Denver labor bulletin., 1916-09-23
SETHLOW'SDEATH
ISALOSS TO LABOR
Did Much to ACquaint Public
With Trade Unions
Last Visit to Colorado Was MemOra-
bic From Address Delivered Be-
fore Chamber Of Commerce

Seth Low, formerly mayor of New
York and one time president of Colum-
bia university, died last Saturday at
his country home, Broadbrook farm,
Bedford hills, n. Y, at the age of SO
years. He had been ill several months
OF complication of diseases. His pass
ing causes sincere regret to members of
organized labor, for Mr.. Low has done
much, in his commanding position as an
educator and student of labor conditions,
to acquaint the public with the high
purposes of the labor movement.
Mr.. Lows most recent activities were
exerted in an effort to find solution of
the differences between the railroad
brotherhoods and the railroads.
Since the outbreak of the European
war Mr.. Low had been especially active
as president of the New York Chamber
of Commerce and president of the Ma
tional Civic federation He was chair
man of the executive committee of Tus-
kegee institute, delegate at-large to the
recent New York state constitutional
convention and member of a govern
ment commission appointed to investi-
gate labor troubles in Colorado.
For three months prior to his illness
he devoted. himself almost exclusively
to trying to find a solution to the diff.
ferences between the railroad brother
hoods and their employers.
In Touch With Labor Chiefs.
Even after he was stricken he kept in
touch with the brotherhood heads. Sam
uel Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor. and other union
leaders with whom he was on terms of
intimate friendship Until his illness
assumed an acute stage several weeks
ago Mr.. Low busted himself with plans
of the National Civic federation. in
which he was deeply interested.
During his visit to Denver last Janu-
ary, as chairman of a special commits
sion appointed by President Wilson to
investigate Colorado industrial coudi-
tons following the coal strike. Mr.. Low
delivered memorable address before the
Chamber 70 Commerce. and it is gener-
ally conceded that the advise he gave
captains of industry at that time has
had much to do with the present more
amicable feeling existing between capi-
tai and labor in this state.
Extract From Denver Speech.
The Bulletin printed this speech in
full at the time. It was reproduced in
the labor press all over the country.
He warned employers that if they con.
tlnued to refuse to deal fairly and hon.
estly with organizations of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, they would
later have to contend with the radical
Socialists and the I. ". W.
Below are reproduced the closing par
agraphs of that notable address
Il want you to understand that the
great body of the American Federation
of Labor is non-socialistic and that II
stands for the preservation of the pres
emit social system; and THINK THAT
THE MANUFACTURER OR THE BUSI-
NESS MAN WHO DECLINES TO
TREAT WITH THE AMERICAN FED
ERATION OF LABOR IN TRYING TO
DEVELOP WORKING AGREEMENTS
is A VERY SHORT SIGHTED MAN,
for he plays directly into the hands of
the Socialistic party, whose object is to
make labor discontented in order to over
throw the foundation of modern society.
The l. W. W. don't look forward to
socialistic state; their proposition is
that labor creates all values and that
therefore no man, no capitalist, is en-
titled to anything that he owns, and
they wish to see labor take its own.
take its property wherever it can find ii.
Closer Understanding Urged.
They look forward to a time when
labor will own everything, when there
will be no capitalists whateve-. This
being their aim, they frankly favor vio-
lence; they want to make modern indus
try impossible on the capitalistic system
There should be closer understand
ing of these things if We are to sue
cessfully meet the varying problems that
come up in industry. This power, which
is the heart of combination, has gone
very far and the men of today will have
to learn to carry on business in an at
mosphere in which the men who labor
are going to have as much to say as
to the prices for which they will work
and the conditions npdar wh,,b ,bax- Ill,