Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1902 — LABOR HIS THEME [ARTICLE]

LABOR HIS THEME

Senator Fairbanks Delivers a Notable Address At Kansas Citv. LABOR MUST BE FREE With All the Prerogatives Which Pertain to Freedom—What Orpanited Labor Has Accomplished. The Setions Problems Attendant < Upon Foreign Immigration—Conl ditions Are Growing Better. f— «- ' Kansas City. Mo., Sept I.—The later organizations ot • Kansas City Suited in a notable observance of labor’s hbliday. An imposing procession in which thousands of wage-earners participated, was the feature of the 'morning. At the afternoon meeting, held in a grove near the city. Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, was the guest of honor and the speaker of the day. He was heard by a large audience, which received his address (With every mark of approval. Senator Fairbanks said:

“Mr. Chairman, members of the later -organizations of Kansas City, fellow citizens: We do well to celebrate Labor Day. It is fitting, indeed, that Pne day in all the year should be dedicated solely to the interests of labor; -that we should turn aside from our accustomed activities and pay tribute to it In almost every city, village and hamlet, from one end of the republic to the other, countless thousands are rejoicing in a day which, by congressional and legislative act, and by common consent, is set apart In nearly every state of the Union, in the District of Columbia and the territories, in order that we may take note of the interests of that vast army which follows the banner of labor. It is well that we should pay our tribute to this potent influence in building up and making great and strong the republic. No other has done bo much in bringing the country to its present position of strength and power—the Tory greatest among the nations of the earth. It is a fitting time to teach our children that labor is honorable, and that only through it can wo possibly hope to achieve the beneficent ends for which society is established •r government founded. Ko long as labor .is deemed honorable there need be no concern as to the future. There Is peril only when labor is regarded as degrading.

“We are essentially a nation of laborers, and we have no hospitality for human drones. Indeed, the nation is the rich fruit of labor, tor our ancestors —noble and splendid men and wo men they were—with their strong right arms carved out of the wilderness this great republic. They felled the forests, founded mighty cities, spanned the rivers and knitted together all sections of the country with vast highways of commerce, the telegraph and the telephone. They have reclaimed the waste-places, and on every hand have taught the necessity and the true virtue and dignity of labor. “There are many questions which vitally affect labor, and which have received and are receiving the earnest attention of publicists and economists. It is a gratifying fact that more people are studying labor problems today than ever before, and that those who are disposed to study them are no longer regarded as singular, but as sober thinkers, desirous of promoting fustice, elevating the condition of their fellow-men and advancing the wellbeing of society. No higher motive than this can actuate men. “We are so bound together as a people that we are necessarily concerned tn each other's welfare. Whatever adversely affects any considerable number of our population adversely affects, in a measure, all others, and, conversely, what benefits any considerable number necessarily benefits, in some degree, all others. There is no each thing as complete and absolute Independence, and it is well that it is so. Our interests are so interlaced in the loom of the Almighty that we cannot lire apart if we would, and we would not if we co-ild. Organized Labor. “The .theme which is uppermost on occasions like this is organized labor. There has been a decided advance in the cause of labor during comparatively recent years. The evolution in our industrial conditions, which is the marvel and admiration of the world, has rendered ft necessary that labor Should organize. Labor organizations have their origin in the Instinct of self-preservation, of mutual advancement, of common good, and are as natural and legitimate as the organization of capital. In fact, the organization of labor and capital naturally go hand In hand. The one is essentially the complement of the other. “The growth of labor organizations has been comparatively rapid, and. like all growth, has been accompanied bytravail and mistakes. It wonld, in•sod, be remarkable If it were otherWtoe. AH groat movements in society.

and all great undertakings In commerce, are attended by successes and failures, by victories and defeats, in the accomplishment of their purpose. The success of all great undertakings depends upon wise and courageous leadership. "i “Those who represent the various labor organizations are charged with important and delicate responsibilities, and it is essential that they shotild be men of good judgment, of forceful character, and worthy of confidence. They should be men knowing the rights of labor and willing and able, to . assert and maintain them. They should likewise know the rights of capital and be willing and able to respect them. It is a most reassuring fact that the principal leaders of the great labor organizations today are men who have been chosen because of their sound judgment, their wisdom and their Integrity of purpose. They must reason with capital and know the measure of the rights of botjj labor and capital, and how to secure a just recognition of the intereatwhich they represent. They must possess not only the confidence of labor, but of capital as well, If they would accomplish the best results.

