheered. the women left the stand; Colo mel Roosevelt resumed his place and the exercises of the day were resumed.
 After an invocation by Bishop Cameron of the Episcopal church, George B. How ley. president of tho Minnesota State Federation of Labor. made an address.
 There is no man on the face of the