Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-06
CHRISTIAN VIEW OF STRIKE
Rev. Thomson Hslds the Operators Are in
the Wrong in Present Crisis.
LIMITATIONS TO PROPERTY RIGHTS
stuBbornness of Mine Owners RespOn.
sibIe for Present Suffering and
All which May Follow in
Consequence.

The Coal Strike from the Standpoint OF
Christian Citizenship" formed the subject
OF Rev. James Thomson's sermon at the
First Congregational church last evening.
At the close OF the discourse the congre-
cation adopted resolutions approving the
effort Of President Roosevelt to settle the
strike. declaring sympathy with the miners
in their attempt to secure higher wages,
and urging that the strife between the
operators and the miners com at once to
an end, in the name Of law. patriotism.
good citizenship and humanity. Short ad-
dresses we're also made by Ernest E. Hart,
H. w. Hazelton, d. W. Otis, DR.. p. J.
Montgomery and Rev. Mrs. Mullenaux in
support Of the resolutions. A collection was
taken up for the striking miners. the pro-
ceeds of which will be forwarded today
to President Mitchell.
Rev. Thomson took his text from Ecclesi-
astes, 5.8: "If thou seest the oppression
Of the poor and the violent perverting
judgment and Justice in the state, marvel
not at the matter, for one higher than the
big regardeth. and there be higher than
they" and from Psalm 34:6: This poor
man cried and the Lord heard him, and
saved him out Of all his troubles" He
said in part:
From Christian Standpoint.
1t . s~elf-evident truth that mo man
liveth unto himself alone" Absolute free
own. is not possible; neither Is. 1t right, A
man has no right to do with his own what
ne tsn p'e eitiesnshipi II bv so DOING he is TO
injure his fellows at large. Every man has
IN obligation to fulfill to society; every
man occupies a relationship to society:
Our actions not only affect ourselves, but
affect others also. Every man wields his
Influence. The more prominent his posi-
tim the Orpatar hia newer. the more In
proportion do his actions affect society. 1t
Is the business of every Christian man to
ask himself, in all important matters, what
will be the result of this action of mine
upon others, especially upon those others
aepenaing upon me an GI Nv en sIrosdv doUa
so, act upon the assumption that those
mines are their own private and particular
property. and that they as the legal owners
can do with that property as they acso-
Iutely please II the laborers. VIII not work
for the wages that we are pleased to offer
them then we shall keep those mines G osed
Now, whatever may be the legal stand
sfandpoint Of Christian citizenship, they
have no such right at all. Iney nave no
w wSSreani theey know that they cam only be-
kept closed at a cost of Almost unprece-
denied suffering on the part of thousands
starvation to multitudes of families, de-
ending for their bread upon the operation
keep the coal from being mined, when they
know that the result must be a coal famine,
such as never was heard, Of before in the
countless Industries to suspend. which Is
paralyzing trade and costing the public at
Inconvenience and which, II the winter
should be severe, will mean intense hard
ship among the poor of the land. l claim
that from the standpoint of Christian
citizenship, because of the awful results In
keeping the mines closed. It is the immedi-
ate business of the owners to at once re-
sumo mining the coal.
Mine Owners Responsible.
Again, from the standpoint of Christian
citizenship, a man must seek not merely
his own good, but the common good. In
other words; selhshness must not be the
ethics, Jesus Christ, has taught man that
unselhshness is a virtue, that 1t is the
denial of self that Is often our duty.
Now. / charge the owners of the mines
with these two wrongs. They are. not act
ing for the common good IN refusing e
charge them with acting from motives OF
utter selfshness. II the presidents Of these
s%elhshness they would Immediately begir
TO take the coal out of their mines.
From the standpoint of Christian citizen
ship, II is the duty of men to be patriots
BY prolonging this strike they are acting
in an unpatriotic manner. They are intur'
are by their obstinacy and selfish prid'
provoking. a state OF feeling In the lane
" isw and Which will undSuStedly lead e
VI q" 1870
1t will not do for those mine owners Il
put the blame for any resulting lawless
ness on the laborers because of their Low
character. The mine owners are responsi
to deal with, insomuch as they themselvei
have encouraged the importation of tn
scum Of Europe, to, the lowering Of tn,
character Of American citizenship ant
wages of American workmen.
Resolutions Adopted.
These are the resolutions adopted:
Whereas, A strike in the coal mining
regions OF Pennsylvania has been in exist
ence for fve months, with no indication
has already cost the country Sis, oOO, 900 an
has paralyzed a multitude OF lndustrie
through mr. 0 ISa,s se I1ritSg 81 sts tSei' s nao mas aHee'e'
Whereas. Much suffering has been thereb
entailed upon helpless women and children
and with the approach OF winter more hard
ships will have to be endured by counties
families among the poor through inabilit
Whereas, The public at large is bein
inconvenience by this intolerable state O
affairs, brought about by this strife; there
Resolved. That we, the members Of tn
First Congregational church OF Coune
express our approval of the attempt OF IN
president OF the United States to brin
about an immediate settlement OF the din
culties, and we further
Resolve. That We deem IL matter fo
regret that the attitude assumes by I'll
owners OF the mines should be so unytelt
ing, and we further
Resolve, That While we deprecate strike
we. as Christians. believe that the laborin
man is entitled TO a fair living wage an
the nghtful share OF the products OF h
toll, and we are therefore In sympathy wit
the miners and laborers in their attempt
TO secure these for themselves. We fes
the temptation to lawlessness that tt
strike will surely engender should II be pro
longed. We therefore renew the appeal {
the president OF the United States. that
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