Evening journal., 1916-01-27
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be here this evening-the question of
employers liability, workmen's COM
pensation He did me the honor yes
terday of sending me copy OF the
letter read here this evening. and ac-
companied by it letter addressed to
me in which he expressed the hope
that / too would give some attention
to this subject Perhaps what ! may
say may be entirely superiluous for
the common understanding now OBJ
tanning among you But. my friends
do you know really how this presently
accepted law or judicial interpreta-
ton OF the law of employers liabil-
ity regarding the fellow-servant and
assumption OF risk contributOry
negligence-came into being? You
know that | am not a lawyer. And
think the members of the legal pro-
fession are very proud of it-and so
am daughter and applause) l
suppose / ought to explain myself.
When I hear a man tell me that So
and-So is a good lawyer. usually in
auire. What do you mean? Really
a good lawyer, or an able lawyer !
regard to this While I know that
among the men in the legal proies-
sion there are some who possess the
natural inherent demand for right,
for Justice, generally speaking, l am
of the opinion that the high standard
OF the members of the legal profess
sion has not been maintained to the
great understanding Of what the
lawyer of old was. The lawyer OF
old was named by title, not as law
yer, but as an advOcate-an avocat
He was the tribune of the people; he
was the defender of their rights.
There are all too many who do not
hold to these standards today |
want to repeat, there are numbers OF
men in that great profession for
whom everyone of us has a great rev.
erence and respect, not only for their
great ability. but also for the right
oousness of their conduct as men, as
lawyers, as citizens. (Applause.)
There is not in the lives OF the
workers one year in which everyone
OF them does not have a case before
the consideration OF the employers,
and we insist that the constitutional
right guaranteed to us before the
courts Of our country shall apply to
the industrial affairs. and TO our in
dustrial relation, not by law, but as
a matter Of good conscience, a matter
OF good Judgment, a matter of good
morals-that the men and the women
OF labor may have the opportunity OF
choosing those in whom they have
confidence as TO their ability and in
tegrity to speak the right word In the
once of the employers, to defend the
rights and to advocate the welfare
and interest OF the working people.
(Applause))
There was time when the work
ers occupied the position OF slaves
in the world OF life, and then they
had no rights their masters were
bound 10 respect. II they attempted
10 give expression to discomfort
Hgainst the conditions which pre-
vailed, they were held to he guilty
Of conspiracy to rob their employers
of their labor, and they were logged
and whipped and imprisoned and
branded on their foreheads with red
hot irons. They had their ears cut
of: they we're hanged to jibbots as
common felons. From the slave tC
the serf, from the serf to the wage
earners of our time there has beer
q constant conflict between those who
would burden the toilers OF the worlt
beyond endurance. And from the ole
guilds in the middle ages the indus
trial development, bringing in III
wake the organizations OF the work
ing people-tTuly, in the beginning
with little opportunity of understand
ing conditions and without ability tC
formulate positions. still held undel
the laws of conspiracy, until the en-
actment OF laws by the Parliament o
Great Britain, by the States and b.
The Congress Of our country-all o
them Tightening the burden.
ITO one OF the gentlemen this even
ing was assigned the toast OF 'Thl
Accomplishment and Achievements o
Labor and he very Interestingly an
Justly referred to the fact. as one o
The great evidences of achievement
the possibility of such a banquet an
such a gathering OF men as we fin
here in this hall tonight. This is tn
outward evidence and manifestatio
OF the achievement OF the labo
movement. The other achievement
upon which all others are based ar
the opportunities which the labo
movement has given to the workers
shorter workday. and bringing in it
wake millions OF golden hours an
millions OF golden opportunities eac
day for the worker to develop tn
best that is in him mentally an
physically and spiritually. (Applause.
II has brought him higher wages an
better standards. It has brought hil
more safety in his workshop and mi
and mine and store. It has brougi
him more light and life in his hon
and in his family. in his hopes and
his aspirations. II has awakened
him a new consciousness Of the dis