Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-04
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Dr.. R. L. Wheeler Delivers Sermon for
Organised Labor Men.
HONOR ON THE BROW OF THE WORKER
Takes Occasion 20 Pronounce EulOGy
ON Edward Rosewater as Cham
pIon of the Common
People.
HONOR ON THE BLOW OF THE WORKED

DR.. r. L. wheelers Labor day sermon
met the approval OF the representatives OF
labor organizations who were present to
hear him. He chose as his text a portion
of l Kings, v, in which is recorded the
terms OF one of the earliest contracts OF
human history.
King Solomon there contracted with
Hiram of Sidon for the skilled labor Of the
sidonians In the construction of his won
derful temple said Dr. Wheeler. Tn the
text there is mention Of the advantages of
skilled artisans and the necessity of paying
them greater wages. BY that contract
wages were paid according to the house
hold, and by the entire chapter it was seen
that Hiram and his people were well
pleased with the terms. Solomon, in his
day the wisest and the richest man. recog-
nized the labor problem and mastered It
by a full appreciation of his duty. repre-
senting as he did the amassed wealth OF
the world. Hiram, on the other hand, was
an ideal leader OF the forces of labor willing
to accept fair proposition and just re-
Enumeration. In the entire history Of the
building of the temple, seven years, no men,
ton is made of any dissatisfaction or breech
OF faith"
The minister lIkened the temple to the
American republic, or the temple OF lib
erty. and thence proceeded to a brief dis
cussion OF the questions involved in labor
problems OF today. He declared that the
bare cost OF food for the average laborer
and his family is $3.50 per year, and the
minimum of necessities averaged $3.50, or
about Sass per day. This was the actual
need and accounted for none OF the ad-
vantages OF education or recreation. Here
then was great question to be righted, for
everyone knows that most laborers receive
less than the minimum OF $3.50 per year.
The pastor pronounced woe on the
country which crowds it's laborers down to
the mere necessities until they came to
their homes at night like an OK to it's stall,
and woe on the people who allowed their
laborers to be pushed to the wall and cruel
fed there. He said:
There is a time when the workingman
should strike, and strike hard or be less
than man. Strikes. however, are always
depiorable, often most cruel They have
been terrible In the past and may be again.
Out Of the struggle OF labor it's errors and
its crudities its great mistakes and vio-
ience; like the spirit of old John Brown
with his crude, Mathematical notions will
rise spirit which will light the torch of
freedom not alone to the south and the
black horror Of the slave. but to the world
OF toll and the home of the workingman"
At the close OF his discourse DIR. Wheeler
took time to pronounce a brilliant and
touching eulogy to the memory of Edward
Rosewater, touching on the first meeting
thirty-four years ago. He named him a
champion of the common people whose
name and memory would be higher a gen.
Grafton hence than it is today. like that
Of buffetted Robert Burns, martyred
Latimer OF Joan de Arc, burned at the
stake.