“That labor organizations have done much to advance the cause of labor there can be no doubt They have been earnest advocates of education, knowing full well that knowledge is real power. They have established newspapers ’throughout the country, intelligently devoted to the promotion of their interests. They have founded benevolences and paid millions of dollars to their memberbership. They have increased wages where Inadequate, and secured reasonable hours of service. They have abolished or modified conditions in the sweat-shops of great cities which were undermining the health and morals of the operatives. They have stood against the abuses of child labor. They have taught the necessity of the observance of contracts, knowing full well that contracts are founded in honor and are the basis of commercial- success. They have increased and seek to maintain a higher morale among their membership. They are opposed to anarchy. Anarchy has no greater foe than they. They know that labor’s best Interests are dependent upon the maintenance of orderly and stable government. “There are more than 25,000 local labor unions in the United States, with a membership of more than 2,000,000. What infinite good can be accomplished by this mighty army of peace and industry if held true to its opportunity. Its success will depend upon the character of its leadership, and upon its adherence to sound and rational principles. It must spurn those who would prostitute it to the accomplishment of mere selfish purposes or political party ends* Arbitration.

“One of the functions of organized labor is to secure the recognition at its rights by capital through pacific means. War is destructive, and labor wars are no exception to the rule. It has seemed to me that through organized labor the misunderstanding between labor and capital can be minimized, turbulence and d I Border largely avoided, and that stable conditions may be maintained. The strike should be the last and resorted to only when other means of securing proper redress have failed. This is, indeed, the fundamental theory upon which organized labor is founded. “The collisions between labor and capital have been many, and they have been destructive. During the last 20 years these strikes and lockouts involved a less to employes of $306,683,223. and to employers of $142,659,104. Many millions more have been lost to those who were not immediately involved in the strikes, but who were dependent upon the continuance of production which was suspended. That many of these strikes were necessary there can be no doubt; that some of them were unnecessary and should have been avoided there is also no doubt , “We have wished that contests so tremendous in their results could reasonably have been avoided, and that some rational and effective method might have been devised for their settlement The problem has been recognized as a grave and difficult one, and a satisfactory solution has been earnestly desired. Arbitration has been much discussed and sometimes invoked by mutual consent, but the difficulty of establishing an arbitral tribunal in which both interests would have absolute confidence has been generally recognized.

“Compulsory arbitration has been suggested, but it has found few advocates. It is not acceptable to either interest, and wherever It has been attempted it has been abandoned except in New Zealand, where the experiment is not proving altogether satisfactory, and has not accomplished all its authors hoped. Compulsory arbitration is regarded as an unnecessary and grievous limitation upon the freedom of both labor and capital. It reduces labor to slavery and is a menace to capital. It is destructive of free agency. The relations between these two great forces are so delicate that they are not to be governed by the rigid fiat of either the congress or the legislature. Labor Must Be Free. “We want no slave labor. ’ Two million men with their blood wiped away slave labor forever. We want no labor, either black ar wMte, tn a virtual state of serfdom. Labor must be free, with all the prerogatives which pertain to freedom. It must be free to sell its

