The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12
1.-THE DIGNITY Of LABOR. 1"
Address at Y. NJ. C. A., by Mr. John Z.
white Governor GaUIn Present.

a lecturer from the west, Mr.. John T.
White, spoke at the Y NJ C. A. yester-
day afternoon on The Dignity OF Labor. &"
and the large audience showed evident
appreciation OF his words Mr.. Chase
read Matthew xxI-16. and prayer was
offered by Rev. G. B. Fisher 1t was an
nounced that Mr.. W. y. Penno Of the
international committee. OF New York, is
10 speak next Sunday.
After the opening exercises Governor
Garvin. who was on the platform. was
asked to Introduce the speaker and he
explained that Mr.. White is visiting for
the first time in eastern New England.
and. although not a minister, is probabfy
actuated by a missionary spirit. Mr.
White spoke In part somewhat as fol-
lows:
We believe in the dignity OF labor on
holidays. but you will agree that the man
who does the most mental work is looked
upon with the supremest contempt Do
you not respect that which respects it
self7
r Why Is IL that labor is looked upon in
this way? Menial work was pointed out TO
a certain gentleman and he said There's
nothing menial about IL except the
wages" For some reason, menial work
has received a very small reward Why
do we try TO esca pc from the ranks Of
labor. Do you know how you can Sc
cure clothing and food and shelter with
out labor? Then none can be dignified
without labor.
III there Is any man who is willing TO
live on the labor OF others. he is without
the common Christian virtue. II Is God
who has ordained that clothing, food and
shelter shall be provided us by nature in
return for labor alone.
II go to the sea and get a basket OF
fish. and someone despoils me OF half.
do 1 not feel my dignity invaded An
drew Carnegie says that he was the most
surprised man when ne found that those
who DO the work are not rich. Nature
will not give you one bushel OF wheat
except as the reward for toll. human ex.
ertion. The dignity Of labor consists in
giving to each his fair reward for labor
done and then there will be nothing left
for someone else.
Whatever you may produce is yours
because you did the work necessary to
bring Il into existence. You can't sell
labor You can acquire skill. but you
can't buy It. Someone must work to Sc
cure wealth. All Of US want TO get rich.
One way 10 to earn wealth. another is 20
beg It, and third is to steal 1t, and IL
you know a fourth way, let us know and
we may all get rich. Labor is the source
OF all values. II you don't get rich by
work, you must get rioh by one OF the
other two methods.
We must discover the right before we
can put Il into operation. am trying
to show that these enormous fortunes
are an aot Of gift. These social gifts are
made without intention Of the sivers. II
Is easy enough to give away your earn
ings, but do you intend TO give any por-
tion OF your wealth to any OF the multi
millionaires7 believe In the moral pre-
cepts laid down here (pointing TO the BIZ
ble), but ask that these precepts be APP
piled.
Labor of itself is absolutely helpless,
cannot make a single stool unless the
laborer Is placed In natural possession
OF wood. Because few men own the
earth, we cannot work unless these men
hire US. The same power that concen-
trated property. estates, in Rome IS in op-
eration In America. The individual man
transcends all the work that human So
ciety can do.
Let a man be true TO himself and ne
will be true to his maker.