davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-31
TEXT OF SPEECH

The President said
 ''The programme has conferred an un- merited dignity upon the remarks I am going to make by calling them an ad- dress, because I am not here to deliver an address. I am here merely to show in my official capacity the sympathy of this great government with the object of this occasion. and also to speak Just a word of the sentiment that is in my own heart.
 Any memorial day of this sort is, of course, a day touched with sorrowful memory, and yet I for one do not see how we can have any thought of pity for the men whose memory we honor today. I do not pity them. I envy them rather. because in the Civil war their great work for liberty is accomplished, and we are in the midst of work unfinished, test ing our strength where their strength has already been tested There is touch of sorrow, but there is touch of re- assurance also in day like this. be- cause we know how the men of America have responded to the call of the cause of liberty and it fills our mind with perfect assurance that that response will come again in equal measure with equal majesty and with result which will hold the attention of all mankind. When you reflect upon it these men who died to preserve the union died to preserve the instrument which we are now using 10 serve the world-a free nation espous- ing the cause of human liberty
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-31
ENvIEs HEROES

T envy them rather" he went on, be cause theirs is a great work for liberty accomplished. and We are in the midst of work unfinished, testing our strength where their strength has already been tested" The time for action, he said. has come "and in the providence of God America will come once more to have the opportunity to show to the world that she was born to serve mankind"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-31

a-society and Dolly Dalrymple.
 5-Srortm. sss
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
The Financial Writer.
By ELLIS o. JONES.

Oh. see the Financial Writer!
Yes, what dignified looking in Z.
dividual he is. Why does he knit his
! brow so tensely?
That is because he takes himselt
and his profession SO seriously.
Listen. What is he saying?
He is using many words, but he is
saying nothing. He is merely pursu-
ing himself around a verbal circle.
Surely you are mistaken. How
could a man with such a bizarre and
such a pompous vocabulary be saying
nothing?
1t is always thus. The more dense
a persons obfuscation upon given
subject, the more necessary for him
to use polysyllabic words and polygon-
al sentences in order to conceal it.
Yes, but how positive his manner
is and how intolerant of criticism.
Doesn't that indicate that he Is sure
of his ground and that he has an
important message to convey?
Not at all. A positive exterior
usually indicates a negative interior.
Great men with great opinions arc
more apt to express them timidly.
But perhaps the subject is more t"
blame than the Financial Writer. II,
is said to be very abstruse subject.
Perhaps he is doing all in his power
to make it simple.
That may be true. On the other
hand, there are many who consider
1t a very simple subject and that the
Financial Writer is doing everything
in his power to make it abstruse.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT IN BAD.

canvass Of the city indicates that there is a
tremendous sentiment at the present moment in
favor of amending the commission form of govern
ment charter: A goodly number of people appear
to be dissatisfied with the charter and are ready to
vote for anything to take its place. They declare
that the commissioners are .extravagent and are
spending the people s money in wasteful manner I;
that the elementary principles of human liberty are
gradually being abridged or destroyed as is
evidenced in the passage of the foolish and silly
hand bill ordinance, and that there is too much
"oneman government" obtaining. 1t is held that
commission government is only theory, and it has
not been put into practical operation in the city.
responsible and double grief will come to them at
the approaching election for their failure to adopt
real commission government in Duluth. The Labor
World has repeatedly urged the commissioners to
get away from the one-man practice of determining
administrative policies, and to meet in conference
on all general departmental matters, by majority
vote declare what policy should obtain, and then
hold the commissioner Of the division affected
responsible for carrying out such policy. For TAX
ing this position this paper has been Severely and
roundly criticised by certain of the commissioners
and 1t was charged we were prompted by an Interior
motive In every instance. The trouble with them is
they cannot see farther than their noses Now they
are coming up for reelection, and it is doubtful if
any OF them will be returned to Office It is ad-
mitted that they have worked hard and have tried
to DO WELL but they didn have vision they started
wrong, and as result of this mistake they are get
ting commission government in bad.
IN the selection of wide-awake, farseeing forward
looking commissioners our present form of govern
ment may be saved, and it's virtues may be man.
lfested as they have not been in the past IF this
type OF men not elected the future life of COM
mission government will indeed be brief
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
A SIDELIGHT ON
COST OF LIVING
BY Scott Nearing.

