say about Lincoln today-had this to say about him on May 19, 1860:

The Republican Convention have nominated Abra-
ham Lincoln of Illinois for President-a third-rate
western lawyer, poorer than even poor Pierce. They
pass over Seward, Chase, and Banks, who are
statesmen and able men, and they take a fourth-
rate lecturer who cannot speak good grammar. Lin-
coln is exactly the same type as the traitor who
was hung at Charleston (John Brown). The com-
parison between Seward and this illiterate western
boor is odious-it is as a Hyperion to a satyre.

And the Philadelphia Evening Journal joined the large chorus on May 24, 1860, by saying:

His coarse language, his illiterate style, and his
vulgar and vituperative personalities in debate con-
trast very strongly with the elegant and classical
oratory of the eminent senator from New York.

And the great truths that we hear and read today, let it be remembered, were never known to come from "respectable" eulogists, from corporation lawyers and judges, from politicians, newspaper editors and cheap detectives-they came from the outcast who dared oppose prejudice, absolutism and special privilege; they came from the man who accepted hatred and condemnation for the sake of truth and justice, who had neither vanity nor pride, who chose to eat the bitter bread of sorrow, and whose friends were untrue to him because he was true to himself—true to his kind. And so Lincoln lost the respect of what we call respectable people in order to keep his own. He was willing to sacrifice all, to lose all-except truth and self-respect.

Never once did he falter; never once did he lose lowliness of heart; never once did he use patriotism as a cloak for small or mean emotions. He loved the people; he did not fear them; he refused to flatter them; he spoke aloud, and he knew the price he had to pay for fighting ignorant prejudices and greed, and he was willing to pay it. He suffered; sorrow was his friend; he experienced, and he knew. Wherever he went he saw, he sympathized; he felt the wrongs of others; he was surrounded on all sides by oppression and injustice, hypocrisy and corruption, and he was wise enough, he was courageous enough, to send these brave words ringing through the land:

No man is good enough to govern another man
without that man's consent.

I thank God that we have a system of labor where
there can be a strike. Whatever the pressure, there
is a point where the workman can stop.

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capi-
tal is only the fruit of labor, and could not have
existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the
superior of capital and deserves much the higher
consideration.

Inasmuch as most good things are produced by
labor, it follows that all such things of right belong
to those whose labor has produced them.

To secure to each laborer the whole product of his
labor, or as nearly as possible, is a worthy object
of any good government.

Although volume upon volume is written to prove
slavery a good thing, we never hear of the man who
wishes to take the good of it by being a slave him-
self.

With some the word liberty means for each man to
do as he pleases with himself, and the product of
his labor; while with others the same word means
for some men to do as they please with other men,
and the product of the other men's labor.

The people of these United States are the masters
of both Congresses and courts, not to overthrow the
constitution, but to overturn the men who pervert
the constitution.

And so I hope to live to see the day when the American people will repent in full and be ashamed of themselves for allowing the freedom and justice Lincoln fought for to be crushed and suppressed-suppression which is almost making a mad-house out of a once-free nation.

To Business Agents

By

H. H. Broach

A talk made to a group of business
agents of labor unions in an eastern
city.

I have had occasion to talk to many groups, but never to one such as this; and I like it-I like it because I am invited to say some things which I have wanted to say for a long time; and I feel I can say them with some understanding, because I have gone through the trials and discouragements of a business agent, and I have carefully noted the careers of the successful ones as well as the failures. I have seen many start out full of life and pep, with lots of faith and confidence in men, and determined to do many things. But soon the nature of the work begins to tell; soon they begin to learn what lying, cowardly, selfish dogs most men are, and all too many of them become discouraged and disgusted, tired, burnt-out, soul-sick, and they throw up the sponge and quit. The work seems to affect some men quite differently from others. Some it paralyzes and makes absolutely helpless, and they sit around like sick dogs. Some it makes arrogant, mean, and surly, and they seem to hate even themselves. Some are dazed; they don't seem to know just what's wrong with them, and probably never will know. Some suffer only temporary spells of tiredness and depression. Others are made stronger and are urged on to greater efforts as they learn more about men, and as they come to know more about the condition that produces insane fortunes at the top, and destitution and misery at the bottom.

