The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
Cardinal Gibbon,,s Views.

I met Cardinal Gibbons in the library Of
his residence at Baltimore. His house is
big gray stone building Of many rooms,
just back of the cathedral. 1t has a cold
air about the interior. as though the hand
Of woman were absent. And so 1t is. A
colored boy in livery meets you at the door
and you find only priests and students with
in. The cardinal is now sixty-eight years
of age. He is tall and thin, with a face
bearing the evidence OF hard study. He is
very dignihed, but at the same time kindly,
speaking freely and interestingly every
subject 1 found that he had recently de-
livered a sermon on labor, and his first
words were on The Sweat Shops of Balti-
more" Said he:
1.-The sweating system is a disgrace to the
country We have large class of persons
here in Baltimore employed by the proprie-
tors of the clothing establishments. Some
OF them work In the stores and others in
their own homes, bringing their garments
overworked and underpaid. 1 find that they
put in six days, of ten or twelve hours each,
for from 50 10 So per week. With this pit
lance they have to pay for house rent, food,
clothing and all the expenses incident TO
family life They have hardly enough to
keep them from starving, and the result is
that after few years they are incapaci-
tated for work. / find that many of them
are compelled to toll in sweatshops con-
tracted in space and poorly lighted"
How can the matter be remedied, your
lone way is TO arouse public attention to
the grievance. and discriminate in favor of
foods made in other establishments. We
have in Baltimore a Consumers League,
the members of which agree to purchase
only such goods as are made in sanitary
quarters, with reasonable working hours
and fair wages The league has label.
which is put on all goods made in such
places. think II is good thing and ought
TO be patroniZed."
How about the labor organizations your
eminence. Do you approve of them?"
Yes" replied the cardinal 81 see no
reason why our workingmen should not
combine together for their own protection
and benefit This is an age of organiza-
ton. We have syndicates, trusts and all
sorts of combinations of capital; why
should we not have organizations of labor?
The labor union is an emblem of freedom.
1t is the legitimate child of the trade guilds
OF old England 1t has nothing to conceal,
formation of dangerous secret societies.
STRIKES AND BOYCOTTS.
''That is so.'' said 1. but it also origi-
mates trouble. 1t causes strikes and boy
colts"
THAT is true" replied the cardinal, but
think the day will come when such things
| will pass away, and when arbitration and
Cancellation will take the place of strikes
The disputes between capital and labor can
be and should be amicably settled
4 AS W Il lnlIlk lney are at pest q
| questionable remedy for labor troubles
| They paralyze industry. foment passion
| and lead to the destruction of property
| They keep the men in enforced idleness
| during which their minds are clouded with
discomfort, and they often cause great suf-
fering to the workman's family ! don't
| approve of the boycott. 1 regard ii as ar
| unwarranted invasion OF the commercial
| privileges guaranteed by the government tc
| every business firm. A man has the right
| to select the place where he deals and
| you violate that right when you keep him
| from doing so by the order of any society
Such a prohibition assails the liberty OF
| the purchaser and the rights OF the seller
Your eminence is looked upon as the
| paternal friend OF both capital and labor
Can you not give me some advice to capi
| talists as to the treatment of their EN-.
| ployes?'
| ''If / were to do that" was the reply 81
| should merely ask them to keep in view the
| golden maxim of the gospel, Whatsoever
We would that men should do unto you. dc
| We even so to them This is according tC
| the teachings Of Christ, and also the die
| tates OF reason. The employer should re-
| member that the laborer is worthy of hi.
/ hire, that he Is entitled to a fair and jus
| compensation for his work, and that h,
| should have kind treatment.
Il think there should be a closer relation