The owners of America are pros
porous. They were never more so.
When the records of these years are
printed in cold figures, they will as
tonish us.
Have you noticed that the greatest
increase in prices has occurred in the
case of those products that came most
directly from the land? Look back
of this increase at the land values,
and note tina: they have risen out of
all proportion to the rise in other ele-
ments such as labor costs, capital
costs and the like.
The real significance of the increase
in land values to the cost of living
may perhaps best be gained by con-
sideration of the land values of one
group of states upon which the United
States depends largely for its food
supply. The North Central states
(Ohio, Indiana, illinois,, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Ne
braska, and Kansas, contain only a
third of the population of the United
States, yet they produce SO per cent
of the corn, "a per cent of the wheat,
of the barle land 65 per ce of the
rye grown in the United States. The
country is therefore dependent for
three-quarters of it's cereal foods on
these twelve states Cereals constf-
tute about ;Ohe@h a4f:'6f the total value
of all farm crops. In peculiar
sense, therefore, these states are the
granary of the nation, and the rela-
ton between their production of crops
and the value Of their farm lands is
one of extreme Importance.
Under such circumstances, the
enormous increases in land value
which occurred in these states be-
tween 1900 and 1910 is of great sig
nificance. During that decade, the
rural population of the North Central
states rose from 100000 to 16,a97,-
000,-an increase of 81 per cent.
During the same decade the total
number of acres in all farms rose
from 317,350,000 to- 350,577,000, an
increase of 10 per cent; and the total
number of acres of improved land in
farms rose from 222,314,0 to 1885,
$4,000 13 per cent?. Here is an in
crease in population and in acreage
of about tenth during the ten-year
period.
A comparison between this increase
in products and in land values is as
tonishing. The value of all farm
property in these states rose between
1900 and 1910 frol4l II Y to 23h bill
lions Of dollars. Land alone increased
from 1886 to 1925 million dollars
The value of buildings almost exactly
doubled during the period, while the
value of implements and machinery
increased by about four-ffths. While
the population and area in farms re-
manned practically stationary, farm
land values more than doubled.
1t will be argued, of course, that
the increasing productivity justified
the increase in valuation. An exam
ination Of the figures proves this
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
DO YOUR SHARE,

The legislative committees of the various Duluth
unions are doing excellent work in connection with
the labor measures before the legislature Their
influence is being fet and senators and representa-
tlves are being deluged with letters from almost
every union in the city regarding the wishes and
desires of organized labor.
While these legislative committees are doing ex-
cellent work. the members Individually can do a
great deal too A personal letter has big effect
sometimes. When you are requested to write a let
ter to your representatives don't let the matter 90
by as if it meant nothing. Two minutes time and
a tWo-cent stamp do not mean much to you, and you
can at least do this your share in advancing the
Legislative program Of labor
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
A DRY STATE IN 1918?

The people Of Minnesota will vote on statewide
prohibition in November, 1918. The state senate
last week put the finishing touches on the amend
ment that will be submitted to the voters and by
surprisingly large majority. Two years ago the
drys were able to muster only twenty Weight votes in
favor Of submission while they had plenty of votes
to spare this time.
Ihe ease with which the advocates Of dry
state put through their program this year is a
significant indication of the trend of public sentiment
on the prohibition question. State after state is
taking action towards the abolition of the saloon.
II sentiment in Minnesota continue to grow in this
direction, it is not beside the mark to say that we
shall join the states already in the dry column
when the votes counted in November, 1918
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24

If he should happen to be bad man then for the
same reason we would have as much difficulty in
getting rid Of him as we have had with some bad
managers of public service corporations in other
days, when they controlled our common councils.
ment. Would not the PROPOSED plan reav AUTHOR.
ize such by law? In their attempt to jump from
the frying pan of five little one-man governments
are not the proponents of the charter amendment
actually leaping into the fire of big one-,nan gov
eminent, government that will not be responsive
to popular WILL and that at it's very best would
be controlled by factions and sets of our people,
rather than by majority of the voters of the city
The people want more democracy, and not less
For this reason the proposed amendments to the
city charter should be defeated
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
THE JONES BILLS
AND THE FARMER

The BiWabik Times favors the tax
bills introduced in the senate by
Senator Jones which would reduce
taxes on buildings and business, labor
and industry, and increase taxes on
the holders of vacant lots and acres;
but the Times thinks these bills will
have the opposition of the farmers.
Where does the Times get it's in
formation? i"
In both house and senate, members
from the farming districts have joined
with Senator Jones as co-authors of
the bills. Many of these men are
farmers themselves
The Northern Minnesota Develop
ment association has gone ON record
several times in favor of the principle
embodied in these bills; so also has
the All Minnesota Development as
ISOLATION, no less than three times, to
my knowledge.
The Farmers Non-Partisan League
of North Dakota, the Oranges of most
of the states, the Tenant Farmers AS
ISOLATION of Texas, are all on record
in favor of this principle. The Grain
Growers Association of Western
Canada favors it, and all the farming
communities of the three western
provinces are now and for many years
have been working on this principle.
No farmer in Western Canada is pen
allied by one cent of tax because he
builds a house or barn, raises crops,
buys and uses horses, cattle or ma
chinery.
And why shouldn't the farmers
favor the Jones bills? Under the
present system they pay about half
the taxes in the United States, but
they own only about one-tenth the
land values. Under the single tax,
therefore. they would pay only about
one-tenth the taxes. The land values
are not in the farms. They are in
the Cities the mines, the forests, the
water power and other great natural
resources.
But the Jones bills are only a
moderate step in this direction, but
they are in the right direction. They
will give the people a chance to test
the principle. If they like it they will
want more.
C. J. BUELL.,
st. Paul, MINI.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
FROM FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE,

