St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-30
TO ABOLISH. CHILD LABOR
AND ACCOMPLISH, OTHER REFORMS
FOR THE AMELIORATION OF
ToILING MASSES.
PLYMOUTH PLATFORM MEETING
Listens TO Earnest Addresses by
Harry Franklin, James Morrow
and j. J.7Ryder.

SUBJECT discussed at the platform
meeting at Plymouth Congregational
church yesterday afternoon. Though
put the second meeting of the series
which Rev. w. B. Millard has ar
ranged for the consideration of vital
questions pertaining to the betterment
or the social organization, the popu-
iarity of the innovation was fully at
tested by the presence of a large and
interested congregation, many of whom
represented the various labor unions
of the city.
The speakers were Harry Franklin.
James Morrow, president of the Retail
clerks association, and J. J. Ryder
Following his introduction by Chair
man Mlllard. Mr.. Franklin affirmed
MS pleasure for the privilege of speak
ing upon q portion Of subject, which.
III ms opinion, so Yitally concerned the
"elfafe or the people, and in which he
was personally deeply interested.
Cnurch and Workingman" was Mr..
franknns particular assignment, and
during the course Of his remarks he
SAID: That there Is a binding re-
Iation between the church and the
Worklngman, no one will question. but
that the two have drifted widely apart
Is also a fact. The causes for this
separation would be largely removed
by better understanding on the part
OF both church and the workingman.
The workingman, is accused of in
dlHerence toward the church. This
In my opinion, Isl due to the indiffer,
ence of minister's and the church ax-
hlolted toward the workingman. There
G. n 81,
ready within the kingdom and too Iit-
tie for those without.
while SO per cent of the noin,s+ars,
tlne is given to the amembers of their
congregations, only I per cent goes to
noh-mernoers. Under such conditions
the workingman comes to feel himself
neglected, and his final lack of inter-
est IN affairs of the church is not to
De wondered at. Christ, in His parable
or the lost sheep, points the way of
remedy for such conditions. The shep-
nero left the ninety and nine in the
sheltef or the fold. and searched the
nils for the one that was lost. Such
a course on the part Of the ministers
OF today would strengthen the ties be-
tween the church and the working
man.
"The church condemns the social
evil, but it does not condemn the
factories and other places of employ
ment which pay such small wages as
TO force starving girls to lives of
shame. / believe if ADMINISTRATION
were made the origin of the social
evil would be found in this system of
under-paid labor. The church should
investigate for ITSELF and, the cause
found, array itself. with it's great in
huence against the source Of so much
suffering and evil.
Again the church takes only a neg
ative position on forms Of amusement
Theater-going, card playing and dane
ing are condemned, but no substitutes
are offered. On occasion Of Industrial
disturbances, ministers, as a rule, ad-
wise the workingman to be content
with his lot. Let well enough alone.
they say, and oppose themselves to the
Workingman's only remedy, the boy
colt or the strike. The workingman
Is estranged by such sentiment and ad-
vice. He cannot reconcile the fact that
he is told to submit to impositions, by
one who claims to. be solicitous for
his welfare 1rs..>r
Il believe in the great work of the
church, and recognize the splendid part
1T has played in the i1pbuilding of civ
ilization, but I also believe the church
is In need Of reform, and unless the
church can take q, stand with the work
ingman, help better his condition and
| raise him to a higher plane, the gulf
between him and the church must wild
en-"
In SnQaRinO Iynoy,5. tho
shorter hours for ,the Workingman
James Morrow stated that in advocat-
Ing an eight-houn day the labor unions
pelleved they were not only benefting
the workingman Nof today. but also OF
future generations. Ignorance was the
source Of all evil. and people who were
compelled to labor ten and twelve
hours each day could not educate
themselves, but must grow up in igno-
rance.
An argument was advanced that If
the workingman had more leisure time
he would dissipate his opportunities.
! This, the speaker claimed, was not
true. Statistics in England, where an
eight-hour day prevailed, showed the
employees to be the best educated work
ingmen in commercial circles. 1t was
the ultimate desire of the workingmen
of this country to secure the enactment
of laws constituting eight hours a days
labor, and in lending it's influence to
the success Of this work, the church
would not only render a service to
humanity, but would draw the work
ingman to ITSELF
In treating on the relations Of the
church to the child-labor problem, Mr.
Ryder said
1t was Cardinal Manning who said that
nations take rank in civilization according
as they legislate for women and children.
On that theory this. American republic stands
even ahead Of Great Britain today. While
several OF the mostn advanced movements in
the interests OF women and children have
been initiated in the mother country they
nave reached their Tmost perfect fruition in
the United States. oThe movement for regu-
iat1on and shortening Of the hours OF labor
for women and children In both countries
has been undertakes and carried to whatever
success 1t has achieved by the trades unions.
| individually or collectively. have had little
| or no part in the work. This seems all the
more strange and inexplicable when the tre-
mendous possibilities Of the movement for
| good are considered From no other cause
! in my opinion, will Christianity and churches
as the organized representatives of Christian
humane and reasonable regulation of child
| labor. The child life that is stunted and de-
| MED the modern privileges in all too many
! cases will be lost to the churches In ma
turity, and perhaps to God in eternity. Gu
! pidity, greed, and the grasping disposition of
/ some parents and many employers work ir-
| reparable injury every year not only to
| children. but to adults who are forced out
\ OF employment into dangerous idleness and
vicious discomfort, or who must take the
humiliating alternative Of entering into COM
| petition with children at very low wages.
| In improving these depIerable conditions and
| IN wiping out the causes which produce them,
| the churches can; I feel sure. find a more