The Connecticut labor news., 1923-08-18
Coolidge Views On Capital And Labor Give Workers Some
 Things To Really Think Over


 misery which 1t entails upon the people?
 Let us recognize the source of these fundamental principles and not hesi- tate to assert them. Let us frown upon greed and slhshness, but let us also condemn envy and uncharitable- ness. Let us have done with mis- understandings, let us strive to realize the dream of democracy by a pros- perity of industry that shall mean the prosperity of the people, by a strengthening of our material re- sources that shall mean a strengthen ing of cur character, by merchandise ing that has for it's end manhood and womanhood, the ideal of American citizenship.
 The Associated Industries, Boston,
 1916.
 The laws of our country have des- ignated the first Monday of each Sep tember. as Labor Day. It is truly an American day, for 1t was here that for the first time in history a govern ment was founded on recognition of the sovereignty of the citizen which has irresistibly led to a realization of the dignity of his occupation It is with added propriety that this day is observed this year For the first time in five years 1t comes at a time when the issue of world events makes 1 1t no longer doubtful whether the American conception Of work as the croWnIng glory of men ire and equal | is to prevail over the age old Euro pean conception that work IS the badge of the menial and the inferior. The American ideal has prevailed on European battle fields through the III <Sf American labor. The duty of citizen ship in this hour is to strive to main tain and extend that ideal at home.
 Progress of Wage Farmers. The past five years have been a ress for the American people. Not only have the hours and conditions of labor been greatly improved, but wages have increased about 100 per cent There has been great economic change for the better among all wage earners.
 We have known that political pow ter was with the people because they have the votes. We have generally supposed that economic power was not with the people because they did not own the property This supposi- ton, probably never true, is growing more and more to be contrary to the facts.
 American Duty to Work.
 Having emerged from the war the strongest, the least burdened nation on earth, are we now to fail before our lesser task? Are we to turn aside from the path that has led us to sue cess2 Who now will set selfshness above duty? The counsel that Sam uel Gompers gave is still sound when he said in effect: America may not be perfect It has the imperfections of all things human But 1t is the best country on earth and the man who will not work for 1t, who will not fight for 1t, and if need be die for 1t, Is unworthy to live in it. :"
 Happily the day when the. call to fight or die Is now past But the day when it IS the duty of all Americans to work will remain forever Our great need now IS for more of every thing for everybody It Is not money that the nation of the world needs today but the products of labor These products are to be secured only by the united efforts of an entire peo- pie. The trained business man and the humblest workman must each contribute All of us must work, and in that work there should be no in terruption. There must be more food, more clothing, more shelter. The directors of industry must direct 1t more efheciently, the workers in in- dustry must work in 1t more. eff1c- iently Such a course saved us III war; only such course can preserve us in peace. The power to preserve America, with all that 1t now means to the world, all the great hope that it holds for humanity, lies in the hands of the people.
 Plymouth, Labor Day, 1oIo-