Evening star., 1936-10-28
By the Associated Press.

NEWARK, N. j.. October 28.-TeXt
of Gov. All M. Landon's speech here
today:
Labor has fairly won many vic.
tories in this country. Its great
est triumph has been won not on
the field of battle but in the
stronghold Of public opinion.
The greatest victory of labor. in
my opinion, has been to bring
about the general recognition Of
an important principle. 1t Is that
national prosperity depends on
labor's receiving an increasing
share of the value Of everything
We produce. The truth of this
principle is today accepted by the
man who hires as we'll as by the
man who tolls. 1t is the founda-
ton of increased production.
greater national wealth. higher
average purchasing power. and a
larger measure OF happiness for
every one.
Organized labor has been the
natural champion Of this prin-
ciple. The father of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, Samuel
Gompers, was one Of its first
sponsors. As early as 1899, he de-
clared:
II believe that as time goes on,
the wage earners will continue to
become larger sharers per dollar
of the wealth produced. have no
fear as to the future Of organized
labor"
Since then America has grown,
and the organized labor movement
has grown along with the Nation.
Position Is Recognized.
That conviction of Mr.. Com
pers has become the conviction Of
every progressive citizen Of this
country. The capitalist who em-
ploys labor knows that ultimately
the success of his enterprise de-
pends on more widely distributed
purchasing power. The banker
who furnishes credit to the indus
trialist recognizes that higher
wages, shorter hours and con-
stantly rising standard Of living
create a greater demand for the
output of his client.
Organized labor has become
part and parcel of the framework
of this democratic Nation. The
labor union, as public opinion rec
oenizes, Is an instrument Of eco
nomic, progress and national we'll
being. The day when the owner
of a business knew personally
every man in his employ and
often his family is virtually gone
with the development of vast in
dustrial units. With. this rapid
growth Of large enterprises 1t Is
only logical that an instrument
like collective bargaining should
have been developed for a closer
understanding between manage
ment and men.
I would like. the workers of
America, whether they are organ
lied. or unorganized, to UNDER
stand clearly that their problems
are familiar to me, that I myself
have worked with my own hands,
that have earned wages and that
I am in deep sympathy with the
point of view of the working men
and the working women and eager
to cooperate with them.
Court Recognizes Right.
For many years I have believed
in the necessity for organization
as q means of advancing the for
tunes Of the individual worker,
raising his standard Of living and
giving him the position in the
world to which he is entitled. It Is
q fact that the Supreme Court Of
the United States recognizes the
right of organized labor through
peaceful methods to extend or
ganization to labor that is unor-
ganized. that 1t recognizes the right
to peaceful picketing, and gener-
ally that the law is on the side
of those who rs workers are eager
to promote their own fortunes and
those of their fellow workers In
the same or other industries.
It Is an old story that labor has
the right to organize and bargain
collectively through representatives
Of its own choosing without inter-
ference by employers. But like
many another old story, it needs to
be emphasized and applied. When
am President, I will see to 1t
that Federal laws for the protection
Of workers are enforced.
II this right of organized labor
has been acquired through great
sacrifice. 1t Is all the more valuable
because Of the lesson of experience
it has given Us all. Today we know
that progress comes through mu-
tual understanding between labor
and capital, reached through con-
ferences based on the processes Of
collective bargaining.
No Class I'm America.
As Mr.. Gompers said, Prom the
moment IN which workers and em-
ployers negotiate and agree upon
terms. hours. conditions and wages,
the principle Of autocratic domina-
ton gives way to the principle Of
democratic cooperation. ~ In those
words Mr.. Gompers stated the
American way Of meeting the labor
problem. Il Is the truly demo-
cratic way. False liberalism and
undisguised autocracy follow dif-
ferent route. They do not bridge
the chasm. They widen 1t. Theirs
IL the way Of war; not Of peace.