The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-10-13
WAS MOSES FIRST Of
LABOR LEADERS?
Rev. Chas. Stelzle Holds That Re-
lease of Hebrews Was
Labor Problem.
Qualifications Peculiar. of Moses
Must Be Found in Success
full Labor Leaders.

New York, Oct. II. Rev. Charles
stenzle, In his weekly news letter to
the labor press in the Modern Moses
compares the ancient Hebrew leader
with the modern labor leader and SAYS:
Earliest of labor leaders was Noses
the man w44o delivered from a cruel
bondage the millions of Israelites who
served the Pharoah Of Egypt
The development Of leader is
always a slow process. This is particu-
larly true in the Industrial world
for in the labor movement there 1s
80 much at stake and so many interests
involved hat the raw enthusiast can
not be entrusted with the power of
leadership.
Enthusiasm there must be, but it
must be an enthusiasm founded upon
intelligence and a genuine experience
1t required 4orty years of solitude in
the land of indian to transform the
hot-blooded Moses, the adopted son Of
Pharoah's daughter, in the modest
Moses whose name has become a syno-
noym for meakness
Learned In the wisdom of the Egyp-
tlan, nevertheless he needed the soli-
tary life OF the shepherd on the hill
side to prepare him for the great task
of leading out into liberty the slaves
of the Egyptian ruler.
II ever Moses was a glib talker he
forgot how to use this weapon Of the
spellbinder. for when he was called to
his work we are told that he himself
protested, saying that he was slow Of
speech. Perhaps both his modesty and
his inability to speak f1uently were in
his favor as labor leader, for his task
was one which demanded, not burning
oratlons, but pallent endurance. When
he appeared before the oppressor of his
brethren his symbol or power was. a
shepherds crook-typical of his former
| occupation, and witness that he too
| came from the ranks. and that his heart
beat true to that OF his suffering kins-
men.
He came, too, with the consciousness
OF a sure victory, because he knew that
his cause was just. But more than that
he was confident because he came
In the spirit of a strong moral faith.
This Il emancipation which he was
about to witness was more than an
economic deliverance dependent upon
brute strength and the ability of a mere
man to exercise unusual power. He
had back of him the Omnipotent God
Of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob. the
forefathers Of the afflicted Israelites,
1t was the rengious element in this
| movement which made it all powerful
The deliverance was to come so that
the Israe4ltes might worship more
freely the God Of their forefathers. He
was to become their Rulre and their
Leader.
| This day awaits another Moses-aye.
many such--for again the masses need
to be led out of bondage-not always
the bondage Of the ancient Israelites
although theirs is. still call for such
service, but the bondage which enslaves
man to his lower self.
The qualities that were so conspicu-
Gus in Moses must be found in the mod
ern leader. He must be Of the people
for he. must understand their needs.
He must have .haa. an experience which
sobered him, so that he is familiar with
the DEEPER truer things of life. He
| must depend not so much upon his
! speech as upon his character He must
have the power which can come alone
| through the consciousness that his
cause Is just, and that back of him.
too, as He was at the back of Moses.
! stands the God Of the common people
who is saying through him Let my
people go."