The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-02
.LABOR'S PR OdRESS
/. IS WONDERFUL
A Labor Day Meditation by charts
Stelzele, superintendent of the
Department Of Church and Labor
of tho Presbyterian = Church il
the. United States Of America. /:

IS the United States Of America.
S~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It would be folly to insist that the
social system Of the day is ideal. But
any man who reads history knows that
the condition Of the workingman to-
day is infinitely better than it was a
century ago.
Whatever other causes have been at
work to bring about this change, much
Of it. must be attributed to trade un-
ionisna. ~ 49, .''-:v>>~
There has been steady progress like
the irresistible sweep of a mighty .riv-
er. Eddies have been formed which
seem to mark the backward course OF
the stream. The pessimist has seen
the eddy and points to it as an indi-
cation that there has been only back
ward movement Indifferent to the
fact that the flood just beyond re-
veals true progress.
He has forgotten that only few
centuries ago half the world lived in
slavery, and human life was counted
so cheap that men and women were
killed for sport. Speak to him of the
progress made by working people, and
he will fling into your face the bitter
argument of the anarchist, unmindful
of the day when labor was considered
degrading and dishonorable--when the
philosophers declared that purchased
laborer is better than a hired one;
when the workingman lived In a small,
d1ngy, foul-smelling room; when he
slept In cellars and over open drains;
when men worked sixteen hours a. day
the year round, without being paid for
the "over- time'
He has forgotten the time when
manufacturers were actually paid to
rid a parish Of pauper children, who
then became white slaves; when con-
d1t1ons were so degrading that in many
cases full grown men remained at
home caring for the babies or mend
ing stockings, while the women were
engaged at the wearing work Of the
mill; when it was crime to increase
| the Workingman's wages over a GER
tain amount; when the workingmen
could be put into Jail for owing a store
keeper ten cents; when the mechanic
received fifty cents for a days work,
at time when fifty cents would pur-
chase no more than it will today.
The condition of the skilled Ameri-
can workingman. today is superior to
that Of the royalty Of three centuries
ago. He has better home, more con-
ven1ences, more books, more Of the
things that make life worth the liv-
ing.
The increase in wages, the Short
en1ng OF his hours of work, the multi
plication of his comforts, his new ed
ucational advantages, his superior po-
sition as a citizen and as man-all
these have made the average work.
ingman a progressive, right thinking
human being.
AS already noted, conditions are not
ideal. There is much that needs to be
adjusted. Because Of this, among the
so-caI1ed masses" @there is q feeling
OF unrest which many fear. 1t is sup;
posed this feeling indicates that there
may be an uprising destructive of law
and order, but no one need fear q sane
agitation carried on by honest intel
ligent men. It is a sign of life and
growth and an indication Of better
things to come. The good sense of the
American people will see that it comes
out all right: But Rome was not built
in day. '~':~
The bitterness in human society will
not be healed by an arbitrary division
OF men into classes. Any class move
ment In this country, be it a working
mems movement: or an employers
movement, is sure to fair.
The rich are frequently accused of
fostering a class spirit. However that
may be, this unfortunate spirit is not
confined to the prosperous. The same
spirit sometimes exists among work.
ingmen The journeyman frequently
treats his helper with the greatest con-
tempt. The mechanics in some trades
consider themselves superior to those
engaged In some others. Because some
Workingmen are privileged ia weaN
white linen shirts while at heir work,
they despise the laborer whose toll
compels him to wear one made of wool
or cotton. In a. little Minnesota rail-
road town the wives of the engineers,
the firemen and the brakemen are
formed into exclusive women's clubs.
1t is absolutely impossible for the
firemans wife to join, the club COM
posed of the engineers wives, and as
for the brakeman's wife-she simply
isn't it it,
|. If ever the labor question is to be
settled, men must have the spirit of
brotherhood taught by Jesus Christ
himself. There are broad minded
men who have this larger vision. Men
who deprecate the bitterness and the
singing personalities which have been
injected into the labor question, which
must be fought out only on it's merits
and on principle. But the average ~ag-
itator, whether he represents employer
or employe, with his pessimism, his
cruel satire, his appeal to class pre-
JUDGE, can only retard the growth of
the spirit Of brotherhood which must
prevail before the golden age can be
ushered in. ~ ~
BETTER THAN STRIKING. =
Sn11a6 If Polish 10 ho,.nrs-