Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-07-29
PRACTICAL IDEAS.
From a Sermon by Rev. Anderson, De-

From a Sermon by Rev. Anderson, De-
livered Last Sunday.
At the Presbyterian church last Sun
day the Rev. J. M. Anderson delivered a
sermon on the labor question, the rela-
ton of the capitalist to the workingman,
and advanced q mode for the settlement
of difficulties and disagreements between
them, which is worthy of a wide dissem.
nation. The sermon is too long to be
reproduced here in it's entirety, but a
synopsis of the views and ideas set forth,
together with extracts from those parts
which treat more specifically of the am
icable manner Of settling strikes and of
the easing of the strained relations be-
tween capital and labor, will make food
for a profitable discussion.
In beginning, Rev. Anderson speaks
of three rules by which men are in the
present and have been in the past guided
in their mutual relationship; the iron
rule, whereby was attained an age of
cruelty and oppression; wherein the
strong o'er-rode the weak, the rich the
poor, and whose results may be summed
up as follows: a world wherein was no
charity, no loving kindness to a less for
tunate fellow mortal, and where selfish
greed reigned.
Next in order Of intellectual and moral
advancement was the silver rule, and the
rule by which the greater part of the
worlds inhabitants are guided to-day.
This may be summed up as follows: Do
unto others as they do unto you.
Highest in the scale of moral and men.
tai advancement, and sublime in the
spiritual beauty of it's teachings, is the
golden rule, as laid down by the Saviour,
and which says "do unto others as you
would that they should do unto you,"
and with this aim in view, the doctor
goes on to discuss the question under
consideration. He says:
IF the parties at issue in a controversy
pc sincerely DESTROYS of an adjustment
that shall be amicable and mutually just,
they car make no reasonable objection to
a reference of the whole matter to a third
party for settlement, this referee or arbi-
traitor to be mutually agreed upon. and to
be selected with special respect to his dis
lnterestedness, his impartiality, and his.ex-
perience and soundness Of judgment. The
decision OF such a judge very likely would
MT hA QhSn1ufn1u rnrfnot h,% 81 .,n.Il L.,
as close an approximation to perfection as
human lnfirmity can be expected to reach.
Such acourse would be comparatively in.
expensive. AS being in perfect accord
with the golden rule, it would seem to be
the distinctively Christian way OF settling
practicable, On the followers Of Christ in
their dealings one with another"
Further in the discussion, while ar
guing the necessity of arbitration, he
says:
"Capltal we must have, if we would
would avail ourselves Of the advantages
OF costly labor-saving machinery, so
as to compete with the great industrial
centres of Europe. Great corporations,
too, are absolutely Indispensable. if we
would have great railroads, great telegraph
INES, great manufacturing and mining in
duStrlas, great commercial enterprises for.
elgn n domestic, great universities, in
fact, great undertakings and national pro-
Rress OF any sort. And that corporations
should endeavor to get their work done as
cheaply as is compatible with its best quail
lC;y, Is not only human nature. but may be
absolutely necessary to their prosperity, or
even their very existence.
the other hand, it is admitted on all
Sides that W0rkIOUmpn houo q riOhf RI
strlke against a reduction of wages, or in
order to obtain an advance in their pay.
But it is said they have no right to pre-.
vent other men from accepting the wages
objected to by them. It is true hat for this
purpose they have no right to resort to
force, or Intimidation. But they have a
right to use moral suasion. They have the
means to keep Others from occupying their
places that they had to vacate their places
themselves. Otherwise they could have no
object in striking. When a body of work
lngmen turn out on a strike because
they believe they are not receiving an
equivalent for their labor, or enough for
the support of their families, is it to be ex-
pected OF human nature that they will
stand by and look calmly and ~unconcern-
edly on, while others are being employed
to fill their places, and not put forth an ef-
fort OF any kind to prevent it? This is one
- VAo etoWCu OUJCCCS VI IllclI tIducS
unions. By these organizations they seek
to support, by contributions, such of their
number as are on strike, and at the same
time bring such a pressure to bear on
the scene, as shall effectually pre-
vent others the meanwhile from taking
their places.
And now, shall capital and labor go on,
and fight it out with their accustomed
weapons forever? Must there be lockouts
on the n hand, and strikeslou the other,
with all their direful consequences to So
ciety until the end Of time? Why may
not oil this class of disputes be readily and
amicablyisettled by a recourse to arbitra-
ton? Fortunately we nave a notable H.
lustration OF the signal utility and avail
ability OF this plan in a recent case in
Scotland.
The iron workers and steamship build
ers on the Clyde had been out on strike
TOR higher wages. After a terribly Stub
born conflict, ,protracted to the unpre-
cedented length of six months, without
any sign Of giving way on either side, the
question was at length referred, by. o
mutual and amicable arrangement Of the
parties at fSsue. to the dacisiOn Of a oantlo.