Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-03-30
UNIONS ARE APPROVED.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 27-
Bishop Spalding of Peoria. a member
of the coal strike commission. preach
ed notable sermon here Sunday on
the labor movement He commended
the organization of labor as in sympa-
thy with the teachings of Christ, who.
he said, had given the impulse to the
great social movement which distin-
Suishes our age whose purpose and
end is TO improve the lot of those who
toll and consequently to the movement
which has led to the organization of
labor.
THE labor unions" he said, "have
in many ways been beneficent, They
have promoted and facilitated factory
legisation-the various measures to
improve the environment in which
men work, to protect the life and
health of the wage-earners, and to
shield the honor and purity of women
and children. They have helped to
secure shorter hours and higher wag-
es, and to improve oppressive fines and
penalties. They have been a check on
the unfairness and brutality of fore
men and bosses. They have been
mental and moral stimulus to their
members. whom they have trained to
think and act in concert.
Again. labor unions have created
the most favorable conditions for the
establishment of boards of arbitration
and conciliation which have averted
many and great evils and which. it is
believed. can furnish the only perma-
nent method of settling disputes be.
tween the employed and their employ
eS
"On the other hand. the union has
been at times a cause of disturbance.
| 1t has on occasions famed the spirit
of suspicion and distrust it has lost
sight of the common interest of own
ers and workers, and has emphasized
their conflicting claims embittered the
struggle and precipitated strikes. The
strike is its own weapon weapon as
| dangerous to those who WELD 1t and to
the public and to the prosperity OF the
nation as to the employers against
whom it is drawn.
"It is chance whether the strikers
win or lose; but whether they win or
lose they and their families suffer seri-
Gus physical hardship and moral In
| jury. The strike Is not an appeal to
reason and justice. but to strength
| and endurance, and hence 1t easily
issues in acts of lawlessness and yio-
lence. 1t Is at best n hazard, and
when IL is associated with crime 1t
does harm to the cause of labor by
alternating public sympathy.
"It is difficult to conduct strike
rights Of others. particularly the right
to work. which is fundamental. II is
probable that as labor becomes more
thoroughly organized the evils OF
unionsm may grow less, and it's benef-
icent action will become greater
"Laborers also have duties as well
as rights, and one OF their first duties
is to respect the rights of all men
whether capitalists or not. The trade
unions as they become stronger must
strive in all earnestness. not merely to
secure their members living wage
and to protect them from wrong. bui
to educate them and make them
agents OF moral not less than OF mater
al progress.
AS the professions aim to exclude
or at least put mark Of reprobatior
on their unworthy members. so organ
lied labor, we may hope. will gain in
sight into the fact that the true wei
fare of working men as Of all mer
and peoples, depends chiefly on tbs
firmncss with which they hold Il
principles and the success with which
they upbuild character The onl!
prosperity is that which ennobles maj
and the best wealth is right life