Governor PIerce's Speech on Labor Day, Cars, and the Hospital

As a footnote to yesterday's post about the car racing for Labor Day at the Fairgrounds, here is the full prepared text of Governor Pierce's speech. Without going into any close reading, it is interesting to note the Whiggish, progressive scheme of civilizational history; the erasure of slavery and Jim Crow in American history; the erasure of car crash fatalities and also football injuries; and some thoughts on the financial burdens of car ownership and social change it caused. Maybe you will discern other themes. He was very much Klan-adjacent, we should remember.

September 4th, 1923

The first Monday in September of each year is Labor day, declared by law a holiday. 'It is a day of rest for those vast throngs who labor throughout the year and produce all those things that the people of this and other countries require. That day is fittingly observed in the capital city of Oregon this year by this vast assemblage. We are here to observe and to appreciate the spirit of young America, exemplified by the daring and thrilling races which are soon to be under way.

Advancing Stages Noted

The progress of civilization may be recorded in advancing stages of sport. When man came out of the wilderness, his sports were cruel. Death and bloodshed were required to amuse. Roll back history's scroll for 18 centuries and behold the sports of ancient Rome! Men — big, stalwart men — were driven into the arena to fight to death. There was no reason for the fight and no reason for the blood to flow, except to amuse, to appease and to satisfy the cruel, blood-thirsty appetite.

Behold Rome! Rome, that proud nation that first taught the world to govern with effect - filling the arena with innocent men, women and children and then turning wild beasts of the field loose to destroy them. In that day, that was sport, and holiday after holiday was declared for people to witness the bloody amusement.

Old Ways Were Cruel

When knighthood was in flower, seven centuries ago, the most fascinating sport was the contests of knights, fully equipped with spear and lance, battling, battling and battling on until many of the brave men received the fatal blow. It was a sport Intended to amuse and electrify a cruel populace and king.

With the arrival of America on the world's stage a century and a half ago, there came a keener public consciousness, demanding with each succeeding year, sports of a higher type, eliminating as far as possible danger to life and limb, and above all, bloodshed, that had been a necessary part of the festivities of the centuries past.

Sport Has Its Place

All work, indeed, does make Jack a dull boy! Human characteristics demand that, on occasions, we break away from the solemn and serious affairs of life, to enjoy an exhilarating effort on the field of sports. The boy or girl who cannot play, usually falls to cope successfully with, the great problems of life.

The state fair grounds should become, even more than they are today, a place for recreational activities. May there be played here in years to come, clean, wholesome sports — sports which aid us to pass by , for a time worries and troubles of our busy lives.

Races Held Proper

It is proper, indeed, to give prominence to the automobile races today. The genius of man never gave to humanity anything that exceeds the automobile in its influence and effect upon the peoples of the nations. We are too close to the coming of the automobile to realize its tremendous revolutionary effect upon our lives. It has made of many of our race automobile gypsies. Financially it has ruined thousands and it has made a few tremendously rich. It has abolished the isolated farm home. It has broken down many of the old habits of saving and accounting. It has brought joy into many a home by affording a pleasure that had previously been unpossessed. Lives there a man so dead to human joy that be would wish to live in a world without an automobile?

Labor Comes Into Rights

The trials of these machines, almost human, in a friendly contest for speed, is but a natural result of out innate desire for sport, coupled with our admiration for the wonderful achievement of human genius — the automobile.

Labor day has only recently been made a holiday. Only since America has taken her place on the stage of action has labor been recognized as the possessor of any rights worth while. In the days of gladatorial fights of ancient Rome, to be a laborer meant to be a slave, and to raise a word of protest against the cruel lash of the master usually meant death itself. In the days of mediaeval knights, to be a laborer meant to be chained to the soil or to the task to which one was born.

Darkness Dissipated

Through centuries upon centuries, the world was dark for those who labored. To them there was scarcely a ray of hope or a thought of joy. In fact, before America came, civilization was built upon human toil exacted under the lash of the master. But those days have passed. With America came freedom for the worker - political, religious and industrial freedom.

The worker is no longer a slave but enjoys freedom and liberty along with the respect and comradeship of his fellow being. It is a transition that is properly celebrated on this holiday by witnessing a contest for speed by automobiles one of the great achievements of genius and labor.

Hospital Marks Progress

The modern hospital is another of the distinguishing marks of progress. In the day of the bloody Caesars there were no hospitals. The sick and wounded were left to die without care. Often, even, their end was hastened by a blow from the hand uneducated to aid in restoration.

In those times there was wealth and strength: tor war and for bloody amusement, but none to save the sick or to aid the stricken.

We citizens of today could not have existed perhaps, in those days of ancient Rome. We might have been crushed under the weight of human suffering. The dark ages of the Renaissance afford not a ray of real human helpfulness as seen on every hand today. The peoples of the past built beautiful cities. magnificent cathedrals, elegant structures, but they had no time nor patience to think of caring for the inflicted.

Clubs Take Up Cause

The capital city of Oregon without a modern hospital would not be in step with the world. Fortunately the Kiwanis, Rotarian and Lions clubs of this city recently pledged themselves to secure by subscription the necessary funds to obtain a high grade hospital for Salem. Part of the proceeds were obtained. The remainder, it is hoped, will be the product of the celebration of this Labor day on these grounds.

Proud we should be that we live in this age of human existence. Proud of the achievements of the centuries — of the automobile, of the emancipation of labor, and of the modern hospital. Let us, one and all, be thankful that we have the opportunity to add our presence and support to the laudable undertaking for good apparent, here today. For the three-fold purpose of honoring Labor day, upholding the hand of clean sports, and for the realization that we are assisting in alleviating the suffering of stricken humanity.