United labor bulletin., 1913-09-06
Kelley's Labor Day Speech

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paigns are as interesting as the tales
of the encounters Of the pioneers
with the wandering tribes Of savages-
Every law affecting labor that graces
the pages OF Colorado's statutes repre-
sents struggle of years by union Ia
Dor. AND the end is not yet. The
good work will go on until every
proper right of labor shall be secure.
The inevitable conflict will con-
tinue until the right to fair wages. and
organized bargaining for his wages,
will be as much the right of every la
boring man as the primary rights
guaranteed him by the constitution.
We have heard a great deal lately
from various parts OF the state about
the right of labor to organize and re-
quire of the employers that only
union labor be employed. II all re-
solves itself into the question: Has
labor a right TO organizer" In my
Judgment 1t would be as profitless to
consider this as to discuss the ques-
ton, HAS labor right to live2" For
organization is merely an expression
of the instinct o: self preservation.
Take away from labor the right to or
ganize and the means of persuading
employers TO recognize their union.
WHICH is the chief purpose and Incl
dent of organization. and you make
labor surrender the power which
President Lincoln said would start
such a train of evils that "all liberty
shall be lost"
Dawn Of Wider Liberty.
Since President Lincoln spoke his
memorable words great changes have
taken place in the situation of labor.
When he delivered his first message
to Congress the right of private con
tract" as it is called. was so sacred
that no state had ever made any ex-
ception to the broad and general rule
that employers should be free to con
tract with labor on whatever terms
were mutually agreed upon. An en-
ployer might hire women and young
children to work any number of hours
n day. He might require his en-
ployes to work under any conditions
of danger from their surroundings he
chose, and IL one employee was in
jured or killed by the negligence OF
another employe. or fellow servant, no
damages could be recovered from the
employer Today all this is changed.
After long and perilous adventures in
the courts, statutes regulating the
hours of labor for women and child
rem. and men in occupations of ex-
treme hazard, have been upheld by
law. Employers are compelled to
provide for their employees n safe and
sanitary place In which to work and
frequent inspection by the state wards
of the dangers that in former times
yearly took dreadful toll of life. The
fellow servant" rule has been abro-
gated in most of the states and by
congress so that the employer must
respond in damages when an employe
is injured by the fault of another en-
ploy6 who has beer put to work with
him. The contracts OF labor unions
with employers providing that only
union employees should be hired, have
been held valid in numerous instances
and the dreaded policy OF govern
ment by injunction" so long terror.
has been shorn Of much of its pow
er. The dawn of new and wider
liberty for labor is breaking over the
world. The statute book. instead of
being deard instrument of oppres-
sion is now the shield and buckler of
labor. The laboring man no longer
looks upon the law as something to
be dreaded. He has learned that what
he has reason to fear is not the law
itself but the powers that set them
selves up as being above the law and
greater than the law and which are
labor's relentless and inveterate
enemies.
Expects Courts to Aid Labor.
I expect to see the day come when,
under proper statutes. industrial
courts will decide labor questions
and upon difference arising between
labor and capital about wages, judges
will hear the evidence on behalf of
both parties and enter n Judgment
which each party must abide by. Aud
believe when that day comes evil
dence OF the profit made by the en-