The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-11


 ceiyed from a Catholic priest whom I know well and whom know to be as staunch a friend of the Iaboring man as there is to be found in this country. Now and then-nOt too Often-it is a good thing for all of us to hear what is not perhaps altogether palatable, provided only that the person who tells the truth is our genuine friend, knows what he is talking about (eyen though he may not see all sides of the easel, and tells us what he has to say, not with desire to hurt our feelings, but with the transparent purpose to do good. With this fOreword, here is a part of the letter:
 T would humbly recommend that you lend your entire weight to the cause which the Catholic Total Absti- hence Union of America represents, and especially so in it's relation to the work ing classes of this country, for whom 1t is doing so much good. You know that the temperance movement is a po- tent auxiliary to the institutions of our country in building up a better man. hood and a truer Christianity among our citizens. It played a very impor- tant part in the two coal strikes of 1900 and 1902, respectively. by keeping the men sober, and thus removing the danger of riotous and unbecOming con- duet. There is one discouraging fea- ture connected with the upward ten dency of the wage scale among the workmen of this country. The higher the wages, the more money they spend in saloons. The shorter the hours, the more they are inclined to absent them selves from home. An apparent disre- gard for family ties is growing among the poorer classes which will eventual ly lead to a disregard for the blessings our country affords them. Hence, with an increase of wages a corresponding movement for better manhood. nobler citizenship and truer Christianity should be set on foot. The dignity of labor should be maintained, which can be done only through the love that a man should have for his work, and through the intelligence which he puts into it. A steady hand and sober mind are necessary for this. Hence, the anes cessity of the, temperance cause and of the efforts which organized abstainers are putting into the movement" -.'5
 Now, in what is here written this priest does not mean that the tenden- cy is to grow worse; but he means that with shorter hours and increased wages there is q tendency to go wrong which must be offset by movements such as this great temperance movement and similar efforts for social and civic bet terment, or else the increase in leisure and money will prove a curse instead of blessing. I strive never to tell any one what I do not thoroughly believe. and I shall not say to you that to be honest and temperate, and hardwork- ing and thrifty will always bring suc- cess. -
 The hand of the Lord is sometimes heavy upon the just as we'll as upon the unjust, and in the life of labor and ef- fort which we must lead on this earth it is not always possible either by work, by wisdom, or by upright behavior to ward off disaster. But it is most em. phatieally true that the chance for leading a happy and prosperous life is immensely improved if only the man is decent, sober, industrious and exercises foresight and judgment. Let him re- member above all that the performance of duty is the first essential to right living, and that good type of average family life is the corner stone of na- man can be a good citizen, can deserve l the respect of his fellows, unless first Of all he is good man in his own fam fly, unless he does his duty faithfully | by his wife and children. s@