Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-22
VIEWS ON THE LABOR QUESTION
Mr.. y. w. Oyster Makes an Extended Adj
dress TO the MethodIst CITY Minister

Mr.. y. w. Oyster Makes an Extended Adj
dress to the Methodist City Ministers-
At the meeting of the Methodist city minis
tiers today at Foundry Church by invitation OF
the organization Mr.. E. W. Oyster presented
some views on the labor question. The minis
tiers at their last meeting had discussed labor
and socialistic movements and, desiring some
further information on the subject. had invited
the local Knights Of Labor and the Federation
OF Labor TO send representatives for short adj
dresses.
Mr.. Oyster explained that in this matter he
did not officially represent the Federation Of
Labor. as the organization had held no meet
ing since the receipt of the invitation. He had
however. decided that the occasion justified
Few remarks which he felt assured the organi-
cation would indorse. Mr.. Oyster ex-
planned the differences between the various
lsoor organizations and remarked that any Of
the ministers present would be eligible 20 menu
bership in the United Assembly of the knights
o. Labor, Gamblers and rum sellers were
strictly barred. he said, but otherwise the mem
oershlp was remarkably open. Lawyers had
peen kept out, but the rule had fallen into dis
repute. Explanation was also given as to the
district assemblies.
WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTROL
Mr.. Oyster explained that he was not social
ist IN the common acceptance of the word. He
was unwilling to give up all his individual rights
onis SO much as were necessary. He thought
the street railways and city gas and electric
night systems should be under government
control, He believed in the government con-
troll OF all the railroad aad telegraph systems
1t had been claimed that labor organizations
were non-American in their tendencies. This
was notso, he claimed. Working people during
the history of the world had been struggling
against injustice and tyranny. The labor or
of rafiax 81.
turtles oil fight against oppression and held the
wall which kept the workers from falling into
slavery UNNECESSARILY worse than chattel
slavery.
The control and grinding down Of another
man labor constitute the bitterest Of slavery
Inc organizations here had kept the American
laborer from falling even lower than the pau
per laborers of Europe.
Mr.0yster referred to the degradation of labor
to be found among the Italians who some years
ago worked on the abandoned tunnel and also
referred to the remarks made by ex-Judve
Smell and Others in criticism of the labor organ
izations.
Closing discussion of the benefits of the or
ganlZa tons he said nothing has done more for
the cause of temperance than the American
labor organizations. In thiscity the strikes had
always been conducted in a temperate manner
lie held II to be the duty and right of a labor
ing man to strike when necessary.
In answer to a question Mr.. Oyster explained
that Of the 400 printers in the city only about
twenty were outside the union. There were
about $50 or 900 union bricklay ers and 500 union
carpenters. In all the building trades the
union men were strong enough TO regulate the
wages. Mr.. Oyster then explained the intrica-
cies of strike funds.
An eloquent recital of the misery and s.arva-
ton existing among many of the laborers,
especially IN New York, followed. Wealth
should be distributed, he thought. not equally,
bnt SO as to give to the lnboring people n Just
amount of the wealth which they create.
Speaking of the large fortunes possessed
by some men ana the large salaries
received by others Mr.. Oyster said that il
was impossible for any man to earn $1,000, 600
in lifetime. He might get it, but he never
could earn it. In closing Mr.. Oyster showed
by quotations that the Bible throughout con-
demed the accumulation of wealth. The labor
organizations. he said. were opposed TO child
labor and in favor of a reduction of the hours
of labor.