The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-02
MISTAKE OF STRIKE
Rev. Father Cleary Discusses the Re-
cent Milling Strike from the
Pulpit.
Strikes q Condition Of War-When
Are They Justified Is
Asked.

''The strike-Is It an Injury to La
Dor 2" was Father C1eary's topic at
the Church OF st. Charles last even
ing. After treating Of the strike
problem as q practical social question.
in a general way, as war in the indus
trial order, he brought the subject
home by referring to the recent mill
ing strike.
In comparing the strike to a condi-
ton Of war, he said that the strike.
could be justified, from the view point
Of Christian ethics only under the cir
cumstances that could justify revolu-
ton, or civil war. First there must
be real, not an imaginary grievance
to be redressed. Secondly, there must
be a reasonably we11-grounded hope
Of success. He contended that labor
organizations would advance their
cause very materially by offering or
ganized resistance to such grievances
as tend to the degrading Of human
nature, instead Of displaying mis-
taken altruisn, by abandoning good
positions for the purpose Of trying to
secure better hours Of service for
their fellow laborers, who were at the
time Of the unfortunate strike receiv-
ing better pay than the same class Of
laborers received in this city, OF thru
out the country.
He said that the employees In the
mills had a real grievance against
which they should protest, as union,
in the Saturday night and Sunday
work, on account Of which so many
people were prevented from enjoying
the civilizing influence of religious
| worship and religious instruction. II
employers Of labor. in their sordid
greed for gain, rob human beings Of
the refining influences Of religion, and
rob God Of the public worship that
belongs to the Supreme Being on this
| one day Of the week, they must not
| be surprised If men under such de-
humanizing influences, do not act TN
accordance with Christian principles.
and are not very familiar with the
code Of Christian ethics.
Organized labor should not, con-
| tinued the speaker, permit its mem
1shness, to be debauched by drink, or
demoralized by the glazing red-light
Of vile dives. If the mill employees
! would strike against the existence of
| so many vile saloons, and SO many es-
| Establishments of infamy right in their
/ pathway, from their homes to thc
mills, they would have the support OF
/ intelligent public opinion in the city
i and would bring credit upon them
selves. Organized labor should pro-
test against the employment Of young
girls in close association with rude,
coarse and vulgar men.
Public sympathy, and sufficient
I money are absolutely necessary to Sc
/ cure the successful outcome of any
i strike. Both were wanting in the re-
cent mill strike. The Minneapolis
mills had paid better wages, and had
granted to their employees better
hours, and more constant employ
ment than any other Touring mills ir
the country. Public sympathy wa:
withheld from a strike inauguratec
under such circumstances. admire
the unse1fish spirit manifested by the
better paid laborers in behalf of theil
less fortunate associates But ord1
nary prudence will insist that 1t wa!
generosity misplaced. The union O.
the mill employees was in Its infancy
had not been in existence one year
Hence 1t could not have any stront
claim on other labor unions. Ma
terial support for the strike was no
available.
Father Cleary thought the striker
made a very serious mistake, no mat
ter now what the merits Of the strike
originally may have been, when de
feat had come, and the mill owner
| had conquered them by superior mum
: bers and greater strength, that the.
did not have the sagacity to acknow1
edge their defeat, surrender witt
1 honor, and get back their positions Il
!, the mills before 1t was too late, 70
! the sake Of their families and thei
homes.