The San Francisco call., 1904-03-23
Walter Macarthur Talks
to Business Men at
Noon Service.

after macarthur, editor or the
Coast Seaman's Journal and one of the
labor leaders of this city, delivered the
address at the second of the series of
noonday Lenten services, conducted by
the Brotherhood Of st. Andrew in the
rooms Of the San Francisco Chamber
of Commerce yesterday. Every avail
able seat in the rooms was occupied,
and many were compelled to remain
standing during the services. Although
in the larger cities of the United States
monday Lenten services have been in
vogue for many years, they are al
ways held in one of the churches.
This is the only city where religious
worship is conducted during the peni-
tential season in the commercial dis
trict, so that the busy man of affairs
is afforded an opportunity to attend
without losing time from his business.
The services were conducted by F. T.
Foster and followed the usual order.
The lesson was taken from St Mark,
6:l-6. Mr. Macarthur's address was
brilliant effort. and his remarks on
the righteous relations that should ex-
ist between capital and labor were
most timely. He maintained that the
only solution of the labor problem was
through religion.
LABOR A CONDITION.
Macarthur's subject was righteous
Citizenship in the Shop" He said in
part:
We shall be doing no violence TO the SUBJ
Ject nor taking liberties with IT if It is trans
lated to read, righteousness in the Relations
OF Labor. As 1t is true that by labor alone
90 We i've, II is true that Is
d!uons under which labor is performed are
righteous or unrighteous. must be all con-
ditions OF life l use the term labor in no
narrow sense. not as a class term, but as a
generic term. implying all right methods by
which men derive sustenance from the earth
Labor Is fundamental condition OF life II
righteousness in all the avenues OF life is to
be achieved 1t is by the righteous relations in
labor. The future is bound UP in the solu-
OF unrighteousness, governed by the narrow
fninTa fpTt OF OF shr by narrow Ideals the
OF that character arrayed against the laborer,
seeking TO DENY to him the poor boon Of or
ganization-the privilege won by the employe
through centuries OF struggle-the right which
the emplOye holds by the universal law of
nature. We find the narrow employer seeking
to destroy the organization of labor under the
specious guise Of the open shop" The aim
Of the open shop employer is ito have the
shop open only TO the elements that would
destroy the organizations of labor. There is
nothing to be gained by treating labor that
way.
righteous
character. who takes a and rational view
of the labor problem, the outlook is bright.
The problem is simply question of fair play.
With fair play the problem of labor mets and
disappears; it Is no problem at ALL
SOLUTION OF PROBLEM.
In the difficulties that are surrounding us
neither factor is blameless or blameworthy:
neither say that his side has been ali
right and the other side all wrong error has
been committed on both sides on the side OF
the employe in his organized capacity and on
the side Of the employer in his organized
capacity.
The solution of the labor problem depends
upon getting the right perspective and the
acceptance OF the spirit of reciprocity The
labor problem. cannot be solved on purely
economic grounds, but must be solved on
ethical religious grounds. We know that
In the early days the struggle of the workers
vas primarily against the pagan conception OF
labor. which relegated the who worked
TO the cattle of the fields. We know that t
was Christ the Savior Christ the carpenter.
who first instilled With the knowledge
that all men equal in the sight Of God
it is under the leadership of Christ the Savior
that We shall ultimately solve the labor prob
lem Those who are acquainted with the
labor movement; know that II is primarily,
fundamentally and essentially "a religious
movement We take the work of the savior
as our guide in our efforts to bring about
amicabe, just and permanent relations be-
tween employer and employe.
Rev. d. o. Kelly pronounced the
benediction at the conclusion of Mr.
Macarthur's remarks. To-day, at the
same time and place, Rev. Frederick
w. Clampett, D. D., rector of Trinity
Church, will speak on Righteous
Citizenship in Public Spirit