Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-26
Will the Endeavorers Aid the Work
ingman =?
PRACTICAL LETTER FROM Mr.. GONPERS
Cessation From Sunday Labor a
Common Object of Reform.
W / ID ES p r f d DiSREG ARD

President Samuel Gompors of the Anleri-
can Federation of Labor in reply to let
ter from the Christian Erdeavor Union of
Chicago, Ill, asking How the Christian
Endeavorers could assist in reducing the
amount of labor performed on the Sab
BATH, has sent the secretary of that or
sanization communication of which the
following is Z COPY:
Before replying. permit me 10 say that
your statement is undoubtedly accura. e
that the labor leaders-ard | presume you
mean the labor organiza tons generally
are i'll earnest in their effort to reduce the
amount of labor performed on the Sabbath.
but particularly are you right when YOU
add that they have rot had the support
they should have had from Christian u, o.
pie
IN many of the cities throughout the
country there are large plants in fun oy,-
Grafton on Sunday. Business houses often
have their establishments open for business
that day as on any other day OF the week
6ulldinSs are often in regular course OF
construction on the first we'll as any
other day in the week and many other
avenues of INDUSTRY and commerce are in
ful! operation for seven days In .,,e week
ara these owned and controlled oy men
who profess to he Christians
Il prs:ame you would prefer 10 have rn,.
consider this subject from an ethical orac-
tlcal or secular standpoint. since there are
ctners who are better qualified to discuss
II upon religious and Christian grounds.
An Essential of Progress.
In my judgment. it is not only just and
humane but essential to the progress Of our
people. the perpetuation Of our race. liberty
Of our country, the moral, material ard
intellectual advancement of all, that one
day of rest in the seven should he The mi
Versal rule
'Seven-day workers are positively moor.
workers, lacking the vigur, stamina and
character so neceS Sarr 10 th. maintenance
OF sterling manhood and woranhood As
seven days of labor constitute. ,ong hours
OF labor, IS long hours of LABOR mean low
wages and consequent deprivation of most
or The interests of life, IL steals from The
workers the opportunities fer Inc cuitiva-
tion Oh a higher. better ans; noblcr snjrIt
which gradually but surely takes from ihc
worker all approcia zion OF his rights and
renders him Incapable of performing his
duty as man, as father. as a bro1 her
as a citizen; 50 that | regard Il as ahso-
iutely dangerous to all our interests and 10
cur progress that the workers should he
tequred to toll mere than SIX DAYS i'm m.
week. 40 '''
Ihe workers-that is, the organized
Morkers-are constantly engaged in the
movement to reduce the hours of Iabor
ana that also implies the movement 20 limit
the labor of workers TO six DAYS Der we.k
IN other words. Sunday rest
we nave sought this by legislative en-
actments and by private agreement with
employers. In the first instance We have
had ittle, If any. assistance from the
church. and in the second instance our
movement has invariably encountered its
opposition.
In many of our industries. where We
nave the power, We positively prohibi; our
members from working more than six DAYS
per week. In others, where our members
n
iaration with any degree of success and
IN order TO discourage Sunday work or
hrlns II down TO minimum in the hone
tilal IL may be entirely abolished insist
mat wages shall be doubled for working
on Sunday. Instead of the church giving
inns latter method their practical aid. they
look upon II as piece of arrogance and
denagosery on the part of the worker.