Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1886 — Senator Voorheesand Wage Workers. [ARTICLE]

Senator Voorheesand Wage Workers.

The Washington correspondea of the South Bend Daily Times, under date of April 27th, furnishes that journal with the following eloquent speech in behalf of the rights of labor, delivered by Senotor Voorhees, I efore the Typographical Union, No. 101, of that city: Mr. President,Ladies and Gentlemen: I came here to-night knowing that no speech would be required of me, and came more forjthe purpose of emphasizing (in however slight a degree it might be) the occasion by my presence. (Applause.) I have heard in var’ous quarters that the meetings of labor organizations were not entirely safe for public men to attend. Looking upon this magnificent audience in this splendidly decorated hall, I can conceive of no better place for a gentleman connected with public ass irs to take a lesson than here to-night. (Long and continued applause.) I have been among the laboring people all my 1 fe, (applause) and consequently it was with pleasure that 1 responded to the invitation to be here this evening. I received the invitation of this organization a week ago; but on account of indifferent health I was unable to be here that night. I have come here to-night, ladies and gentlemen, to expound no new argument, but to say with all my heart,my mind,and my strength that I am with you in your just and righteous aspirations. (Prolonged applause.)

I have hstenel to the two eloquent and stirring speeciies that preceded me on this platform, and I do not need to supplement them if T would; but standing in your presence some thoughts crowded themselves on my mind. Why s ould you not organize, why sho’d you not combine for strength, for protection for comfort, for happiness, and for safety? Organization and association is strength; individuality is weakness. For many years I have stood in the halls of Congress, and I only repeat myself when I say that while the wealth and power of the world associates itself together in corpolations and creates by greed and oppression mountains oi this world’s goods, that those whose labor underlies all wealth and power and national greatness, should associate themselves together to see that they have their fair share of this world’s gains and profits.— (Loud cries of “Yes, yes.”) We hear sometimes the dignity of labor spoken of. It is, indeed, a dignified calling and one that carries with it the divine injunction that “by the sweat of thy brow thou shalt earn thy daily bread,” and up to the present time empires, nations and cities have been built un by the toil of mankind. The many control the few, and the laborers are the many, and the idlers and the drones are the few. There is no lawlessness among the laboring people. I kaow them and I fear them not. Looking upon these bright faces, as I have a thousand times upon audiences everywhere throughout the United States, I have no fear of my government in your hands; but 1 have fear of my government in the hands of syndicates and the great corporations who stretch themselves over this vast continent. (Loud applause.) You and I create wealth for the natural rights of man. The danger of my government is not in the hands of the laboring people. The danger to liberty is not with the class who earn their bread by honest work. The danger to my government, and every government in the world, comes from those who “toil not, neither do they spin, and vet, the lilies of the valley are not so splendidly arrayed as they are.” All that you ask is a fair day’s wages for an honest day’s work. In laying down that proposition it relates to the discharge of public duly on the part of every man con-

nected with public affairs. If a fair day’s wage > for an honest day’s work catches onto the system of finance that you have, the question of tariff and all this question on legislation which go to give employment to the laborer should furnish sufficient money to pay you for what you do. In other words, whenever the question resolves itself into high-priced money - nd low-priced work, the people will cry out. lam not one of those who believe that the American laborer can be brought to labor upon a European basis nd live as tlmy ought to. (Applause and cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen, I have said all I desire to say, espeially as I have listened to so full, thorough, and satisfactory a discussion before I arose. I desired more to give evidence of my sympathy . and approbation with your cause* to-night than to make any extended speech. I thank you for your kind attention, and assure you that as long as I remain in the halls of Congress you will find my vote always right. (Deafening applause.)