The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-12-19
Cardinal Gibbons on the SWeatshop
Evil

Cardinal Gibbons IN a sermon to a large con-
gregation at the Cathedral in Baltimore made e.
vigorous attack upon the sweatshop system and
strongly advocated what Is known Union-made
goods The sermon delivered by special re-
quest, the Cardinal being one of the vice presi-
dents of the Consumers league which advocates the
purchase of union-made goods. Bishop Curtis and
a number of priests were In the sanctuary and
many members of the league were in the congre-
CATION
The text for the sermon was: Am 1 my broth
er's keeper" He said, III part:
MY purpose today Is not TO commend to your
indiscriminate charity, but my aim is to set be-
fore you a special class of persons in this city
that you may help to improve their condition, to
dress their grievances and enable them to earn by
their industry and honesty comfortable ivelI-
hood.
"To come to the point-there Is class OF per,
sons in Baltimore and In other large cities who are
employed by proprietors of large clothing estab
lishments. Some of these workers are employed
the stores; others. make garments in their own
homes and bring them to the establishments.
MANY of these workers, and women, are
compelled to toll In sweatshOps, of which there are
eighteen in one section of this city, which COZ
tracted in space and poorly lighted and ventilated
They are overworked and underpaid
after a careful investigation | have discovered
that after aboring for six days, at ten or twelve
hours a day, their weekly compensation amounts to
Sc or 49, And with this pittance they have to pay
for house rent, food and clothing, and other ez
penses incident to family life.
"There is something radically wrong in our So
cial and economic condition when the employer be-
comes suddenly rich, while the toiler, with the Ut
most thrift and economy, can scarcely keep the
wolf from the door. These toilers ask for no aims
All they demand is living wages. They appeal 70
you and the public for compassion and eonsidera
ton They are our flesh and blood You may not
no abI 70 aI6 Il lint
directly in various ways. You can agitate the que'
ton; you arouse public attention to pressing
grievances remove the veil so that Onehalt OF the
world can see how the other half lives.
"You appeal to the conscience and human
ity of employers themselves, who may be dlspostU
to repair wrong when their attention IS called ~
the situation. And surely a little reflection VIII
enable them to realize that they will derive NOR
substantial happiness from the contentment anu
gratitude of their workers, than from the mon5
boarded in their safes. If they are deaf to your
expostulations you can have resource TO more ur''
tic measures.
"Thank God there are in Baltimore some cloth
ing houses that treat their employees with Ju'uy
and charity In making your purchases you ga,
discriminate in favor of these establishments. IV1
viii thus exercise a moral pressure on the opPi''
sors by appealing to their self-interests. -
"You can encourage and cooperate Win ' na5
excellent society, existing here and elsewhere eae
the Consumers league. 1t is composed oil au'
jealous in works of charity, and has ALREADY a.
eomplshed great deal in improving the conn 9,:.%.
tions of these oppressed toiers and OF eStaDllJ
ing happier and juster relations between them '"N
their employers. IL
Perhaps you will say continued the CardlIl ss
"why should concern myself about other peoP Am
affairs | have my own business to attend TO- Il
my brothers keeperP These were the FoIu' No.
Cain, the first murderer. What would ha' Ii.
come of you and me if Christ, the Lord hau Eng
Am my brothers keeperF We would be g sJaIity
today in the darkness of idolatry and ihhu snos
What would have become of society if the APV IN
ties had said: Are we our brothers keepers .ber
they had returned to their homes and eloseu .roub
ministry after the death of their master we G6rp
be deprived today of the priceless blessing o. -
fan civilization