Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-09-09

lean citizenship. II is proud and re
spOnsible privilege TO be a citizen OF
this great self-governing nation; and
each Of MS needs 10 keep steadily be
fore his eyes the fact that he is
wholly unfit 10 take part in the work
Of governing others unless he can first
govern himself.
He must stand mp manfully for his
own rights; he must respect the rights
OF others; he must obey the law and
he must try to live up to 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 each TO
treat the other reasonably and fairly;
each to look at the others side Of the
ease and 10 do the other justice. If
only this course could be generally fol-
lowed the chance Of Industrial disas-
ter would be minimized.
Now, my friends, / want 20 read
you an extract from a letter / have
just received from n Catholic priest,
whom know well, and whom l know
TO be NJ stanch a friend Of the labor.
ing man as there Is to be found in this
country. Now and then-not too Of
ten II is a good thing for all Of us
to hear what 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
(even 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 us good.
With this foroword, here is a part
Of the letter;
al would humbly recommend that
you lend your entire weight to the
rause which the Catholic Total Absti
ncnee union Of America represents
and especially 10 in relation to the
classes Of this country, for
whom il il doing 20 much good. You
know that the temperance movement
Il n potent auxiliary to the institu.
lions OF our country in building up a
better manhood, and a truer Christi
lnity among our citizens. IL played |
! very important part in the two coal
strikes Of 1900 and 1902, respectively,
~ keeping the men sober, and thus re-
moving tho danger Of riotous and un-
becoming conduct. There Is one dis,
'ouraging feature connected with the
Upward tendency Of the wage scale
'mong the workmen Of this country.
rho higher the wages, the more money
hey spend In saloons. The shorter
he hours, the more they are inclined
o absent themselves from home An Il
apparent disregard for family ties is
,rowing among the poorer elasses
which will eventually lead TO a disre-
'ard for tho blessings our country af-
ords them. Hence. with an increase
4 wages corresponding movement
or better manhood. nobler citizenship
md truer Christianity should be set
N foot The dignity of labor should
% maintained, which can be done only
Trough the love that man should
ave for his work. and through the In,
which he puts into II. A
teady hand and sober mind are neees-
ary for this Hence. the necessity OF
he temperance cause, and OF the Of.
orts which organized abstainers are
hitting into the moyementU
~ l. - 4 -. t4. 4As