The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-08-12
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
an ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED,
"ThglNDUsTRlsL CONFLICT"
.he Rev. John II. Long Gives Some
Wholesome Advice About Present.
Day Problems-Ihe Causes OF Dis
content and the Hemelies.

The Rev. John ID. Long. pastor. preached
on The Industrial Conflict" The text
was from Eociesiastes ii:22: What hath
man for al ms laboF!' Mr.. Long said:
The writer OF this text was asking as 10
the rewards OF hte. Let "a accommodate
4 10 the conflict now wagins between cap
ltal aud labor. Ii Is the old question OF
,he laborer and his hire. What are the
teachings Of Holy Writ on :he question:
Here, as elsewhere, we believe that the
Gospel applies, for as Ruskin suggests, the
Gospel bears upon life at every point, and
Is either good tor everything or good Tor
nothing.
Civilization is based upon iabor-human,
animal, mechanical. What We call capital
= at bottom only accumulated labor. The
day laborer lays brick in a wall; that is
labor. lie saves up part OF his wage,
and that becomes capital. Mechanical la
Dor, by which most of the worlds work is
now done, is human labor invested in ma
ehinery, and working through the same.
Or course. money or capital Is secured
not only through saving and invention,
but IN many other ways; yet human effort
Is back OF IL all, and IL becomes sort of
call loan upon the bank of labor. Was II
not Emerson who said, He that hath a
dollar II master OF all 10 the extent OF that
dollar"
Vast fortunes have been piled up by
which mechanism may take the place OF
hnnian hands. Thus the inventor is en-
abied 10 draw tho wages OF thousands We
all know how largely the machine has SUI
pcrsedcd the naked hand in the manufac.
ture OF thousand ard one articles OF
daily use. Take, for example, pins and
needles and nails
To be sure, many great fortunes have
been made by other means than by ma
chinery, but in the main the wealth of
modern times is founded upon mechanical
labor.
Before asking what the letter or spirit of
the bible teaches on the labor question. let
us face the situation of TO-DAY. Organized
labor and capital are in conflict. There
arc strikes and rumors of strikes. Zach
strike is a battle in the war.
Ii may be we'll TO observe that organized
labor has as yet only fraction OF the total
labor army, but 1t IS fraction that is in
creasing.
Why this warfare? Because labor on the
one hand is dissatisfied with its share of
the rewards Of industry, and because, on
the other, capital constantly seeks 10 re-
duce the cost OF production 10y opposing
the demands of labor.
Other factors, however, enter into the
situation. One arises from the develop
ment Of the modern corporation Wheth-
or corporations have souls or not, they lack
IN large measure the element of personality
and the personal touch. Men who work
1or a corporation are working in the main
Tor an unknown entity. Now, we remem-
ber that among the old d-time Romans the
word Tor stranger was also the worl for
enemy.
Further, there has been much dishonesty
in corporate dealings. Take such things as
the corrupt purchase of public franc hises
below value, the increase IN cost of certain
I, Ga -
bnatons TO keep up prices. These and
other similar crimes against the coIumu-
nifty have done much 10 inhame not only
labor, but the general public against capt
tai.
Also. the rising standard of life. by which
the living wage gets further and further
from the meagre pittance that would suf
hce TO support the frugal Chinaman, leads
the laborer TO constantly demand a more
and more generous wage.
Still other grounds of hostility might be
referred to, such as the natural, though
sinful, envy OF the rich by the poor; the
ostentatious luxury of the rich, the growth
OF class distinctions between the poor and
the rich and the inequality of pecuniary
rewards. The men who discovered the
priceless boon of Notwithstanding found
that surgery might be rendered painless by
the use OF such agents as chloroform and
ether-gained but little money from their
discoveries. They doubtless might have
traded on the worlds fear of pain, and by
using the patent laws and secrecy secured
wealth beyond the dreams OF avarice but
to their honor they did not. On the other
hand, the men who introduced such i'm
proved and cheapened methods as the Bes.
semer process OF producing steel gained
money by the hundred millions. So peo-
pie are tempted to ask, Have not some
men been rather selfish, to say the least,
IN the acquisition of their wealth. And
may they not have obtained little more
than their shareF
Before we go further let us ask what is
TO be the PROBABLE outcome OF the war be-
tween labor and capitalE is IL an irrepres-
sib,e conflict, or can the opposing interests
be reconcled! The answer is already be-
ing gwen. Take such situation as may
now be seen IN the coal trade oil Chicago
After bitter fighting the dealers and the
teamstcrs have come together TO monopo.
lize the coal trade OF the city and keep out
all competition. Wages and profits have
been put mp at the expense OF the outside
public. This is likely to go on more and
more.
The ultimate outcome, unless the tend
ency Is checked, viii be organization ali
along the line until we have collaCtlVism-a
vast organized machine, in wnicn men will
be cogs and individual initiative and per
sonality viii be restricted 10 an extent that
VIII largely arrest the progress OF eiyiiiza-
tlon.
But let US take a breath and turn 10 the
Bln.e. What are the teachings of the Bib'e
IN regard 10 labor and wealth! The Old
Testament Is p,ainly onti-capitalistIc. In
proof of this you have but TO reed tae laws
regarding capital in the Book Of Levlticus
laws that, II enforced, would compel
PLAIN living as surely as the iron coin Of
Sparta. Hear what was laid down there.
Land was allotted IN small parcels to the
families of the tribes, and could not be
allenated except for the term OF fifty years.
And ye shall hallow this hftieth year
and proclaim liberty throughout all the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof: 1t
shall be a jubilee unto you; and We shall
return every man unto his possession, and
.e shall return every man unto his family"
ClevIticus xxv.l0).
Interest could not be charged on loans
and If thy brother be waxen poor, and
fallen IN decay with thee; then thou shalt
relieve him; yea, though he be a stranger
or a soJourner; that he may live with
thee. Thou shalt not lend him thy money
upon usury, nor lend him thy victUals for
Increase tI,eviticus xxv:3j-6).
Finally, there was the statute OF lim;ta-
tions with reference 20 loans. AT the end
Of every seven years thou shalt make a re.
lease. And this Is the manner OF the re-
lease; svery creditor that lendeth aught
unto his neighbor shall release it." (Deu-
terOnOmy xv:l-l.
The attitude Of the Old Testament to-
ward wealth is perhaps best reflected in
the prayer OF Agur-"Give me neither
poverty nor riches les. i be full,
and deny Thee. and say, Who j. the Lord;
or lest | be poor, and steal, and take the
name Of my God in vain" proverbs
xxx:S9).