Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-15


scattered from the Delaware river
to Lake Erie is matter of such high
importance, that the public eye may
we'll be diverted for the moment
from Capitol Hill to this convention
hall.
I'm these fore gatherings of the
Representatives of the working peo-
pie. we secure the expression of
opinions that emanate from the well
! springs of humanity, and which fur
| nish the inspiration that leads us
ever onward toward the coveted
goal of equal rights to all and spe-
cial privileges for none.
Calm Judgment Needed
The present state of our political
and economic affairs calls for the
exercise of calm judgment on the
part of labor as well as capital in all
Of their undertakings. Senseless
radicalism must be frowned upon
and the dictates of reason and COM
mon sense made to prevail in the
settlement of all disputes between
capital and labor. There is no ques-
ton that may arise between en-
ployer and employe that cannot be
adjusted, If both sides will approach
the questions at issue in such a spirit
OF fairness, as to recognize that each
has rights that the other is bound
to respect, and that the welfare of
both is largely dependent upon an
equitable distribution of the profits
OF their joint industry. Differences
or opinion must be reconciled to the
necessities OF the occasion and no in
dividual, no corporation, or any form
of government that operates toward
the destruction of popular rights in
either industrial or political affairs,
dare be tolerated If human freedom
is to endure. The high ideals for
the attainment of which so many of
our brave American boys laid down
their lives on the battlefields of Eu-
rope, will never be fulfilled unless
the democracy they fought and died
for is made Immediately operative
in its application to labor conditions
as well as to political government.
The labor movement embraces in
its scope the entire field of mans
endeavor. and no other agency wields
so powerful an influence in advanc-
ing the moral, material and intel
lectual welfare of human society.
The ideals of the unsatisfied million
are embodied in it's philosophy, and
all mankind profits immeasurably
with every triumph of labor in its
constantly forward march toward
social, economic and political JUS
tice. 1t aims. so far as human power
extends, to treat all men alike, and
to establish just laws and institu-
tions. In brief, the deep aim of the
great struggle known as the labor
movement, is to acquire, hold and
enjoy without question every right
and privilege that justly belongs to
those whose toll keeps the world
alive.
Rights of Working People
Among these rights, as set forth
in the Declaration of American In
dependence, are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" 1t is also de-
clared that governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed" and in the constitution
1t is set forth that there shall be no
involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime" These are
the fundam entails of our American
democracy, and political government
founded upon any other principle
will never be submissive to the will
of the people.
No Dictatorship
Autocracy means uncontrolled au-
thority, and is altogether intolerab Bile
whether it happens to function un-
der the title of Kaiser, Czar or the
impossible dictatorship of the pro-
letariat as exemplified by the Boil
5hevik regime in Russia. Stable
government Is founded on law and
order with the basic philosophy that
everybody must obey the law, and
should. therefore, have a voice in de-
termining what the law should be.
Industrially the same fundamental
principles of democracy must apply
and an audacious proposal from a
so-called advanced class in a new
school of political and economic
ethics to set up a Dictatorship to be
the sole judge of how the people
shall live, what they shall do, and
how 1t sail be done, will not be toll
Grated.
From the beginning of time, the
workers have been engaged in q
perpetual struggle for freedom. and
they are still imbued with the same
spirit of determination to cast of
the yoke of oppression in whatso-
ever form 1t may appear, and, con-
sequently have no kindly feeling
toward any scheme having for it's
purpose the introduction of a COM
pulsory system Of labor under the
uiI CItiOtA VI 5Oiic oCll-dppolhtOu dtC-
tator, or at best a directing commit
tee composed of a few egotistical
and misnomered intellectuals.
Effects Of Bolshevism
The ideals of labor can only be
achieved through the exercise of a
rational freedom of thought and
action. and any arbitrary cutailment
of the workers just individual or
collective rights as conferred by the
common law, is tyrannous. and
hence destructive of the orderly
processes of society. There can be
no freedom of action, and there
certainly is no democracy attached
to a system or obligatory labor un-
der which a workman may not quit
his job for reasons that are suffi-
cient to himself. For instance, IL he
does not like his place of employ
ment, or has friends elsewhere and
desires to move, or he dis1ikes his
work. the general manager. the sup
erintendent or foreman; il shop con-
n ako o&nf fx,l. III