Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-01

floats. A number of other advertising
dodgers" also added to the attrac-
tiveness OF the pageant.
MAYOR GIVES Address.
At the exercises this afternoon,
Mayor Harry NJ. schriver delivered
the following address:
Those who look on the surface Of
things and judge trade unionism by
an occasional glimpse, are likely to
underestimate the uplifting influence
Of this institution upon the character
Of the wage Garner. Many who admit
that trade unions have been successful
in raising wages, shortening hours and
improving the material conditions ct
the workers life, still believe that
trely negative. To all, however, who
moral tone has been either bad or en-
tirely negative. To all however, vino
do not view these matters superficial
", II may be evident that trade union
ism has had exactly the opposite eff.
feet. The increased wages and short
ened hours Of labor have in them
selves brought about a vast improve
ment in the mental and moral status
OF the workers. Workmen who for
merly went from their II hours of
labor to the nearest saloon now
spend their time with their families.
improving their minds and enjoying a
sensible and sane recreation.
In some instances, increased wages
! and shorter hours have meant the
qualification Of the intellectual and ar
fistice sense of the workers; have
meant books and pictures; have
meant a few additional rooms in the
house and more decent surroundings
generally; have meant a few extra
years schooling for the children; have
meant finally, a general uplifting Of
the whole working class.
BENEFITS WORKER.
Unionism has benefited the worker
and raised his whole intellectual and
moral tone by the emphasis it has
laid upon the welfare of the working
men. Too often, the employer, like
the political economist of former
| times, has been interested chiefly in
the amount Of production. He has
forgotten the producer and the goods
produced. Trade unionists and other
thoughtful men have laid the en-
phasis not upon the goods but upon
the men by whom and for whom they
are produced. II is no longer the
machine, but the man at the machine
who is taking the center of the stage
/ in economic thought.
Trade unionism distinctly raises the
mroal tone of the wage earners by IN
| fusing into them a sense Of the dig
nifty of labor. There is much lip SER
vice paid to the enobling effect OF
labC. and the dignity it coafers upon
the workman. but it is the trade
/ uniCn more than any other institution
| that translates these mere professions
/ INFO actual deeds. The unionist feels
I that it. is not the work itself but the
spirit in which the work is accepted
and performed that enables the work
man, the principal element which
gives to labor its dignity, is It's vol
untary character. There was nothing
| enobling in the toll of the slave
crouching behind the lash, there was
nothing enobl!ng in the work Of the
serf bowed down by the weight of
ages, there Is little of the dignity of
! labor IN the forced work Of the con.
vict or the man toiling under the
! padrone system, there is indeed little
dignity and nothing enobling in the
work Of any man whose earnings OF
today are absolutely necessary that he
may live tomorrow. The greater and
more complete the independence OF
the worker, the greater the pleasure
IN his work and the more enobling il
! becomes.
The great new fac Of American la.
Dor is its organization. The working
man has Joined with his fellow work
men and has obtained as a right, not
as a privilege, higher wages, shorter
hours and better conditions in life
and labor.
Finally, through the trade agree
ment, he has secured the right to be
consulted as 20 the conditions under
which his work shall be performed
The trade union movement is neither
revolutionary nor destructive, i
seeks not TO disrupt society or the in
stitutions OF our country. Its pur
pose is constructive, its work eyolu
tionary and II make for the perfection
OF society; Il seeks the wider and
more equitable distribution Of wealth
in order that all our people may bt
enabled 20 develop their highest and
best possibilities, Every man who be
comes a member of q trade union, sub
scribes substantially 10 this declar
alton.
We are pledged 20 the emancipation
OF our class from poverty, ignorance an(
seltishness; 70 be respectful in wore
and action 70 every woman; to be
considerable TO the widow and the or
pban, the weak and the defenseIessi
and never 70 discriminate against the
fellow worker on account OF creed
color or nationality; 70 educate our
selves and OUT fellow workers IN the
history OF the labor movement; 4
elevate the intellectual and moral con
ditions Of the Iaboring class.
GAINS WIDE ESTEEM.
In the pursuit of its trade ideas