The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-03


Who Has Right in the Hall of |
Fame-His Name Is Labor.
Rev. c. NJ. Giff1n, ID. D., Of the Elm !
Park Methodist Episcopal church, |
preached an eloquent and most power
full sermon last night on Labor Day."
speaking principally of the relations
between Capital and Labor. He chose
as his theme: "In alb labor there Is
profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth
only to penury."
"On my Homecoming from my vaca-
tion," said DIR. Giffin, II was startled
and saddened to hear the rumblings of
a prospective social storm. 1 always
have a fear of anything of that sort.
l am an apostle OF peace and am in
terested in people living together in
peace. I do not like strikes, l fear
them. I do not profess to stand here
tonight and give advice, but l have
often prayed that the great wisdom
and intellect of this country might
find some way of settling controversies
between nations, and domestic troubles
of this nature, without resource to
violent mea sures.
TN all labor there is profit OF
course, all men expect to have wages
who toll. But what shall the wages
be? There is the point that is forever
in dispute.
ANY scale of wages which will stand
the test of the Judgment Day, that
will be just scale.
LooUACITY WRONG.
but if you read farther on in Prov
erbs, you see But the talk of the lips
tendeth only to penury.' Loquacity in
this question is all wrong. Men should
work, not talk. More than anyone else
in stirring up all this trouble are those
walking--I do not know why they
might not Just as we'll be called talk
ing-gentlemen, who travel around agi-
tatnG mems minds. This world has
been built by work, not wind. No one
wishes to muzzle men who want to
discuss their rights. That has been
tried in Russia and has led TO the
awful results we all know about. Here
we let men blow it off but when they
speak words that are violent, inflam-
mable and melting to murder, then 1t
should be considered a criminal per-
formance.
"Now, regarding all these labor or
ganizations which will be in line to-
| morrow. They are all lawful and
proper, but 1 believe that being band
ed together as they are, all individual
ism is lost. Personally l do not like
to belong to secret organizations, and
am q member of none. l think that
they may do damage as we'll as good
| in this world, and that in the wrong
| hands they have as evil effects as any
despotism. 1 think that a man going
into secret organization is, to an ex-
tent, swallowed by it.
1T may be asked, What would you
have for it,? I believe in faith in peo-
pie, and have a great confidence In
human Justice"
is AS GOD WANTS IT.
DR.. Giffin here read an extract from
an article, the author of which ad-
vocated an equal division of property
asserting that all men should be equal
in that respect.
"This talk of equality" said DR..
Gihin, 'is all nonsense. The world as
God wants it, is the world we ought
to be contented with. All Americans
are workmen. The rich man has to
work harder to take care of his
wealth then anyone on earth. Our
original sin Is not laziness. No; we
are a people af activity, and we are
moving the world, while moving our
selves. We have our small class of
weary Willies, and, praise heaven,
still smaller class of titled heirs. But
they are like the spots on the sun.
Il recognize the owners and pro-
prietors as laborers, and to say con-
cerning propretorship that 1t con-
sists in robbing and depriving others
is all wrong, and if man Is wealthy
he has obtained 1t through his own
endeavors.
The interests of proprietor and Ia
bore- blend. There should not be RI
valry between them, but union.
"I have known many operators and
, owners, but I never knew any who are
personifcations of the selfish, NEAR
and grasping qualities which the are
pictured to be. The operators I know
: are men who are willing to listen tC
any sensible arguments and calmly
reason. The tendency of the world is
against men with money
ROOT OUT SALOONS.
: IT do not say to men at starva
: tion's brink to sit there and trust IL
. God alone, but / do say that capita
: should not be shouldered with tht
> load. l say, root out the saloons anC
> the question will be partly settled. l
: we could get the men to say to eacl
other We are brothers, then tn,
strike would be at and end. There i
: toe much distrust between capital ant
= labor, too little confidence betweel
!, employer and employe. John Ruskil
> said man should work with the swea
!, of his brow, not the breakage of hi
. heart Let the American artisan hav
!, light heart. There are three car
= dinal points 1 would mention to shoy
:, that in labor there is profit