The advocates of the proposed amendments to
the city charter are doubt we'll meaning men who
recognize that there is something wrong with the
present charter at least they believe that the
man power policy obtaining at the city hall has
gwen black eye to commission government MANY
OF them are urging a return to the old ward SYSTEM
others believe III the so-caed city manager plan
"A compromise has been brought about among the
opponents OF the commission FORM and it is proposed
that we have sort OF combination Of the old ward
system Of eecing aldermen, and the CITY manager
plan OF administration.
1t IS provided that there will be eight aldermen
elected from as many wards and a mayor. These
snail constitute the legislative department Of the
city government A ma ority shall elect a city
manager who will have complete charge, under
direction OF the council of the administrative de-
partments. The manager will appoint all division
heads such as a commissioner Of public works.
public utilities public welfare chief of police chief
OF fire department, city treasurer, auditor city at
torney, assessor and health officer
The aldermen will be part-tme officials to be
paid each annual salary of $780, The mayor will
will be to welcome gatherings of visitors to our
city, and for which service he will be given the
munificent salary Of $1,000 a year. The real i'm.
portant factor in the management of city affairs
will be the city manager, whose salary will be fixed
fby the council. He will not be responsible to the
people for the conduct of his Office His appontive
power will be tremendous. At first he will be
under obligations to the council. When once chosen
IF he IS clever politcian-through his appontive
power, he will build machine that will make every
alderman his servant
1t he should be an honest, able and efficient man
such power might be used to good business adj
avantage, but we would undoubtedly be given manv
Occasons to rebuke such an autocrat if for no other
season than that he is far removed from the people,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
Standing by the President

The Peoples Press:-Abraham Lin
coin refused to stand by his president.
Even after war had been declared, and
our soldiers were fighting in Mexico,
he said of President Polk, speaking as
a congressman:
II more than suspect that he is
deeply conscious of being in the
wrong; that he feels the blood of this
war, like the blood of Abel, is crying
to Heaven against him; that original
ly having some strong motive to in
volve the two countries in war, and
trusting to escape scrutiny by fixing
the public gaze upon the exceeding
brightness Of military glory-that at
tractiVe rainbow that rises in show
ers Of blood-that serpent's eye that
charms to destroy-he; plunged into 1t,
and has swept on and on till-he now
finds himself he knows not where"
Lincoln served his country best by
speaking his sincere convictions and
history INDICATED him.
No one questions the patriotism of
President Wilson as Lincoln question
believe that it is our duty to stay out
of this war. Although both have vio-
lated international law, neither Ger
many nor England has intended tc
insult or injure us. Their acts are
merely incidental to the death strug-
gle they are in.
Should we not continue to be pa.
tient with them and hope, when they
have come to their senses, to win
them to some plan of world peace?
If you think we should stay out oil
the war send letter to the President
saying so. Every son Of Lincoln owes
1t to his country in such a crisis tc
speak his mind. If the lingo press
Goes not express your sentiments, ex-
press them yourself to the president.
To say that he wants your silent sub.
mission and not your loyal advice is
to impugn his Americanisp1.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
"CHAPLAlNS" FOR
LABOR BODIES
BY REV. CHARLES STELZLE.

