The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-04-11
JESUS WORDS;
LABOR UNIONS
BISHOP SPAUIDiNG> SAYS UNIONS
HARMoNIzE. WITH THE
WoRps. OF CHRIST.
Tho Good Man UphoIds the Right Of
Men to Organize and Depiores
Present industrial Conditions.

| Washington, D. c.; April 9.-Bishop
Spalding Of the Anthracite Coal Strike,
Commission, who preached in this city
! last Sunday on "Christ and the Labor
Movement told his hearers that the
unions are in harmony with the teach
ings of Jesus. This great social move
nent, he insisted, had for it's purpose
and end the Improvement of the con6ti-
ton Of the toilers.
I I'm England associations of work.
ingmen for the purpose of selling their
labor were put under the ban Of the
law for five centuries down to 1884,
he says. "When, however, the indus
trial evolution, which transferred pro-
duction from the homes Of the work.
ers to factories, took place, reducing
the 1aborer to the extremity, Of wretch
edness, trade unions became an indis-
pensable measure of self defense. They
began in secrecy and were often MAIN
tanned by violence; but at length they
won liberation, and finally, in 1871,
legal recognition and approval Of the
public.
''The labor unions have in many
ways been benefcient. They have pro-
NOTED and facilitated factory 1egis-
lation-the various measures to i'm
prove 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 child
rem. The have helped to secure short
! err hours and higher wages, and to re-
| move oppressive fines and penalties.
| They have been a check Of the unfair
! ness and brutality Of foremen and
bosses. They have been a mental and
moral stimulus to their members whom
they have trained to think and act in
| concert.
BOARDS OF ARBITRATION.
"Again, labor unions have created the
most favorable conditions for the es
| tablishment Of boards Of arbitration
and Cancellation 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 en-
ployer.
"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 owners and
workers, and emphasized their conflict
| ing claims, embittered the struggle and
percipitated strikes. The strike is it's
| own weapon; weapon as dangerous
to those who WELD it and to the pub
lie and to the prosperity Of the nation
as to the employers against whom it is
| drawn.
I 1T is a. chance whether the strikers
win or lose; but; whether they win aor
lose they and their families suffer SER
ious physical hardship and moral in
jury. The strike is not an appear to
reason and justice, but to strength and
endurance, and hence it easily issues
in acts Of lawlessness and violence.
1t is at the best Of hazard, and when
it is associated with crime it does harm
to the cause of labor by alternating
public sympathy.
EVILS MAY GROW LESS.
1T is difficult to conduct strike
successfully without infringing on the
rights Of Others, particularly on the
right to work, which is fundamental
1t is probable that as labor becomes
more thoroughly organized the evils
Of unionism may grow less, and it's
benehcient 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 a, living wage
and protect them from wrong, but tc
educate and make them agents of NOR
al not less than of material progress
LAS the professions aim to exclude
or at least put mark Of reprobation
on their unworthy members, so organ.
lied labor, we may hope will gain in.
sight into the fact that the true well
fare Of .workingmen as of all men and
people, depends chiefly on the firmness
with which they hold to principles anc
the success with which. they upbuilc
I character. The only prosperity is thai
which ennobles man, and the best
t wealth is right life''
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