Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-20
LABOR is SURE TO
COME TO ITS OWN
John Haynes Holmes Says the Time
Will Come for Industrial
Disputes to Go.
TELLS OF RULE OF BARoNs


The industrial despot OF the
Rockefeller type must go just as
surely as the despot who ruled in the
political world by divine right has
gons." said John Haynes Holmes,
Unitarian lecturer OF New York. in
his address TO the Commercial club
At a public affairs luncheon at noon.
H'Tn the political world all through
history we had despots who ruled by
divine right, so-called. Here and
there in the pages OF ancient history
we find that a benevolent despot'
ruled. By a benevolent despot they
simply referred TO a king who by
some chance had a vision, and ruled
with some wisdom for the good of
his people. Just so today we have
the benevolent despot in the persons
of Henry Ford and Patterson Of the
Cash Register fame. But the very
fact that they are so noted and so
much talked about shows how rare
they are.
Il do not wonder that some people have
become so enthusiastic over the good
these men have accomplished that they
believe here is the solution to the whole
Industrial problem. To my mind. however.
u r. not solution at ALL These be-
nevolent despots' OF the Industrial world
cannot live forever. any more than the
benevolent despots Of the political history
.f L. WAa % Nhaa
pass on their sons or heirs will take hold
OF the mana cement. and there Is no guar
anty whatever that the business will be
conducted along the same benevolent
lines.
should Begin az the Bottom.
"No, have no faith in this revolution
that begins at the top and works DOWN
ward. I have moro faith In the revolu-
ton that begins ct the bottom and works
upward. have more faith in the revolu-
tion that begins IN the sentiment OF the
workers who suffer at the hands OF the
Industrial despot.
Tho establishment OF trades unions,
the closed shop and all that. is nothing
more than the fight for democracy in
Industry"
The speaker declared that democracy
has gained such hold in England that
eonscription there will come only on the
terms the labor people will dictate.
There they have a silly little puppet,"
he said. "a tailor's model. who sits in
Buckingham palace and wears the braid
as q kind Of symbol OF the government.
but he has absolutely no power except
what the cabinet gives him. and the cabI-
net gives him only what the people allow
the cabinet TO give him. The House Of
Lords used to cut a large figure in the
affairs of government. but when they at
tempted TO interfere with the Lloyd
George budget they were shorn OF their
power 30 quickly they are even yet won
dering how II happened"
Controls Colorado.
The speaker cited what he termed "A
the ridiculous Situation OF Rockefeller
practically controlling Colorado and
calling the United States itself TO time
In the big strike situation OF a few
years ago. when the situation grew
serious.' said the speaker. the presi-
dent OF the United States sent an am
bassador to call on King Rockefeller
JUST a. exactly as he would send an am
oassador TO call at the court Of a
foreign land. And that ambassador had
70 knock on the door OF the Rockefeller
castle just exactly as he would at the
palace Of foreign king. And Just as
a despot OF old would sit in his palace
and decide whether TO give audience or
whether to consider the propositions
made. 80 this industrial despot decided
the terms OF the president OF the
president Of the United States could not
be considered"
Labor Comes 90 Its own.
The speaker declared that though one
be socialist or follower OF any .other
industrial philosophy. he must recognize
that the change would eventually come.
and that labor VII come to it's own. and
that just AZ Gurth. the swInaherd OF
SCOTS 'Ivanhoes" chained to his pig pen
at night by steel collar. has come to
his own. 10 the biackened miner in
the pit will in centuries TO come reach
his proper level. and win be controlling
the industrial situation instead of the
industrial baron OF today.
1T Is only a phase OF the ages long
fight for democracy" he said.
TT