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About Will Maupin's weekly. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1911-1912 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 1911)
UNIONS HERE TO STAY. " Foes of Organized Labor Live In a Fools' Paradise, Says Gompers. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation, was the prin cipal speaker at a Lincoln day celebra tion held by the Long Island forum. Port "Washington, N. Y. He said: "Lincoln's work is just about begin ning to be understood. He came from the common people and reached the highest office In the land, but he al ways remained true to himself and true to the people. He foresaw that when the shackles of human slavery were broken then would arise the question of the right of the producer of wealth to share in the results of his toil. "If there is any who thinks there is nothing in the labor question let him visit the large cities and see the unem ployed walking the streets, wanting to give their services in return for daily bread. Let him go to the sweatshops, the mines and other places of toil, and go where he will the answer will come that there is a labor question. It is a living question that must find a hu mane, rational and intelligent solu tion. No right thinking man can see misery abound and himself enjoying happiness. If there is one man who through no fault of his own is op pressed by poverty and misery society is at fault. "We say that It is a blot upon our boasted civilization when people can not find work. Those who hope for the crushing of organized labor are living in a fools' paradise. Organized labor is not going out of existence so long as there is a wrong to right. "The history of the world is crowd ed with the records of the crushing out of organized labor. The saying that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church' is not only appli cable to the church of God, but it also has its application to the cause of la bor. It is said that to produce a good race It is necessary to begin three gen erations back, and those who want to crush labor should have begun with the people three generations ago. "Those who talk about crushing out organized labor pray to God once a week and then prey on humanity for the balance of the week. We are not going to give up our right of protest against wrong and our determination to come into our own. "The representatives of labor here on the platform don't appear to be a bit scared because under the provi sions of the Sherman anti-trust bill they are designated illegal traders. This law was intended to protect the people against the trusts and corpora tions, but It has now been so pervert ed that it doesn't mean the trusts, but the men and women who only control their own right to work. For the sake of money men and public officials have stolen the power from the people and vested it in themselves. "What great money getter has been put in Jail? What great corporation has been prosecuted? One fine of $29, 000,000 was Imposed, but it was writ ten in Ice on a summer day. "Free speech and a free press were not put in the original constitution of the United States as it was then thought that it was ordained. The first amendment to the constitution was the one granting freedom of worship, free speech and a free press, freedom of assembly and the right of petition. No one wants the freedom of speech to preach treason. By free dom of speech we want the right to criticise, the right to give vent to pro test and opinions. The worst that could come to our people would be to attempt to shut off freedom of the press and speech." Light to Banish Sorrow. Sorrow dwells longest where the un Is shut out. Florida Times-Union. of s u R NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY THE MERCHANT WHO ADVERTISES ISSUES YOU AN INVITATION. EVER GO WHERE YOU ARE NOT IN VITED? THINK IT OVER. SAYINGS OF SOL WISEMAN HEATERS FEA TURES. Does not stop up. Does not leak and wear out. Does not give rusty water. Gives immediate and economical hot water. Free from all joints and seams. Perfectly safe. 'Phone Bell 75 or Auto 2575 and ask for one of our representatives to explain the econ omical features of the Lion heater. Lincoln Gas & Electric Light Co,