The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-08-10
ADDRESS BY
THE PRESIDENT
LContInued from Flrst Page.

have a feeling of anger and contempt
mixed with our pity; but for his un-
fortunate wife 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 self-respect, self-restraint, seff-re-
lance, which if it only grows enough
is certain to make all those in whom
it shows itself move steadily upward
toward the highest standard of Amer
lean citizenship. 1t is proud and re-
sponsible privilege to be citizens Of
this great self-governing Nation; and
each of US needs to keep steadily be-
fore his ewes the fact that he is wholly
unfit to take part in the work of gov
erning others unless he can first gov
ern himself. He must stand up man
fully for his own rights he must re-
spect the rights of others; he must
obey the law, and he must try to live
mp TO those rules of righteousness which
..-e above and behind all laws.
This applies just as much to the
man Of great wealth and as to the
man Of small means; to the capitalist
as to the wage-worker And as one
practical point, let me urge that in
the event of any difficulty, especially
il it is what is known as labor trouble,
both sides show themselves williog to
meet, willing to consult, and anxious
each to treat the other reasonably and
fairly, each to look at the others side
OF the case and to do the other justice.
If only this course could be generally
followed, the chance Of industrial dis
aster would be minimized.
Now, my friends, / want to read you
an extract from a letter | have just
received from a Catholic priest whom
know we'll and whom / know to be
as staunch friend Of the laboring
man as there is to be found in this
country. Now and then-not too often
lit is a good thing for all of US to
hear wha5 is not perhaps altogether
palatable, provided only that the per-
son who tells the truth is our genuine
friend, knows what he is talking
about (eyen though he may not see
all sides Of the case J, and tells us what
he has to sly, not with a desire to
hurt our feelings but with the trans
parent purp Sc TO do us good. With
this forward, here is part Of the let
ter:
II would humblg recommend that
you lend your entire weight to the
cause which the Catholic Total Alb
stinance Union Of America represents,
and especially so in its relation to the
working classes of this countr., for
whom il is do ng so much good. sYou
know that the temperance movement
is potent auxiliary to the institu-
tions of our country in building up
better manhood and a truer Christian
ity among our citizens. 1t played a |
very important 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 conduct.
ssThere is one discouraging feature |
connected with the upward tendency
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, tie more they
are inclined to absent themselves
from home An apparant disregard
for family ties is growing among the
poorer classes which will eventually
lead to disregard fur the blessings
our country affords them. Hence
with an increase Of wages a cores
pondiug movement for better manhood |
nobler citizenship, aud trasr Christi
anity should be set on foot
The dignity Of labor should he main
tained, which can be doi.e only
through the love that man should
have for his work, and through the
intelligence which ne puts into it
A steady hand and sober mind are
necessary for this. Hence, the nee
essity OF the Temperance cause ana
OF the efforts which.organized abstain
ers are putting into the movement"
Now. in what is here written this
priest does not mean that the tendan-
cy is to grow worse, but he means I
that with shorter hours and increas-
ed wages there is a tendancy to 60
wrong which must be Offset by move
ments such as this great Temperance 7
movement and similar efforts for so
cial and civic betterment, or else the
increase in leisure and money viii
prove a curse instead Of a blessing
strive never to tell anyone what I do