Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-02
TEXT Of
WILSON SPEECH
CONTINUED From Page Thrse.)

protection at the hands OF the gov
eminent in every emergency. 10
government worthy Of the name.
can play" these elements against
each other. for there is q mutually
of interest between them which the
government must seek to express
and to safeguard at all cost. =.
The right Of individuals to strike
is invioiate and ought not to, be tn-
terfered with by any; process Of
government, but there Is q pre-
dominant right and that IS The
right Of the government to protect
all Of It's people and to assert its
power and majesty against the
challenge Of any class. The gov
eminent, when 1t asserts that
right, seeks not to antagon.ze a
class but simply to deefnd the right
Of the whole people as against the
irreparable harm and injury that
might be done, attempt to any class
to usurp . power that only gO~-
eminent itself has a right to exar-
else as q protection to all.
In the matter Of International dis
putes which have led to war, states
men have sought to set up - Z
remedy arbitration for war. Does
this not point the way for the set
Element Of Industrial disputes, by
the establishment Of . tribunal, fair
and Just alike to all, which will set
tie Industrial disputes which In the
past have led to war and disaster
America, Witnessing the evil con-
sequences Which have followed out
Of such disputes between the con-
tending forces, must not admit IT.
self impotent to deal with these
processes. Surely. there must be
some method Of bringing together
in q council Of peace and amity
these two great interests out Of
which will come = happier day Of
peace and cooperation, . day that
will make for more, comfort and
happiness in living and . more
tolerable caadition among al
classes Of Nun. Certainly human
intelligence can device some accep'
table tribunal for adjusting the diff
ferences between capital and labor
Put to the Test
/ This is the hour Of test and tria
for America. BY her prowess AND
strength, and the indomitable cour
age of her soldiers, she demon
strated her power to vindicate OF
foreign battlehelds her conception
Of liberty and justice. Let not he
Influence as q. mediator between
capital and labor be weakened ami
her own failure to settle matters o
7 purely domestic concern be pro
Iclaimed to the. world. There ar
those in this country who threaten
direct action to force their viii
upon a majority.
! Russia, today, with its blood an,
terror, Is q painful object .lessol
L Of the power of minorities. I
makes little difference what minor
lity it is Whether capital or labor
Or. any other class no sort of priv
ilege will eve}. be permitted Il
1dominate this country. We are
partnership or nothing that /
'lworth while. We are . democracy
where the majority are the masters
Tor all the hopes and purposes o
1.-THE men who founded this govern
ment have been defeated and for
teotten. In America there is bu
3 ono way by which great reform
lran be accomplished and the re
Ilief sought by classes obtained, an
Hint is through the orderly proc
Eesses Of representative government
Those who would propose any othe
method Of reform are enemies o
this country.
America will not be daunted b
threats nor lose her composure o
!. calmness in these distressing times
We can afford, in the midst Of thi
day Of passion and unrest, to b
,, self-contained and sure. The in
strument Of all reform in Americ
!, - the straight road Of justice to q
classes and conditions Of men, Me-
have Int to follow this road I
4 re4il4e the full fruition Of thsi
ton1ec1o and purposes. Let thos
beware Who would take the shorte
Tread q disorder and revolution
j Ihe fiS&t road Il the. road Of 1ua
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