commodity in the highest .market Sa capital must be likewise free to buy labor where labor desires-to sell its commodity. There must be reciprocity of privilege, reciprocity of opportunity. Labor bureaus and commissioners have been established in many of the states at the instance of labor. They have done much to promote the interests of labor, and have successfully mediated many cases of difference between’eapital and labor. ” “The true solution of the questions arising between labor and capital lies in an awakened public conscience; in a thorough inculcation- of-the principles of fair dealing among men; in organization, and ih wise, humane leadership, and in the establishment of boards, of conciliation or arbitration, which are absolutely free from the polluting touch of selfish interests or political demagogues, to which the interests concerned may freely and confidently appeal. “We have hitherto found a powerful aid toward the adjustment of disputes in an Intelligent and just public opinion. After all, the most powerful influence for good is an enlightened, wholesome public sentiment. There is a potency in the public conscience which is stronger than constitutions, statutes or judicial decrees. If that approve there is no wrong that will not be righted. With its approval no strike catty-sass; without it none can succeed. To its omnipotent flat all must ultimately yield. Civic Federation.

“One of the most gratifying and reassuring developments of recent years has been the formation of the Clvle Federation. It is composed of the representatives of both labor and capital; of men eminent for their wisdom and their sense of justice; men possessing in a marked degree the public confidence. The functions of the federation are essentially advisory. Its kindly offices may be invoked by either labor or capital, whenever, labor and Capital are disagreed. It has already amply justified its creation. Although but about two years old, it has composed many differences acceptably to those concerned. “Its distingushed chairman, Senator Hanna, informs us that it has but once failed to;-effect a settlement of the differences attempted by ft, and that was in the case of the deplorable strike now in progress in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania. In that case both parties did not invite the assistance of the federation. Had they done so I firmly believe that it would have effected an adjustmentupon terms of 1 entire justice, honorable alike to all the great interests now contending for the mastery. “The work of the Civic Federation will be Watched with hopeful interest. That it will be successful in all cases in effecting satisfactory settlements no one believes, but there is no doubt that it will be able in many cases to point the way to a just solution of the matters in difference, and that many lockouts, strikes and contests, wasteful and destructive to both labor and capital and embarrasing to the community, may be avoided or settled. Let us hope that we are making progress toward the substitution of some rational, peaceable method for honorably and sensibly composing the disputes which are likely to arise between these 'two great forces in our civilization.

“Organised labor has undoubtedly done much to secure a reduction in the hours of labor. The movement for' reduced hours has accomplished much that is beneficial—beneficial not only to labor, but to the community. There should certainly be some time of each day when the toiler may have an opportunity to cultivate the home and the fireside, and to make of himself something more than a mere part of the machine with which he works. There should be a margin of each day for self-cultivation, for the improvement of the man rather than the machine. In the end there will be a better man and better worker, and better results to the employe, the employer and the state. Child Labor. “There is no greater evil than that of child labor in workshops, factories and mines. Labor organizations have done much to correct this evil in many of the states and are making commendable efforts to eradicate it where there are no laws to govern IL Public attention is being sharply drawn to this crime in Southern cotton mills. A condition exists there which is intolerable and which should not be permitted to continue in an American state. "Mr. E. J. Lister, a representative of the Dry Goods Economist, has carefully examined'the subject, and publishes the result of his investigations as follows: " ‘First—That from one-tenth to onefifth of the total number of cotton operatives are mere children. Second ►-That they work from eleven to fwelve hours a day. Third—That they are paid from 10 to 50 cents a day. Fourth —That boys and girls from fourteen to eighteen make from 50 to 75 cents a day. Fifth—That adults rarely earn over $1 a day, and that on piecework. Sixth —That the children's work, though not heavy, is grinding and nerve-racking. Seventh —That the constant buzz of whirring wheels, the high temperature and vitiated airconditions inseparable from cotton mills —wear down the stoutest frame and strongest nerves, and the children so employed ere long lose the bright eye, healthy glow and elastic step which are the common heritage of youth. Eighth—That in many cases these urchins are held in hopeless

bondage to their illiterate, heartless and avaricious parents. Ninth —That the normal order of things is, alas, too often inverted, and the saddeningspectacle presented of weak children supporting able-bodied parents in lieu of parents supporting their offspring. Tenth—That not one put of twenty of such toilers can read and write.’ . “The American Federation of Later reports similar results. It is estlmatthat there are upward of 22,000 children under fourteen years of age in the cotton mills of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi; North Carolina and South Carolina LHitt nearly on chai f of these children are under twelve years of age, while some of the number are not more than six years old. It is reported that some New England, mill owners have been establishing factories in the states where* child labor is not prohibitied in order that they may reap the unholy advantage of it.

