Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-16
TEMPERANCE FOR
THE WACE-WORKER
NOTHING CAN BE MORE HELPFUL
TO HIM.
DECLARES The PRESIDENT
Sobristy of Husband and Father of
Greatest consequence to innocent
Ones at Home-Man Who Cannot
Govern Himself Not Fit to Govern
Others.

Wllkesbarre, Pa, Aug. 11.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt made a strong plea
yesterday for a higher temperance
standard. He was speaking to the
Catholic Total Abstinence union.
whose members here are all miners.
No one society,"" he said. can do
more 10 help the wage-worker than
such temperance society as that
which | am now addressing. 1t is of
incalculahle consequence to the man
himself that he should be sober and
temperate, and it is of even more con.
sequence to his wife and his children:
for IL is a hard and cruel fact that in
this life of ours the sins of the man are
often visited most heavily upon those
whose welfare should be his one
special care. For the drunkard, for
the man who loses his job because he
can not control or will not control his
desire for liquor and for vicious pleas.
ure, We nave a feeling of anger and
contempt mixed with our pity; but
for his unfortunate vile and little
ones we feel only pity, and that of
the deepest and tenderest kind.
Everything possible should be done to
encourage the growth Of that spirit
Of selI-respect, self-re3traint. self-re-
lance, which if il only grows enough
IS certain to make all these in whom
it shows itself move steadily upward
toward the highest standard of Ameri-
can citizenship. 1t is a proud and
responsible privilege to be citizens of
this great self-governing nation; aad
each of us needs TO keep steadily be-
fore his eyes the fact that he is wholly
unfit to take part in the work of gov
crning himself lie must stand up
manfuily for his own rights; he must
respect the rights of others; he must
obey the law, and he must try to live
up 10 those rules of righteousness
which are above and behind all laws.
This applies just as much to the man
Of great wealth as to the man of
small means; to the capitalist as to-
the wage-worker. And as one practi-
cal point, let me urge that in the event
Of any difficulty, especially if it is
what is known as a labor trouble, both
sides show themselves willing to meet
willing to consult, and anxious eacn toi
look at the others side Of the case aud
to do the other justice. Ii only this
course could be generally followed, the
chance of industrial disaster would be
minimized.
Now, my friends, | want 10 read
you an extract from letter l have
Just received from a Catholic priest
whom | know well and whom | know
TO be as staunch friend CT the labor
ing man as there is to be found in this
country Now and then-not tool
often--it is a good thing for all of usl
to hear what is not perhaps altogether
palatable. provided only that the peri
son who tells the truth is our genuineI
friend, knows what he is talkingl
about (even though he may not see ALI
sides of the case), and tells us what
he has TO say, not with desire tot
hurt our feelings. but with the trans
this foreword, here is part of the let |
ter:
81 would humbly recommend tina /
you lend your entire weight to the
cause which the Catholic Total ABB
stinence Union of America represents I
and especially so in its relation to the
working classes of this country. for
whom Il is doing so much good. You
knew that tho temperance movement
is potent auxiliary to the institutions
and truer Christianity
our citizens. 1t played a very
important part in the two coal strikes
Of 1900 and 1902. respectively, by,
keeping the men sober. ana thus re-
the danger Of riotous and I'M
feature connected with the
upward tendency of the wage scale
among the workmen Of this country.
fhe higher tho wages, the more money
hey spend in saloons. The shorter
he hours, the more they are inclined
apparent disregard for family ties is
growing among the poorer classes
which will eventually lead TO disre-I
gard for the blessings our country af- {
ords them. Hence, with an inc' are. I
If wages a corresponding movement Z
or better manhood, nobler citizenship /
md truer Christianity should be set on !
oct. The dignity Of labor should be- I
which can be lone only {
hrough the love that a man should {
ave for his work, and through the in I
diligence which he puts into it. A
teady hand and sober mind are neces-
airy for this. Hence, the necessity
i the temperance cause and of the
forts which organized abstainers are
uttiHg into the movement
Now" said the president, "in what c
] here written this priest does not I
1ean that the tendency is TO grow c
torse; out he means that with shorter q
ouse anc increased wages there is a +
to 90 wrong which must be r
nset by movements such as this great G
movement and similar ef- '
)rts for social and civic tetterment, Y
r else the increase in leisure and {
3Cney viii prove curse instead Of y
lessing | strive never TO tell any A
ne what ] do not thoroughly believe.
nd | shall not say TO you that 70 be-
oncst, and temp erate. and hardwork-
u and thrifty win always bring sue