Why not have "chaplain" in your
central labor body? There is pretty
good precedent for it. You know, of
course, that every bartenders' union
has '*chaplain' who regularly opens
and closes the meetings with prayer.
So far as I know this is the only local
union which has such an official.
Practically every fraternal organi-
zation has a chaplain, the Masons, the
Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the
Woodmen and so on. State legisla-
lures, the senate and congress have
chaplains. Men of war and army
ported by the United States govern
ment. The annual meetings of the
American Federation of Labor are
usually opened with prayer by a local
minister.
Why isn't it more consistent to ask
God to bless labor meeting which is
working for peace and prosperity than
it is to pray for the success of an
army whose sole mission it is to MUIR
der men?
Ask a local preacher to serve as
chaplain for limited period of time
so as to try out the plan. Have a diff
ferent preacher every three months
This, by the way, would give the
preachers in town a chance to know
something about what organized labor
is contending for and it will undoubt-
eddy result in their becoming more
sympathetic toward the work of or
ganized labor and at the same time it
will give the delegates of the central
labor body an opportunity to become
acquainted with the preachers.
The chaplain could help in many
ways. He might preach an annual
labor sermon to trade-unionists and
their friends on Labor Sunday-the
Sunday before Labor Day. He might
assist at the initiation of new men,
bers. He might become the pastor
for the men who, while they believe
in religion, do not attend any church
regularly.
Try it QUIT won't do any harm
and it may help the labor movement
immensely.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
Say Something Good.

Pick out the folks you like the least
and watch 'em for while;
They never waste kindly word, they
never waste a smile;
They criticise their fellow-men at
every chance they get;
They never found human just to
suit their fancy yet,
From them I guess you'd learn some
things, if they were pointed out,
Some things that every one Of US
should know lot about,
When someone knocks" a brother,
pass around the loving cup,
Say something good about him, if you
have to make it up.
It's safe to say that every man God
made holds trace of good,
That he would fain exhibit to his fell
lows if he could;
The kindly deeds in many a soul are
alternating there,
Awaiting the encouragement Of other
souls that dare 'v
To show the best that's in them, and
universal move
Would start the whole world moving
in hopeful, helpful groove,
Say something sweet to paralyze the
"knocker'' on the spot;
Speak kindly Of his victim if you
know the man or not.
The eyes that peer and peer to find
the worst a brother holds;
The tongue that speaks in bitterness.
: that frets and fumes and scolds;
The hands that bruise the fallen, tho
their strength was made to raise
The weaklings who had stumbled at
the parting of the ways:
All these should be forgiven, for "they
know not what they do"
Their hindrance makes a greater
work for wiser ones like you;
So, when they scourge wretched
one who's drained sins bitter cup
Say something good about him, If you
have to make it up. .s.: ..-.... >,
Boston Transcript.
.'.lS.H. -Ank.M4ns-
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
What Other Paper. Say.
1t Won't Hold Water.

Minneapolis Daily News: One of
the latest indications that the steel
trust is backing away from tonnage
tax on ore is to be seen in the sug-
gestion that the present form of tax
he unchanged. provided the steel cor
poration will manufacture all its Min
nesota ore into steel within the con-
fines OF the state. This suggestion is
said to be under consideration by the
real estate boards of Minneapolis, St.
Paul and Duluth.
1t is not probable that a. plan that
would be approved by any group OF
business men of Duluth would be Of
sort that would seriously annoy the
steel corporation However, if the
suggestion is made seriously and in
good faith from sources not connected
with the. mining interest the legisla-
tors should take full account of the
fact that it is only half suggestion.
The plan contemplated evidently
looks to building up a great smelling
and rolling mill industry in the state
TO force the development of such an
industry and the resultant assembling
of large industrial population, all
subject to conditions prescribed by
one employing interest, would not
necessarily be a good thing in itself.
If the state forces this development
without at the same time providing
against the inhumane working condi-
tions that the steel corporation profits
by at it's other industrial centers, the
plan is thoroughly undesirable. Min
nesota cannot better itself in the
slightest degree by helping to create
an industrial population that is SUBJ
jected to the ruthless exactions as to
long hours, extreme hazard and in
adequate wages such as are imposed
upon steel mill employees in other
states.
Even if proper safeguards were
provided for the Minnesota steel
workers, the suggested plan is in no
way an answer to the reason why
tonnage tax is the logical thing.
Taxation is a matter between the in
terest and the state and cannot
properly be compromised by con-
cession to any one community or
class.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24
LABOR ON THE JOB.

The unions of Duluth are giving hearty support
to the authors of the Absent Voters bill which
passed the state senate last week and which is now
before the house Of representatives
The Painters union, Local No. 1906 was the first
to come in with it's Endorsement. Information to
this effect comes to lis from st. Paul. The manner
III which organized labor is taking up the fight in
support OF the measure which, if passed, will give
travelling men, railroad men and others temporarily
away from their voting districts the right to vote
at all elections must be gratifying indeed to those
primarily interested in the BILL
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-02-24

Labor unions have come TO stay They are a
part Of the present industrial SYSTEM under which
collective bargaining is positively necessary They
have been we'll named the firing line of democracy
ana an their power for good increases every hour.
FIRST to light for free textbooks and free schools
sanitary conditions in workshops and hundred other
reforms they labor on to make this old world a
better place in which to live