The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-06-24
THE STRIKE
DISCUSSED.

Delaware Avenue Baptist Church, took
occasion to answer the criticism which
followed his recent address to the ma
chinsts in Turn Hall. He said he was
interested in everything that was of
interest to the workingman and II would
be an unfaithful creature II he did not
take part in the public duties and ques-
tons Of the day.
About fifty of the striking machinists
attended the service and were much
pleased with the sermon. His subject
was "rhe Machinists' Strike" which
was discussed from the machinists' side,
the employers side and the outsiders
side. His text was from Gensis, 36th chap
ter, 20-21-22- and 80 verses. 20th-And
the herdmen of Gerar did strive with
Isaac's herdmen saying: The water is
ours; and he called the name Of the well
Esek; because they strove with him.
21st--And they digged another well, and
strove for that also, and he called the
name of it Sitnah. 22d-And he removed
from thence and digged another well;
and for that they strove not, and he
called the name of it Rehoboth; and he
said: For now the Lord hath made room
IOE hHu We suull Dc III tHC
land. 33rd-And he called it Shebah;
therefore the name Of the city is Beer
Shebah unto this day.
Mr.. Shape said in part:
II am glad to greet my machinist
friends this morning and to have them
here for several reasons. Glad for their
sake, glad for my sake, glad for the
sake of the cause they represent and glad
of the chance to correct criticism which
followed my speech to you at Turn Hall
two weeks ago. am glad for the
chance to reiterate the substance of the
sentiments expressed on that occasion.
1t has been said that as well us other
preachers of the gospel who have been
guilty of the crime of greeting you in
Turn Hall had better preach the gospel,
but the critics do not define what they
mean by the gospel" The gospel"
is primarily the good news Of salvation
to men but that is not all. The gospel"
has to do not only with the saving of
souls but with the saving of life. What
ever, therefore. touches life and has to do
with the peace. safety and prosperity Of
a community is Legitimate theme for
ministerial discussion, all critics to the
contrary.
II am interested in whatever interests
you and that which effects the public
good effects me and I am an unfaithful
creature If take no part in the public
duties and questions Of the day. My
critics have also said that was unfair
in my discussion. That was onesided
and that I loved the workingman more
than I did the capitalist. I admit the
latter and deny the former. am not
willing to be onesided on any question.
l am aware that there may be two sides
to every question. l wish above every
thing else to be fair to both sides and
since I seem to he onesided then will
speak of three sides now
"First of the machinists' side: second.
the employees and third. an outsiders
side. First the machinists' side. The
machnists' side is n seven fold side.
First, they ask for a modest share of the
prosperity which Their labor has helped
to produce. In Philadelphia paper not
long since there was a picture Of a
fat man seat"d before a fat turkey
well Drowned for eating. Standing at
the open window Of this fat mans house,
who represented capital, was modest
laborer, resp. ctfully saying: Please give
me wing The machinists then are
simply asking for wing from the turkey
of pro pcrity. Second, they call attention
to the great increase and improvement In
machinery which makes possible great
er production but which has brought no
material or permanent increase in wages.
That is to say they help their employers
to make more but they, themselves, get
no more. Third, they say fair warning
was given so that contracts were not
taken without full knowledge of what
might happen. e was known eighteen
months ago that their demand would be
made.
Fourth, they object to the presence
of scab detectives and SO do ]. There
was no broken peace and 10 need of a
theatrical attempt at mending it. Fifth,
they remind us of the fact that forty per
cent. of the men throughout the country
re' lived the concession asked for before
the twentcth Of May, 1901, the day set
for the strike. Thus showing that nearly
half Of all the employers were not
willing to have a strine.
Sixth. they say that the companies
loss, il they granted the request, would
he insignificant when the expense of
light and heat is considered for the extra
hour in the short days of winter, and
when it is born in mind that with the
granted there would be men
IN every shop working more certainly for
heir employers interests. Seventh we
say that the machinists have been in all
his strike gentlemanly, law-abiding and
sober. If they had been otherwise TREY |
would not have been invited here this !
morning nor would they have the SYM
,athy, as they do have, of our commun-
ty.
''The employers side is also a seven
old side. First, they say that the men
'annot earn ten hours pay in nine hours.
There may be some that couldn't earn
en- hours pay in twenty hours, but l
hould want to hope that Wilmington
s possessed Of few mon of that class.
second, they declare that some contracts
we're taken before the strike was an
'ounced and in justice to hem let us
ay that at present there is boat in
he Harlan Il Hollingsworth shops on
which work was begun two years ago.
.hlru, the employers say that competi-
ion is so close that to insert a strike
lause and to allow for the possibility
I it would be to lose contracts. In the
anne shops just mentioned a $3.50, 900 job
vas recently lost on the close margin Of
200. 1t is plain then that unless the
mployers do have fair warning of an
impending strike they cannot afford to
cure on the possibility of one.
Fourth, they object to Fave outside
len, strangers whose supreme interest
4 the strike is, as they believe, the
rawing Of their salaries from the pock-
is Of the workmen, to dictate to them
ne terms Of their relations with their
wn men. Fifth, they demand the right
, employ whom they please and to
aim police protection for them. Sixth,
ley insist that men who voluntarily give