The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-12
TENETS OF LABOR
/. TOLD FROM PULPIT
REV. CHARLES sTEIzLE OUT.
LINES UNION PRINCIPLES.
Former Minneapolis Pastor Here to At
tend Big Convention. Delivers Ad-
dress in Which Is Pointed Out What
Organized Labor Stands For, and
What It Has Done. n .

An unofficial preliminary to the
Labor today was an address at Oliver
Presbyterian church last night by Rev.
Charles Stelzle of New York, superin-
tendent of the church and labor de-
partmentI Of the home mission board IS
work. Mr.. Stelzle was formerly pas
tor of Hope chapel in Minneapolis. He
will attend the sessions Of the fedora
tion. $3
"The Other Side of Trades Union
part he said: e1The time has come
tthe universal vital problem Of the
world. It is sometimes forgotten that
the labor union is not the labor ques-
ton. If every labor union in existence
were to be wiped out, the labor ques-
ton would still be present, and that,
too, in more aggravated form than it
is today. 1T cannot be denied that in
spite of its shortcomings, trades I'M
ionism has brought nearer solution Of
the industrial problem.
Favors Employers Union.
Organized labor welcomes employ
crs' associations" which are organized
to safeguard the interests Of their men,
bers, but it deplores the organization
of union smashing alliances Of any
kind, which deny the same right to or
gained labor. There are times when q
strike is iustifable. God help us if the
day should ever come when the right to
protest is denied the workingman.
|. . Organized labor does not stand for
. equal earnings Of all workingmen, thus
reducing the skilled workmen to the
level of the lowest. It simply insists
upon the minimum amount which shall
be paid all workingmen. There is moth
ing in the laws of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor, which prevents an en-
ployer from paying an employee as
much as he pleases. It does not insist
upon the employment of incompetent
men. The American Federation of
Labor does not draw the color line. A
portion of the pledge taken by every
candidate reads as follows: 4 promise
never to discriminate against fellow
worker on account Of creed, color, or
nationality .. IS. ,.....
Mr.. Stelzle's address in continuation
was for. the most part working out
of a series of statements regarding fed
GRAFTON principles. These were outlined
as follows: . - ,">.. :
~ What It Stands For.
'The American Federation of Labor
does not object to the use of labor
saving machinery. Trades unionism is
not gh-salaried officials. = {
"The leaders of organized labor are
usually men Of unquestioned character.
At any rate, they will compare favor
ably with men in other walks of life.
e. 3 Value Ethcally.
'The labor union has an ethical
value which is rarely appreciated. La
Dor halls have become social centers.
Frequently helpful lecture courses are
given. Social features, uplifting char
press educates the trade unionist in
technical matters, presents higher ideals
and urges better living. a y :
,,,'Organized labor has done much for
the cause Of temperance among work
ingmen. Often the rules Of the union
declare that an injured man will not
receive the weekly sick benefit if the
injury was sustained while he was in
toxicated. More and more labor union
meetings are being held in halls which
are free from saloons. Rarely do they
meet on Sundays.
Trades unionism is doing more to
Americanize the immigrant than any
other institution, not excepting the
church, according to the United States
labor commissioner in the the bimonth-
lly report issued January, 1905. It is
teaching him the nature Of the Ameri-
can form of government. In the labor
union he gets away from his clannish
instinct, which. even his religion has
not heretofore been able to accomplish.
=" Organized labor has done much for
the abolition of child labor. For the
doing away of the sweatshop, unsani-
tary conditions in the shop and tene-
ment, and the long hours which left
the workingman no time for mental or
moral improvement. T realize that iso-
lated cases may be cited which seem
to disprove some Of these statements,
for which organized labor as whole
stands. ~ a. 1892