The Press., 1892-09-15
THE WALKING DELEGATE.

Rev. Father Stewart, of St. Mary's church (R. O., Rochester, N. Y., in a re- cent sermon said:
 "I will speak to you on subject which has occupied the attention of the entire country for the past few weeks. mean strikes. First, let me congratulate you and our city on having escaped this scourge for some time past. If my ef- forts in and out of this pulpit have con- tributed to bring down this blessing, l thank God for the courage to speak my feelings and sentiments plainly, knowing as you do that have no personal ends to serve, only your welfare and that of the community.
 "I have watched most anxiously at a distance while on my vacation the pro- gress of the strike with which Buffalo has been afflicted, prepared to hasten home, if you were seriously threatened to become involved. Thank God you have escaped, owing to the absence of that curse of eve- " community, where he has power to ex- ercise his tyranny and pernicious infiu- ence-the walking delegate. These paid agitators, who live by keeping up constant friction between labor and capital, should not be tolerated. You were also saved by the kind consideration of the New York Central and West Shore manage ment, by their kindness and considera- tion towards their employees. I beg that these companies will be gratefully re- membered, not alone by their employees, who will serve them faithfully and Loyalty for the future, but also by their patrons and the people in general.
 "Let us join in our might to prevent strikes in the future. If you wish to learn the injury and loss entailed by strikes, ask those who have been engaged in them anywhere. Homestead is a monument of misery and bloodshed. The warming and lesson of Homestead saved Buffalo and many other cities from the same calami- ties. Soldiers were hurried to the scene of confusion and stlife. Their numbers upholding the majesty of the law proved to the strikers that further efforts at CO., ercing the companies were utterly useless. The strike was a failure; now comes the day of reckoning; places and positions lost, homes desolate, fathers and mothers frantic at the dire consequences of follow ing the advice of loud-mouthed dema- gogues in meetings of the men.
 "Some scapegoat must be found on ! whom to wreak vengeance. The man Sweeney, who was praised by the papers for his prudence, honesty and disinterest- edness as leader, was brutally assaulted by his followers and driven from the city in disgrace and pain of both body and soul Who will now seek the honor of election to high position by such men2
 "This Is another lesson by labor against capital. By no means do I blame labor for organizing for mutual assistance and protection; what I blame is the foolish ness of few rising up in hopeless strug- gle against hundreds of millions of capi- tai and the power of the state and nation if necessary.
 eff employees are not satisfied with their positions or remuneration for work and if they cannot obtain redress by quiet, peaceable means, they should seek work elsewhere, and not bring misery on others by forcing them to join in strikes. All men must acknowledge that labor, like everything else, depends on the law of supply and demand. Where ten men stand ready to take a position occupied by another, he is fool who gives it up except he can do better.
 "Strikes are the greatest cur SC that can fall on people. They engender hatreds and strife; ruin follows in their train. They destroy many homes and the happi- ness of community. They paralyze
 business and entail irreparable losses. Confidence between employer and en- ploye is destroyed, and those who would
 embark in new enterprises are deterred
 from settling in 8 community made odious
 by having reputation for strikes and lock-outs Those who encourage by word,
 deed or omission any irritation between
 labor and capital are flaming the flame which anarchy and socialism would en-
 kindle to destroy our civilization. I say
 to you, my people, avoid strikes and fear
 them as you would the cholera. Of all
 the loathsome things that can contami. nate and poison community the worst is the walking delegate"