Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-11

Everything possible should be done
To encourage the growth OF thai spirit
of self.respect, solf'restraint, selffe'
which II II only grows enough
Is certain TO make all those In whom
II shows itself move steadily upward
toward the highest standard OF Amer
lean citizenship, 1t Is a proud ana re,
sponsihle privilege 10 he citizens Oh
this great self governing nation. ana
each OF us needs to keep steadily be-
fore his eyes the fact that he Is whoi.
~ unfit to take part In the work OF
governing others unless he q first
govern himself, He must stand UP
manfully for his " rights; he mus.
respect the rights of others; he must
obey the law. and he must try to i've
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 rs 10
the wage.worker. And as n prac'
tical point, let me urge that IN the
event Of any difficulty, especially II
II Is what Is known as a labor trouble
both sides show themselves willing TO
meet, willing to consult. and anxious
each to treat the other reasonably ana
fairly. each to look at the others size
OF the case and to do the other JUS
tice. II only this course could be
generally followed, the chance OF In.
dustrial disaster would be minimized.
Now, my friends. ! want to read
you an extract from a letter nave
Just received from a Catholic priest
whom I know well and whom Know
10 be as staunch a friend of the labor.
ling man as there Is to be ound IN
this country. Now and then-not too
loften-it is a good thing for all or us
Ito hear what Is not perhaps altogether
palatable. provided only that the per-
son who tells the truth Is II genuine
friend. knows what he is talking about
(even though he may not see all sidcs
of the easel, and tells us what he mas
Ito saw. not with a desire TO hurt our
feelings. but with the transparent pur'
nose to do us good. With this Tore
word. here Is a part of the letter:
81 would humbly recommend tha'
YOU lend your entire weight TO .ne
|cause which the Catholic Total Ap
|stinence Union of America represents
and especially so in its relation to the
working classes of this country, 1oi
whom It is doing SO much good. YOU
know that the temperance movement
is a potent auxiliary to the institutions
of our country in building up a Dettei
manhood and a truer Chrlstiahi's
Iamong our citizens. 1t played a very
!important part in the two coal strikes
lof 1900 and 1902. respectively, by keep
ling the men sober, and thus moV
tho danger of riotous and unbecomins
Iconduct. There is n d~iscourasins
feature connected with the upward
tendency of the wage scale among .h'
workmen of this country. The hlghe'
the wages. the more money they speh'
in saloons The shorter n hours
tho more they are inclined to absen
lthemseles from home. An apparent dls
regard for family ties is growln'
among the poorer classes whlch WI
Eventually lead to a disregard for IN
blessings our country affords then
Hence. with an increase OF wages
corresponding movement Tor pe''e
manhood, nobler citizenship. and true
lchristianity should be set on foot. Tn
dignity of labor should be MAINTAINED
(which can be done only through tn
love that a man should have for nj
work. and through the intelligenc
7 which he puts into it. 4 steady nan
: and sober mind are necessary Tor thl
! Hence. the necessity of the tempe
: lance cause and Of the efforts Whlc
lorganized abstainers are putting I'M
the movement
Now. in what is here written tn
priest does not meal that the re
: dency is to grow worse: but ne NEAR
THAT with shorter hours and Increase
= wages there is a tendency to go Wroi
J which must be offset by movement
such as this great temperance NOV
q ment and similar efforts for soclal al
4 civic betterment, or else the increa'
u in leisure and money will prove
lcnrse instead Of a blessing. stri
= never to tell anyone what 40 \
thoroughly believe, and snail \
lsay to you that to be honest, .a,
:, ,nerate. and hardworking, and tnrii
n will always bring uccess
The hand Of the Lord Is sometim
heavy upon the just as wen as up
the unjust, and in the life OF labor a
q ~leffort which we must lead on this cal
it is not always possible either
j. work, by wisdom, or by upright
20 hayior to ward off disaster. But IT
of most emphatically true that !
id chance for leading a happy and pr
8. porous life is immensely improved
N only the man Is decent, sober, lnd
trious and exercises foresight q
20 Judgment. Let him remember abe
IA all that the performance OF uty
the first essential to right living.
to that a good type Of average family
ON is the corner stone OF nationai n
I~piness and greatness. No man
r.: he a good citizen, can deserve the
M spect of his fellows. unless first
u. Ian he is a good man in his WI Il
M. Iilv. unless he does his duty faithi'
.er. bv his wife and children. !.
1 | strongly believe in trades uni
wisely and justly handled, IN WI
1.-THE rightful purpose to benefit tn
-a~naa+aJ with them Ia not accom-