A Crime Against Humanity. “Attempts have been made by organized labor to secure the necessary legislation in the states where this crime against humanity is unchecked, but they have been defeated by the mill owners. The defeat, however, is but temporary. Nq such abuse can long endure when tne moral sense of the country is aroused, as it is being aroused. Mere selfishness cannot long stand in the why. “It is a gratifying fact that in most of the states laws are upon the statute, books which protect tender childhood from the rapacity of such as are now arousing the moral sentiment „of the country ih many of the cotton mills of the South. This is not a sectional question. It is an humanitarian question which knows neither section nor latitude. ' ?’ > “Most of the countries of Europe have thrown about childhod the protecting arm of the law. The employment of children of tender years is prohibited. The hours of work for others are carefully prescribed. A recent writer on the subject says: ’The states of the American Union, where an intense feeling of prejudice against legislation restricting or regulating labor prevails, may read the exhibit from Europe with possible shame and we hope with profit. States which send their little tots to the factories by lamplight, which consign them to long hours of poorly-requited toll, which make no provision for the education of these children that they may lead freer and happier lives, belong in the satne class with effete Spain and semi-barbarous Roumania, and are far below the land of the czar or industrially unprogressive Italy? Child labor is not wrong done alone to childhood. Society is vitally interested in the fullest possible physical, moral and intellectual development of its members, and in the end* it suffers if the children who are to constitute its membership are atrophied in the essential qualities-of healthy citizenship. “It is inconceivable that any legislature in the Union should refuse to prevent the flagrant abuse of child labor, Greed should not be allowed to coin the sweat of childhood and rob children of tender years of two of the richest jewels they can possess—health and education. - - Immigration. ... . . —_ “It has been a part of our national policy to permit the people of other countries to share with us our national blessings. Many millions have come hither to unite their fortunes with ours and join in upbuilding the country. They have been in the main desirable. They have been industrious, self-sac-rificing, patriotic. When the national honor has required they have stood shoulder to steulder with the nativeborn and won enduring glory. “For many years there was no limit to our hospitality. There was no prohibition against the coming of any who desired, but in recent years we ha v e deemed in the national interest, to exclude certain undesirable classes, among whom were contract laborers. We did not consider those desirable citizens who should be induced to come under contract to take the places of American workmen. We have-not regarded it in the national interest to admit people who came under contract 4o labor, and not of their own initiar ttve, to become joint sharers in the splendid privileges of our institutions. “Chinese were, until comparatively recent years, permitted freely to come and enter the field of labor. It became apparent after a few years of experience that without restriction immense numbers of the subjects of the densely populated Chinese empire would sweep through the Western gates, invade the Pacific coast, cross the Rocky mountains down into the Mississippi valley, and to the Atlantic coast, taking the places occupied or to be occupied by American workmen. “The Chinese have no ways in common with us. They are not of our religion. They can never become blended into our excellent citizenship. Acting upon the principle that our supreme duty Is to our own countrymen, we closed our doors against the further admission of Chinese laborers. There were those who believed their admission wise; that thereby we would obtain abundant and cheap labor, but those who so reasoned reasoned against our ultimate best interests. '• .■ " " ■’ r .t| “Cheap labor is not the sole end we seek in the United States. It is our pride that this is not a eheap-labor' country; that labor is better paid here than in any other country. The santL , ment Is proclaimed* over and Over' again from platform and from press.! Cheap labor? No. We do not want Cheap labor. We want well-paid la-

