Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-04
LABOR AND THE GOSPEL SPIRIT

movement Era for August Is worthy the
attention of all working people who
claim to be Jatter-day Saints. The
principles 1t enunciates apply TO all per-
sons who gain their living by labor, but
the advice given Is particularly TOT
members Of the Church over which the
a,ithor OF the article presides. We are
pleased to know II AZ our sentiments on
this question are thus endorsed by
President Smith; et
"The labor oonti ,versy las recently
been uppermost among me questions III
the industrial world. Tho difficulty be-
tween the builders and the employees
has caused suspension Of work for two
months on buildings in New York alone,
representing, IL is said an investment
OF ninety million dollars and deprived
one hundred and twenty-five thousand
men OF their wages for that period, ag-
gregating some twenty-five million dol
lars. Arbitration now appears to have
been adopted In that city and others
and the trouble is in q fair way to be
solved, at least for II time. 1t has been
brought about by the organization OF
over one thousand unions on the part OF
the employers, which have come In con-
tact with the labor unions, and the two
have arrived at amicable terms. The
result Of the conference, as reported, Is
the elimination OF the walking delegate.
and the adjustment Of the sympathetic
strike. II is to be hoped that a method
has at length been discovered whereby
an employer who is willing to pay ....- .
fair wage 10 his men may be protected
from labor wars for which he Is not to
blame. and that at the same time viii
provide work for organized labor under
the best possible conditions.
There Is no doubt that strikes os gem
orally conducted, have been OF little
benefit except to the so-called walking
delegate, and to the transient organ
izer; officer and collector OF dues What
labor wants is good wages and indus
trial activity but q strike Is the worst
possible enemy to labor, because II
stops activity. Arbitration direct by
the Interested parties would appear 70
be the right course, and this can never
be established under the old system OF
sympathetic strikes and walking dele
gates. There must be greater griey-
ance than some disgruntled workman
with petty or perhaps vindictiye COM
plant against his employer at the bot
tom Of strike. The good Eense of cap
ital and labor face TO face are best pre-
pared to say what cause for griev-
ance, on either side, may be. Labor
combinations founded on any other ba-
sis than that OF Justice and good sense,
with view TO the best interests Of
both capital and labor, are built upon
wrong principles. and will fail, even as
unjust combinations OF capital against
labor should and must be brought TO
naught.
We have had some labor troubles at
home, and that without just cause.
Young men who are members of the
Church who have work, should careful
ly consider their positions before they
not, and there is no excuse for them TO
be led into wrong and hurtfu actions
by inen who are transents in our midst;
iren who come among them for no
other purpose than to better themselves
At the serious expense OF both capital
md labor If we are to have labor OF
CARNATIONS among us, and there is no
good reason why our young men might
not be so organized, they should be
formed on a sensible basis, and differed
by men who have their families and all
their interests around them. The spirit
OF goodwill and brotherhood, such as
we have in the Gospel OF Christ. should
characterize their conduct and organ
izations For be It known, the religious
note is and should remain the dominant
note OF our character and OF an our ac-
tons.
In many OF the strikes that have az
focted our cities, the cause Of the trou-
bic has invariably been the transient
unlnterested individual who has caused
the agitation: our boys have thought
lcssly joined. and the end has nearly al
ways been that they have been the SUI
fcrers There is no good reason whS
the young men IN our community
should permit Themselves TO be- lom-
inated oy outside influences. and espec-
Tally when these tend 10 their detrl- !
nent financially
Il seems reasonable that men who ATE
on the ground. ard whose whole inter- |
EST is centered in their hua.es ani in |
the Industrial development 90 .ucir sur |
roundings. should know b.fr what |
Is GOOD for them than strangers VINO |
are often without Interest n ue come
munity.
Nearly al our labor troubles ceriain- |
IS the most serious ones. in rtoh have /
becn brought about by ma eao were |
nor Interested here. They have created |
dissatisfaction, then vanished and left |
our local people 10 bear The burdens Of /
The strike A recent strike. in a prom |
nent public utility institution In this
sity. fully exempliaes this thought and |
illustrates the folly Of being led b9 men |
whose interests are foreign aud s.lash.
IN Is railroad strike some years ago
many OF our citizens we're thrown out