The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-09-09

Boise's Labor Day celebration,
Monday, September 9th, was a grand
outpouring of the people of the city
and the surrounding country, and the
program was carried out in every de-
tail without the least friction and to
the evident satisfaction of all present.
At IL o'clock, noon, the reorganized
Columbia band opened its concert
downtown to inspiring strains of pa
triotic music and then proceeded to
the White City park, where an inn
mense throng had already gathered
and more came with the band and
following. At the park the band en-
tertained the crowd until the hour
for the speaking arrived, when f. F.
Cation, as chairman of the day, called
the vast assembly to order and in a
happy manner introduced State SEN
ator Earl Wayland Bowman, of
Adams county, as the best friend of
labor in the last session of the leg
islature.
Senator Bowman spoke of the
founding of our Government and its
basis of suffrage as the weapon and
the means for securing the ends that
will give to every man the opportu-
nifty, through his own labor, to earn
what he needs and that this right
must be acknowledged by the govern
ment. In Idaho, we have an emer-
gency employment law by which the
State recognizes this fundamental
right and the counties must give
90 days labor each to every able
bodied citizen who applies. This
principle will finally be recognized
to the extent of permanent employ
ment through one of two lines of ac-
ton, the cutting down of the hours
of labor or the laborers taking over
the Government and giving them
selves employment. Senator Bow
man grew eloquent in his reference
to the European war, saying:
"When we read of the awful re-
suits of that war we wonder if our
civilizations sun is setting in clouds
of hate. But we have no right to en-
tertain that idea. 1t is not in ac-
cord with God Almighty's plan for
the ultimate perfection of the human
race. We must look forward to bet
ter conditions than have heretofore
existed"
This spirit of optimism was the
keynote of the address and met a
hearty response from the audience.
At the conclusion of his remarks,
Chairman Cation, in well-chosen and
appropriate remarks, referring to the
Presidential possibility, introduced
United States Senator William E.
Borah. who was given an enthusiastic
greeting. Senator Borah discussed
the problem of Unemployment" and
urged a protective tariff and restric-
tive immigration laws as a remedy,
begging his audience pardon for en-
croaching somewhat upon a partisan
consideration of the issue. The dis
tinguished speaker closed with ref
erence to the European war and what
is to follow, saying:
81 dread to think of the misery and
suffering, the indescribable woe
which are to follow the war as hu-
manity in its long weary, agonizine
struggle seeks to get from under the
fearful debt and tremendous econom.
ic burden which war is to leave upor
humanity's shoulders. God pity tht
people of Europe in the years tC
come. To my way of thinking it il
the saddest part of this conflict foi
there are things far worse than deati
in the trenches, and these long weary
DAYS when labor shall look in vair
from under its heavy lids for the re
lief which is not to come is the sad
dest picture of all this sad and cause
less war. Do not think, my goo'
friends, that we are to escape from
some of the consequences of this sit
uation ourselves. While we are nov
engaged in the not altogether envi
able business of manufacturing an,
selling arms to enable them Il
slaabhter one another we are enjoy
ing a modicum of prosperity. Bu
when the war shall have ended Ger
tain element of retribution is just a
sure to be ours as time goes on
( There is nothing more merciless thai
the punishment which flows from tn