[■ '-T. —r * fr ’ ■ —*"7 bor. We desire not only well-paid labor, but want that labor steadily employed. 1 The WrdTW “The currents of immigration are strongly set toward the United States.' During the last ten years 3,615,163 have landed upon our shores, and during the fiscal ytear endjng June 30 last 648,743 aliens were added to our numbers. It will be seen that in one year enough arrived to found four cities as large as Kansas City; more than enough to make a city as large and populous as the great metropolis of St. Louis, and, if L*e present rate of immigration continues enough will be admitted in fixe years to make a state as great and populous as the state of Missouri. Many of the arrivals are desirable. Many of them possess the qualities which will make good citizens, and many of thefn give no promise that they will strengthen our institutions. “The quality of our Immigration Is not so good nor so desirable as it was in the earlier days. The percentage of Illiteracy has increased in a marked degree. Of those admitted last year above the age of fourten years 162,188 could neither read nor write. They came chiefly from the countries that contribute our least desirable immigrants. May we not, in the exercise of a wise national policy, say to such as are not able to read or write that they shall not come to be educated at our expense, or to enter into competition with educated American labor? If they want to come and enjoy our priceless heritage. Jet them be better prepared to wear the robes of American citizenship. May we-not justly apply a reasonable educational test? Bills have been pending in congress for some years and have passed one dr the other branches, adding to the classes of aliens excluded from admission to the United States those physically capable and over sixteen years of age who cannot read or write the English language or some other language, but reasonable exceptions were made so as not to exclude such as were over fifty years of age, and whose admission should be allowed out of humanitarian considerations. The application of this slight educational test last year to those above fourteen years of age would have excluded about 160,000. - “Let us not be too profligate of -our opportunities. In being generous to others, let us be entirely just to ourselves, native and foreflgn-born alike. The quality rather than the quantity of our citizenship is the all-essential consideration. Who will say that we have not the right to exclude those who are illiterate, above a reasonable age, and who are not entitled to admission because ot family considerations? Who will, say that it is not, our moral duty to do so? And who will deny that such exclusion is not justified in the best interests of Ameri-. can labor and American citizenship? Labor Insurance. “There are few subjects more worthy of our consideration than that of labor insurance. One of the most beneficent provisions in our domestic economy is insurance: life insurance, fire insurance, fidelity insurance, accident insurance and tne like. The wisdom of the distribution of loss resulting from death, fire, dishonesty and accident has long been recognized. The extension of this principle to those who are disabled by accident while in the line of duty, or who are incapacitated by age after long and faithful service, would seem to be a natural development. "The evolution in economic conditions suggests the wisdom of some system of insurance Against the imperative necessities of those who have given the productive period of their lives to the service of large industrial or corporate interests, or who, without blame and from the hazards of the service, are incapacitated. Various methods of dealing with the subject have been tried and are being tried. The whole matter is largely in the experimental stage. In some countries the insurance is furnished by the government, and tn others by the government, the employers ( and employes jointly. * “During the past few years some of’ the larger corporations in this country with the commendable desire to advance the interests of their employes, have instituted a system of insurance. They are making the experiment, and the result will be watched with interest In some cases the fund is. contributed by the employes and itds administered by the corporation, and in others it is contributed entirely by the corporation. “In March last the Metropolitan Street Railway company of New York adopted a plan of insurance which was briefly outlined in an address to the employes of the company by the president as .follows: “ ‘To All Employes—The plan 1 have long had in mind of establishing a pension system for the relief of the superannuated employes of this company, members of the Metropolitan Street Railway association, whose annual Maximum wages have not exceeded $1,200 per annum, has finally been perfected, and will be put into effect on or before. July 1. * ♦. • “ This pension system provides for voluntary and involuntary retirement of all eihpioyes so included, between the ages.-of sixty-five and seveatf, after twenty-five years’ service in the Metropolitan Street Railway company, or any of its constituent companies. Employes benefited by the system will

