The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
CAN 4 TRADES UNION . :.
Man Be 4 CHRISTIAN
Title. Of Sermon Delivered by
Able Preacher Of Gospel in
the West.
Handles the Subject Without
Gloves and Places Blame
Where It Belongs.

"can a Labor Upion man be a
Christian?'
Above wax the topic Of the evening
discourse Of Rev. Frank Forbes at the
DAILY avenue Congregational church,
Los Angeles, California, recently. He
said that no organization was to be
judged by its mistakes. for If so, the
Christian church had bloody record
of persecution. Nor could it be judged
by church members. like Bros. Keene
and by Durant. the murderer
Mr.. Forbes gave the figures of wages
one hundred years ago which were in
the Fast so cents a day for skilled
and 25 cents for unskilled labor, time
of work. daylight till dark. Any en-
ployer in Massachusetts, who paid
more was liable to be fined $1.25 a day
for each overpaid man. The rate for
government work was $3.50 month
and board: yet a bushel OF corn cost
then Is cents, wheat $2.12, and salt
pork 20 cents. Many laboring men
never ate fresh meat, some favored
ones, once in a month or So They
made their coarse clothing-one home
spun sui, VIC CAOSSHCN oAAAA ~ -
whole year. No collars, cuffs, watches,
perhaps iewsharp for music, no books
papers or pictures, no excursions. no
holidays, no luxuries.
In 1903 the ship carpenters organ
lied in New York; in 1906 the house
carpenters, and later the typesetters,
and in 1880 the different branches
federated into brotherhood. In s years
thereafter, carpenters wages advanced
from 50 cents to $3.50 and typsetters
to $1.26 as a direct result Of the I'M
ion. A kind OF Citizens Alliance in
Boston tried to enact laws to prevent
rise in wages, but 1t failed. In the
SOS wages went up rs per cent and
during the civil war another rs per
cent through efforts Of the labor I'M
ions. But fer unions, Mr.. Forbes said,
wages would be "a low now as 100
years ago, for competition among
workers would be sure to keep them
down. TO circumvent competition, the
trusts have organized. Competition.
unrestricted, would be death to civil
lization. He said no strike ever was
made until all attempt had failed to
arbitrate or argue in some way.
The Los Angeles Street Railway
syndicate made its men agree not to
Join a labor union and had them at Its
mercy. An extra man, who by their
rule had to wait three hours each day
for possible work with no pay for the
time spent in waiting, wrote very
courteous note as to it and was dis
charxed at once. Unless laboring men
all, over the world unite and organize
the KINGDOM of Heaven will not come
upon the earth.
Mr.. Forbes spoke in terms OF high
praise of John Mitchell, and from his
book entitled, "Organized Labor" read
the objects of union1sm.
First-lt Is the purpose and aim to
invite and urge all workers to join In
the trade unions, each in his special
class. This was broad missionary
work as all were made welcome.
Second-It was to find employment
for all competent union men. This
also ia broadly benevolent and highly
commendable.
Third-Unions aim to extend, not
only sympathy and kindness in words
but to give benefits to men who were
out of work, who were sick, to bury
the dead, to care for families and pre-
vent suffering. This is Christianity in
q very emphatic and practical way.
Christ was a carpenter, Paul a tent
maker. Were they living today they
might, and probably would rejoice in
the helpful, benevolent and noble work
of the labor unions of the world.