Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-07
PURE CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM.
URGED As A PANACEA FOR THE
ILLS OF SOCIETY.
Address in the First Congregational
Church on Labor Unions by G.
Il. Demnree-ReV. e. y. ALL
en- Makes Comparison.

Labor Unions. Their Benefits and
Evils" was the subject of an address by
Mr G. 7. Demaree at the First Congre-
Eaticnal church last night Christian So
cisIism was, in his opinion. the logical So
IH;ion for the difficulties arising between
l4Jor and capital. Mr. Demaree said in
part:
Between the house Of have and the
house Of have not there is what many
good people believe to be an irrepreSsible
conflict. It is conflict. but it is not ir-
rcpressible, neither is it a new one. 1t IS
the Old one that has veXed society since
the morning Of civilization.
Modern humanity has ensIrcled the
globe. There are 10 more congenial conti-
neHts TO be discovered. No more new and
inviting fields stretch forth their arms 70
welcome a weary race. The Caucasian
has packed his grip and gone West for the
last time. Humanity has finally come face
10 face with the problem of its own earth
destiny. Escape is impossible.
The Great Problem.
And what IS this great problem Which
the countless millions have struggled 10
solve? Can 1t be stated acceptabIy to all?
] know how prone we ara to prejudice, and
I want to appeal to the philosophers. And
when We have done so, there comes DOWN
through the centuries one unbroken re-
EpoRse aud it is thfs-the problem of mans
earth life is the comfort and happiness of
all.
Upon what Dies this comfort and hap
piness whioh all are seeking most depend?
Il want an answer TO this question from
r min TrFtFl arlsa rF-1rt
genius Of intellect was grand enough to
know great truth when found; one who
had the brain of a philosopher and the
honest heart Of child, and 1 am going to
let Victor lingo answer it:
Inc comfort and happiness Of mankind
depend upon the production and the dis,
tTibutiOn OF wealth
Let us not misunderstood the terms.
When say wealth. 1 have no reference to
money, but real wealth, the things used by
humanity to make life easier
We cannot oyerestimate the Influences
or wealth as the promoting cause of ciyili-
cation. The chief difference between the
savage in the wilderness and the man high
est on the pinnacle of civilization is to be
found in the fact that one possesses and
uses the things called wealth, and the other
does not.
10 make the truth Of the proposition
sun palmer, let me say, that if / could
eake from You good people and keep from
sS@ LII tS7t VI lnliiBS called wealth. which
You now enjoy, I could, in a short time
reduce you to the conditions of barbarians
ou ask what all this has to do with
uaoe unlonsE answer, everything. Trade
unions, or, let me Use a more compre-
hensiVe term, organized labor. is orIv ono
half Of the question, and can never he
urdersood in its relations to society when
stEaied apart from the other half and
the other half of the question is Organized
wealth
These are the two great active forces
that have evolved out of the efforts of the
race to solve the problem of its own hap
riress by and though the production and
the distribution of wealth.
Law of Economy.
There Is yet another law not made by
the hands of man that wish to speak Of |
as having wonderful influence upon the |
industrial and social conditions at this
tune, and that is the law of economy. So |
important is this question OF the |
creation and distribution of wealth |
as affecting human happiness that |
mankind Is pressed forward and bn- |
man ingenuity is stimulated to the highest |
degree of activity in devising ways and |
means of creating and distributing more |
and more wealth with a given amount of |
energy.
1t Is the application of this lav Of
economy in production ana distribution by
t-A-1' VINO Np-iLGpi EEat IS called the cant |
5al part OF ar enterprise that produces the !
friction between capital and labor or
ralher between capitalists and laborers.
Il know that this law of economy seeks
10 reduce all the elements of cost in pro-
duction and distribution TO a minimum
This is imperative. There is no other way.
so long as this law of economy is oniy
applied to the inanimate substances which
enter into the cost of production and dis
tribution there is no trouble. but labor is
by all odds the largest element of cost
entering into the production and distrihu-
ton of wealth, and when the law of
economy is applied TO a living breathing
human being then comes the modern tug of
war.
LabOr's Only Course
When this law of economy is applied
under individual ownership and control of
capital and results in lessening the labor
cost OF production and distribution then
there is hut one intelligent course omen 10
laborers, and that is to organize TO break
the barriers that debar them from a s1f-
ficicnt amount and kinds of wealth which
Is absolutely essential to their comfort and
happiness.
81 told you that this was the only in
teliiEent thing that laborers could do.
There is one other thing that he could do.
but II Is not intelligent. And they could
do that because they comprise the great
majority. He VIII either ioin with others
OF MS kind in an effort to build ralaces
Tor ALL or in his bitter grief will tear down
the palaces already built and reduce their
occupants TO hovel dwellers like himself.
and thus destroy the contrast that whets
hia discomfort
And now, the question is which do Won
prefer II you want more palaces built.
then give the right hand Of fellowship to
organized labor. for this is the spirit of
tfade TrtaGism all over the world today.
When lsbonsfs follow this course many
well meaning people regard it as a con-
STfTrt7y against the peace and welfare Of
society.
Keep in mind the two primary PROPOSE
tons: that all are seeking comfort and
happiness. and that comfort and happiness
are impossible without the use Of wealth
arNf remember. too, that the laborer IS not
an exception TO these propositions: that he
mas as many desires: as many faculties of
mind and soul TO be fed and developed as
the prince IN the palace. and You will then
see why lab3rers organize TO secure a large
snare Of wealth, or 10 retain the portion
which The rigid law Of private capital al
lows them.
What Labor Has Done.
''It is not alone in legitmateiy striving
for a larger share OF the wealth necessary
TO its own comfort and happiness that
organized labor IS doing itself and the
world great good, but all through and
through II IS the broad. generous spirit
OF the brotherhood OF man, not taught
anywhere by working people as a class
outside % labor organizations. Who ever
heard OF a factory inspection law until
organized labor demanded it, Who ever