The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-10-07
sTEILE SEES 5000
IN TRADE Uh|0N|SM
The Machinist Preacher Talks
on Labor Unions and Tenn
perance Question.
Saws Hardest Drinkers Are the
Workingmen Who Work
Longest Hours in a Day.

Chicago, Oct. 5.-Rev. Chas. Sickle
Of the workingmens Department Of
the Presbyterian Home Mission Home
Mission Board in an address this week
spoke on Trade unions an intemper-
ance. He said in part:
I'd like to drive home just three
thoughts with reference to the work.
ingman and Incompetence.
Said an excited visitor in my office
today: III I had my way I would
compel workingmen to labor twenty
hours day, so that they could not
go to the saloon"
reminded him that 1t is usually the
man that wrks the longest hours who
drinks the hardest. Sheer exhaustion
drives him to the grog shop.
The second erroneous idea that is
being harbored by many a man is that
trade sunions are factors which make
for intemperance. Nothing could be
further from the truth. The trades un-
ions for this country have done more
for the cause Of temperance and So
briefly than any other purely benevo-
lent or philanthropic organization. A
number Of trades unions have laws
which deny assistance to any man who
was injured while intoxicated. Twenty
years ago practically every labor union
met back or over saloon. That is
rarely the case today. In many in
stances they have their own labor halls.
Twenty years ago I could have counted
scores Of drunken men at a meeting
Of the organization to which I belong
ed. During the past twoy ears have
visited literally hundreds of labor un-
ions, and I do not remember having
seen a single drunken man in the
meetings.
This does not mean that working
men do not get drunk, nor that they
do not need help in the matter Of tenn
perate living. I mean to say, with
emphasis however, that the average
labor union is an influence for good
in this direction. The best labor lead
ers and practically every labor editor
stands out clearly and boldly for tenn
perancc and reform among working
men.
Third-the matter Of saloon substi-
tutes. The Subway Tavern has failed,
So will every other similar institution
which Is based upon a paternal prin-
ciple. The workingman despises pat
ronage. Many plan which appears to
be very beautiful upon paper, or as it
comes from the lips of the enthusiastic
reformer, fails because 1t leaves out
Of account the element Of human ma
ture.
The substitute for the saloon is the
home. Never will there be a better
one proposed. To assist the working
man to make his home more beautiful
should then be our aim. In this the
laobr union is also help. A higher
standard Of living, better sanitary con-
iitions,: the abolition Of child labor,
as we'll as the development along moral
lines-in all these the labor union has
most important part. Too often do
we lose sight Of the social and moral
influences Of the labor union. The pos
sibilittes In this direction are almost
limitless, but already the labor union
has become a great factor In this
matter. The average man outside Of
the ranks of the workingmen can hard
ly believe that the trades unionist is
. man "of like passions as he is" That
he has the same longings, the same
ambitions for himself and for his FAM
lily. And when he realizes just what
he may do to bring comfort and JOY
to the wife and children whom God
has given him, he will be the first one
to give them So let US help him in
his struggles. Let us show him that
we are his brothers, putting aside
every feeling of patronage or Of super
iorfty. And he will quickly respond
to our sympathetic endeavor.