Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-25

head, the greatest of all nations of
the earth in resources and power
What shall the answer be- For unto
those to whom much is given much
shall be required. l believe that we
shall teach power and integrity of a
serving. free, economic and demo-
cratic life
l believe the producing mind of
America has testimony of the very
high moment. l believe in superior
reward for superior effort. American
system of production has solved the
production of the world. In every
other world periods there has been
want and famine. None the cess 1t
is a supreme indication of our sys-
tenn that we have met and solved the
problem of production for the first
time in history. Mr.. Robins said he
is called radical | am believing that
this war has taken some of the bes:
minds and has given them a new
vision. They have looked upon their
gift as their own richness. But
service for the many rather than
profit for themselves has been taught
them by the war. l believe there
shall be superior reward for superior
effort
The romance of industry in the
next so years will engage the most
fine minds. We will reudce the hours
of labor and increase the leisure of
man: increase compensation and re-
duce the cost of production. l call
YOU to the higher enterprises.
haven't earned a cent in Is years.
dug enough clean gold in the Yukon
so I don't have to work. Suppose
say there is growing in the minds
that industry involves three bodies.
capital, labor and the purchasing
public. Mr.. Robins spoke OF man
of his acquaintance who recognized
only capital After While a strike
occurred. Then he recognized labor
He took his employees into his
schemes. He said the employees did
we'll and he did handsomely. Then
an indictment was served against
him and he recognized the public,
the purchasing public, that they had
a right There are those Of the old
school who will not look towards the
light, Mr.. Robins said. in referring
to the way in which efficiency meth
DDS were being adopted
At certain stages Of progress. GER
tain relations in industry require or
ganization. so that there shall be
a balance between organized capital
and organized labor. Why are labor
organizations necessary. Mr.. Robins
worked at one time i'll Il mine. y
hours a day, seven days week at d
dollar u day. The owner of the mine
was miles away. the superintendent
did not own the mine and therefore
lad no voice in the matter of changes.
At the close of his days work, Mr..
Robins said he would get into the
in the cage. go to the cook house, eat
rough grub. look AT his bunk and
fall in and sleep like , horse or a
COW You cease To be the kind Of
d right to have.
He said he left that mine because
he had Il row. A refugee from me
west came to the mine and talked
uniCn. Mr. Robins didn't understand
about unions. but he knew seven days
was too long to work. The man from
the west told of working eight hours
n day. SIX days week and receiving
$3.50 q day. He didn't believe that
but he decided to start union. he
was friends Of the, superintendent.
because he was known as a willing
worker. he would work after hours
-.
went about among the men and talk
ed union. He asked the superint end
ent to join The union and lost his
job. What they wanted was a half
holiday week. II hours day and
s110 day The militia was brought
down: they fired into the crowd.
some were killed. some ran away and
Mr.. Robins said he ran away. He
went to Colorado where he went to
work in union mine at $3.50 a day.
The whole world changed for him. He
was able to attend night school, he
enjoyed the fellowship of his fellow
workmen. He was allowed 70 talk in
the uniCn. Mr.. Robins said if he had
gained any ability 10 speak in pub
lie it was started in that union. To
talk in a union to tired men You
have got to say something and keep
on saying it or those tired men Will
go to sleep or give you that laugh
and leave. So he talked in the union.
There he gained the sense Of COM
munity fellows ship. He remembered the
mine in the SOUTH, where the props
were weak and when he called it to
the attention of the superintendent
he was told if he didn't like it he
could get out. That was the real sit
uation and not hot air. And then he
impressed upon his hearers why ne
was in favor Of labor organization.
The honest and direct trade union
is the only effective answer to me
|. W. w. and destructive socialism.
This country will not tolerate unem-
ployment without investigation. I'm
employment, sickness and old age are
the '.lree ghosts which sit about the
tables of the laborng world. These
must be met by social provision.
He said that he had been unemployed
at 70. Did you ever travel from city -
city. able to do your stunt and find
YOU were homeless warAerer: Tha.
SO as unemployment insurance would
have meant a lot. Cooperative produc-
ton and profit sharing are the princi-
pies of the efficiency to come. he said
he was a Republican because he was
raised a Democrat. He was a Progress
sive until there were too many gem
erals and not enough privates. Then
when he remembered about being a
Democrat he became Republican He
said. though, that he would count him
self a poor person il when the Presi-