The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-17
is The CHURCH
DOING ITS DUTY
TOWARD LABOR.
In Harmonizing the Relations Exist
ing Between Labor and ~
Capitalp
AN INTERESTING DEBATE
In the Belmont Trades Assembly in
Which Two Ministers
Participate. s.5l

Y b F.. / 70
Yesterday, In the Belmont Central
Trades G. Labor Union, at Bridgeport,
the debate on the topic Resolved, That
the churches are not doing their duty
towards harmonizing the relations be-
tween labor and capital" which was
begun at the last meeting, was resumed
yesterday. T. l. Lewis took thu atflm-
alive side Of the question and President
James the negative at yesterdays meet
Ing, their positions being transposed
from the last meeting.
There was n good attendance OF the
delegates as wen as persons not mem
bers OF the assembly, in.1uding two min
listers OF the gospel Great interest is
being taken In these debates and 1t was
decided 10 continue them. At the next
meeting the question for discussion will
be. Resolved, That trusts are beneficial
to the laboring classes" Delegate Par
sons was selected to affirm the question
and Secretary Morris to deny. They
each selected five men to help debate
the question.
After the reading Of the minutes the
matter OF continuing the entertainment
committee come up and on account OF
there being new delegates elected this
time OF the year, 1t was decided to con-
tlnue the committee.
A committee from the milkmens union
Of Martins Ferry, reported that two
men there were on the unfair list and
an arbitration committee was appoint
ed by President James to walt upon
them.
A communication from Local No. 49,
Master Horseshoers Association, was
read. 1t asked for arbitration in the
matter OF the Martins Ferry black
smith on the unfair list. After some
discussion it was rejected.
resolution introduced asking
for change OF the meeting day from
the second to. the fourth Sunday in each
month, was laid on the table
The debate was the next matter 10
come up and Mr.. Lewis spoke at some
length on the affirmative side OF the
question. He was followed by Presi-
dent James.
Mr.. James said he did not think he
was worthy to defend the church Were
1t not for the church he would not be
here. The laborinS class complained
that the church did not do enough for
them. The laborng class, as a rule,
were not church-gorrs, simply because
they had no faith In the church. If the
members OF labor unions had more faith
in one another they would have more
faith in the church. BY faith 4 great
deal could be accomplished.
The speaker referred to the recent
street car strike. and said the people of
Wheeling had no faith In the Ohio-sIde
assembly In settling the strike. The
people could do 4 good many things to
help themselves which they don't do.
and then they blame II on somebody
else. 1t was not always the minister's
fault that they don't do their duty. The
question. he said. required great deal
OF thought and we should think good
deal before we condemn The churches.
We are oftlmes misled by misquota-
ton. The Savior was the one that
would help us. The constitution OF all
organizations were all right. but were
the members all right? II more of us
would believe in our constitution and
our churches, 1t would be better for US.
The greatest evil we have among our
selves are our own faults and II the
labor!ns man did his duty he would not
have 10 ask the churches to help him.
Mr.. James referred to the wealthy class
and said We could not get along with
out them.
Mr.. Lewis. replying, said that Mr..
James made two, or three statements
that were not In good taste. He had
referred to the Standard OILS reducing
the price OF OIL He had said Mr.. Rock
efe!lcr was Christian. There is not
an iota OF Christian In Mr.. Rockefeller.
lie founded an educational institution
In Chicago, which inculcates the doc
tr!nc Of dlscord and prejudice against
anything that savOrs OF the labor prob
lem, What was true OF him was true
OF any mun who devoted money for an
educational institution.
Where Is the church that supports
the. man who Is working for the perpet-
uaaon of labor organizations? We
---