There are some who simply cannot stand the life of a business agent, or a labor representative. They are too sensitive and the life is all too stormy, and perhaps too soul-crushing for them. Many become discouraged and give up because they feel that the only reward is empty applause, loneliness, discouragement and disappointment, strained and weary minds, shattered health and bill collectors, and often a wrecked home-and I know of some poor devils who wound up in the insane asylum, and others who died prematurely.

And when you come to think of it, it is a peculiar work. Here we are working in a big movement of human beings, which is all too often in a state of turmoil. It is filled with scandal mon

gers and spies, stool-pigeons and deceivers, intellectuals and wind mills, tricksters and quitters. You are assailed on practically all sides. You are not right to any unless you are wrong to many. You have constantly to face a lying, hostile press, and when you are not in a bitter argument or battle you are usually on your way to where there is one. You are expected to preach the encouraging, bright side no matter how sick and discouraged, tired or disgusted, you happen to be; and many expect you to carry a miracle bag wherever you go and be able to work the hocuspocus stuff at will, and mesmerize an employer on sight.

So when a man finds his best efforts treated with indifference and suspicion, when he finds that he is suspected and distrusted by both the boss and the worker; when all kinds of stories are being circulated about him, it is not surprising that his enthusiasm often becomes chilled, his interest wanes and his effectiveness diminishes. And unfortunately all too many men become "don't cares" and form all sorts of negative habits and go all to pieces.

If a new business agent were to ask me, "How can I make my strength count for the most; how can I be the most effective and render the greatest service?" I should have this to say to him: When some one misrepresents or lies about you, don't let it disturb you. Don't become upset by praise or flattery, criticism or treachery. When you are dealing with men you must expect to get a lot of cheap, empty and meaningless praise and flattery; you must expect to be lied to and lied about; you must expect to be misrepresented and misunderstood on many sides. All of this is the price you must pay; it's the penalty you must pay for dealing and working with men, and it can no more be avoided than you can stop the flow of the waters. You must invite criticism always. If you are of the right stuff it will urge you on to greater efforts and help keep you on the right track. Just remember that if your members were unable to criticise yourself and others, they would be helpless against scoundrels that get into the labor movement, the same as they would be helpless against scoundrels that get into public office.

And don't neglect to devote at least one hour every day to study and self-improvement. The interests of your organization demand this. One of the first duties you owe those you represent is to equip yourself and keep yourself equipped properly to represent them. You may say you can't find the time, but if you want to find the time, I know that you can do it, and so do you. I know you are busy, but you are not nearly so busy as you would have everybody believe.

And I should further say to him: When you are going through the fire of experience, don't lose your head and be side

tracked from the main road. Keep your eye always on the flying goal of progress. Keep an open mind always; keep active; keep in step with the spirit of the times. If you don't you will soon grow old, intolerant and disgusting. Take stock of yourself as often as possible. Tear off your mental blinders and devote a little time to summing up yourself as you are, even if it does wound your vanity a little. Remember always that you are dealing with selfish human beings just like yourself. Don't be shocked at their shortcomings or weaknesses. You have yours. Be patient with those you represent. You cannot inject army discipline into a labor organization and make men move around like so many soldiers or have them act like a machine. You must persuade them always. Believe in and trust your fellows and they will believe in and trust you. When you give your word, keep it. If you cannot, go to the other fellow or fellows and explain. Keep your appointments. Keep your office hours. Keep your temper; lose it and you may lose your job.

And don't become crowd-drunk and let applause deceive you. Don't let the clapping of hands make a cheap politician out of you as it does so many. When you stand up before a crowd, don't throw away your brains and become intoxicated and go all to pieces, as so many men do. Play cautiously to men's heads, not to their hands, because the man who tries to give a crowd all the things it wants is no better than the druggist who sells dope to a certain element because they insist upon having it. Those you represent will often demand that you compromise between facts and sentiment, but don't do it. If you want to last in the labor movement, if you want to be of real service, display common sense always and be content with a small measure of praise and applause.

And above all and everything, don't become discouraged and quit. Anybody can do that. That's why life is so full of quitters; and if all those going before you had quit we would still be in the jungles. Remember always that you are out to be of service to the greatest number, for there is no reward like that which comes from the conviction that you are of service to your fellows, and I know of no man who ever became a failure trying to do too much for his brothers.