for twenty-five years or more preceding such date of maturity; and “ ‘Second—All employes from sixtybeen twenty-five years or more in such service, who, in the opinion of the trustees of the pension, have become physically disqualified. “ 'All employes of seventy years will to have attained a maximum age allowed for active service, and will be retired by age limit; while those whose ages range from sixty-five to sixty-nine may, upon examination, be retired under pension if found- incapable. “ *The pension allowance to such retired employes shall be upon the following basis: “'(a) If service has been continuous for thirty-five years or more, 40 per cefit of the average annual wages for the ten previous years. “ ‘(b) If service has been continuous for thirty years, 30 per cent of the average annual wages for the tep previ'ous years. -..ti “ ‘(c) If service has been continuous fortwenty-fiyeyears, 2§ percent of the average annual wages for the ten prevlons years. “ ‘The fund from which payments will be made will be appropriated each year by the company, and employes will not be required to contribute to IL “ ‘My -object in establishing this department is to preserve the future welfare of aged and infirm employes, and to recognize efficient and loyal service.’ ■ “This Is a decided step in advance; it is in the right direction. “Other large corporations, such as the Illinois Central Railroad company and the Pennsylvania Railroad company, have adopted a system of pensioning their employes. I do mot pause to consider the merits of the respective systems adopted, but merely advert to the fact as evidence of the recognition by some of the large employers of labor that faithful labor haa some equities which entitle it to consideration after its productive' period is past. The pension system is not predicated upon charitable sentiment or considerations of philanthropy, but is founded in the essential elements of justice and equity. Nor is the system socialistic in its purpose.

Labor Headquarters. « “We haye in all the great centers of Industry our boards of trade and chambers of commerce. They are found essentialln promoting the best interests of trade and commerce. There is a permanency and convenience about them which is reassuring and beneficial. Why would not the interests of labor be promoted by following their example and erecting permanent headquarters in every city where it can be done without an undue tax? Labor is as permanent as our institutions, and it should have a suitable fixed meeting place amidst wholesome surroundings, where its interests may from time to time be discussed and determined. “We speak of labor, not as a class, for this is a country where class distinctions do not obtain. Our country is not divided into classes, and we trust in the providence of the Almighty it may never become so. The laborer of today is the capitalist of tomorrow. There is no avenue of opportunity that is not impartially open to all. Even the alien-born may attain to every place save one, and that the chief magistracy of the republic. “The managers of our railroads, manufacturing - industries, banks, newspapers—in short, the leaders in almost every avenue of activity—are those who as a rule have walked the humbler ways of life. Our statesmen and publicists are those‘who early learned the necessity of work. Those who shall control the destiny of the republic will come from the ranks of no class, but from farm, workshop and mine. “We hear much of the prevalence of q spirit of commercialism, and the pessimist sees nothing before us but decadence. It Is true that our foreign and domestic commerce are of unprecedented proportions,' but we should bear in mind that they are essentially the creation of labor and that without commerce there is no field of opportunity for labor, and capital Is idle. : “I am an optimist, believing that we are growing better, not worse. The church and the school were never more potent than today in advancing Christianity and education. There was never more charity and philanthropy than now. Let us hope that we may all look upon the questions which immediately concern labor and capital with a clearer vision to the end that' justice may be done among men. There should exist between labor and capital no sentiment of hostility, and there will exipt none if the American spirit of fair play prevails. “For the time being public questions which divide parties do not claim our attention. Yet it is proper that we should take note of our country and its progress.' Our nation has become one of the most puissant upon the face of the earth. Our flag stands for more than ever in all its splendid history. There are more people than ever before who love It, and who, if need be, I would die for it We must cultivate for it a wholesome respect Beneath it labor enjoys greater opportunities itnd Is more blessed than under any other flag upon the face <4 the globe. It protects labor and labor protects it. Whenever 4t has been in peril the -strong arm of labor has been extended in itg defense. Let us devoutly hopp that wars may not again disturb our Rational tranquility, for labor's victories are won in the ways of peace."