The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-29
PETITION TO PRESIDENT.
REV. AEDREIV BURNS CHALMERS
 URGES CHURCHES TO ACT.

Humantty's Cry Must be Hseded-says
 it is Time to Act Not to Inquire Now
 Which Side to Controversy Is Right The Poor and Sick Must be Considered.
 The Rev Andrew Burns Chalmers, pastor of the Grand avenue Congrega- tional church, preached andther sermon on the coal strike last evening. It was in continuation of his subject of one week ago, and his remarks were listen ed to by fair sized congregation. His 1 subject was The Churches, Schools and 1 Hospitals. and the Coal Strike 1 The founder of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth, was friend Of the poor, and needy and unfortunate in life said Mir. Chalmers. we learn that the peo- pie heard Him gladly. The richest and more powerful elements of society con- demned Him in the following language: He is a friend of publicans and sin ners' The wealthy, the wise and the worthy were not so much the objects of His care as the poor, the ignorant and the unworthy members of the social family of 3aen.
 ''The pulpit and the press have the l greatest power to reach public questions If every pulpit would speak out clearly to-day in all the land: if every paper would print strong editorials of protest again the present conditions and speak l fer humanity: if petitions. clear and l strong could go in:o the hands of the president of the United States to-mor- row from 50,0O0,OOO of people in this country this terrible strike would be settled speedily.
 We need an Abraham Lincoln in this time who can hear and understand the people in this crying need. William Mckinley expressed the conscience of the nation when he said: It is for hu- manity's sake that We set Cuba free. We need a William Mckinley in this time who will hear anu heed the cry of need coming up for long suffering peo- pie. If there is not something done to meet the present emergency without waiting for red tape process it will be a surprise to many if there will be enough left of the constitution to mend ] This is an emergency call for 75,000000 of people of the United States and should be answered at once.
 "The time is past, too. for arguing l the question as to who is right in this controversy. Now it is time to consider the rights of the public--the innocent sufferers in this fight
 T believe that the side in this con- troversy that would get together and | give in would secure the sympathy and gratitude of the public in mar velous degree. There is not enough Christianity in the whole affair. 1 If the government needed your pri- vate property for public uses you could not keep 1t. It would call in arbitrators and give you a fair compensat tion for your private property, but you would be compelled to sell the property. If the companies will not mine coal they l should be compelled to, and if they can not they should be helped to mine coal. As far as the public is concerned both parties to this controversy are wrong.
 Tn spite of the efforts of the presi- dent of the United States the beef trust has just completed combine of $780, 000,000 so as to control the price of meats at both ends. When eood and fuel are in the hands of vast combina- tions it is time for the people to take an interest in these matters and become posted.
 "The people of the United States should unite in petitions to the presi- dent to use his good offices to bring this unhappy warfare to an end. The churches, schools and hospitals will be affected, manufacturing will be crip- pied and business in all departments of life will be paralyzed. When I went into the public schools of our city and saw little children sitting with damp clothes on in a temperature of 60 and 62, and public school teachers, the faithful, overworked servants of our national life, suffering such conditions, I was moved to make this plea tonight. lit seems to me that the cry of the little lchildren and of the many poor and in firm of our land, together with the pleading of the unfortunate of life, should demand of us that we do our Epart to bring to an end this awful lstruggle.
 "The time is past now for discussing the sociological questions as to who Is | |N the country, in all religious, education al, intellectual and private life, need coal, and the government has no right to say, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filed if it give not the things that are needful to the body
 'The cry of suffering comes up from all the land for fuel, and to let that cry go unheeded Is to invite national peril. In the language of our honored president, this is time for character istic courage and common sense.' Let us call upon him to exercise these man. ly virtues which he has to such an emil nent degree"
 At the conclusion of the service the congregation voted unanimously to adopt and support the resolution of the Rev. Washington Gladden. with refer ence to President Roosevelt endeavor- ing to settle the coal strike The min- ute of their action will be forwarded to Rev. Dr. Gladden..