The Irish standard., 1904-12-31
OBJECT LESSON
Catholic Wo.klng,n.n Should
Seek ADVICE From
Their Bishops When iouble
Win employers Come.

\ few evenings ago. in one of our
numerous halls. Il Socialist speaker
declared that the churches never 10
anything for lalor, except to take from
it support for their preachers, says Il
writer in the Chicago New World. The
Catholic Church, especially, he as
serted, is waging Il war upon Social
ism, through fear it may lose it's grip
upon the worliingnan; but it is doing
nothing for him ITSELF There was
more of this sort of misStatement, in
Guiding the charge that the Church lis
always found on the side of capital
which appears to be relied upon as Il
strong trump card by Socialists now
adays, although every man who makes
it must be aware that it an untruth.'
The activity of the Church in inter-
vening through her bishops and clergy,
and settling strikes and obtaining JUS
tice for those who toll has often been
noted in the Catholic press. All the
world has heard of Cardinal AIanning's
Intervention, over in London, Of Arch
bishop Ryan's in Philadelphia, of
Archbishop Quigley's in Buffalo. Now
Bishop Horstnann, of Cleveland, Ohio,
must be added to the list. The current
issue of the able Catholic Universe, of
Cleveland, says:
what threatened to be prolonged
and serious strike of the employees of
the Kelly Island Lime 4 Transport
Company was satisfactorily settled
this week through the intervention of
the Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann. The
strike began at Marblehead on Tues
day Of last week, when the demands
of the 400 employees of the company
at the place for more pay were refused
by the officials. The next day the
company's men at Kelly island, num-
bering 400 or more, joined the strikers
All the men involved are Slovaks.
They are Catholics almost without ex-
ception and, though belonging to the
Greek rite, their spiritual wants are
attended to for the most part by
Father Chaloupka, Of Marblehead, and
Father Scloendorf of Kelley Island
When there has been dissatisfaction
among them before, these priests have
been their representatives to their
employers and on more than one Occa-
sion have saved them from the i'm
position which their ignorance and
dependence have invited. The Church,
i'm fact, stands more or less in the
relation of a guardian to these of her
children who are inexperienced in the
labor conditions of this country. They
look to her to safeguard their material
rs we'll as their spiritual interests.
at was felt, therefore, that Bishop
I[orstmann's visit to Marhlehead on
Thanksgiving Day would have some
bearing upon the strike The Bishop
went to dedicate the new Church of
the Assumption, of the Greek rite.
After the Bishop had blessed the new
church. solemn high mass was celc-
bratnl in the Greek rite by three Greek
priests. Three or four other priests
from the ncighborny towns were
present and the ceremonies We're both
interesting and impressive. At the
close of the services the Bishop made
all earnest and practical address to the
congregation. AS it WAS composed
largely of tue strikers. the Bishop
naturally advrrted to the labor
troubles. In simple and direct
language he counSellrd the men against
violence, against transMrcSsions Of the
IaUor troubles so serious Il menace to
Tie common veal.
''Ile spoke to them forcibly of their
duties rs Christians and Catholics and
Of that moderation and sobricty of con-
duct which their religion taught and
demanded. AS their Bishop. he said,
nc had their welfare dc ioly ut heart,
aud if they would send il committee to
present their claims he would be glad
to act as an intermediary between
them and their employers.
'In compliance with this offer of the
Bishop six representatives of the
strikers, four from Marblehcad AMI
two from Kelley Island. had confer
cnce with him in the afternoon ut the
pastoral residence. The whole matter
WIS gone over thoroughly. The bishop
inquired closely into the mode and
cost of living of the strikers. He found
that for the frame slantics they in
habit they pay the company from .$3.:N
to IS month aud that soft coal costs
them $3.50 Il ton and anthracite 81
At Kelley Island they are forced to bu,
their provisions at the company store
though the officials have expressed
their perfect Willingness to so out OF
business since the employees are dis
satisfied Will, the arrangement. Hav
ing satisfied himself of the Lowest
possible living wage for the workers
the Bishop formulated compromise
which, after being proposed to tho
strikers at both places. at Il genera
meeting on Friday. was formal,
accepted. After receiving notification
Of the agreement of the strikers anl