The Washington herald., 1907-12-30
CHAMPION OF LABOR
Rev. Stelzle Delivers Address
in BeIaScO Theater.
MANY UNIONS REPRESENTED
Informs His Audience that Organi-
zatiOn Has Come to Stay, and the
VIII Be for Good or EvII-Mnkes
Declaration Against Child Labor.

Declaration Against Child Labor.
Rev. Charles Stelzle. representative of
the church and labor. as he is called.
spoke TO the union men of the city yes
terday afternoon in the Belasco Theater
Mr. Steizle told the men what organ
lied labor stood for now. and what it
should stand for In the future He said
IL meant better and cleaner world
and the unions meant better employees
and better work. under better conditions
Mr.. Stelzle spoke 10 the men in short
sharp sentences. He meant every word
he said. and he would not use one word
that was superfiUous He told the men
the curse OF organized labor was the
saloon. and that they should wipe it
out. President Gompers. he said, was
doing what he could 20 get organized
labor away from the saloon.
The audience was large and enthusiastic.
Representatives from every labor union
in the city were present. Secretaries Of
many Of the organizations occupied seats
on the stage
Mr.. O'COnneII Chairman.
James O'Connen. president Of the IN
ternatonaI Association OF Machinists.
was chairman Of tie meeting, which was
under the direction Of the Y. NJ. c. \.
Percy Foster conducted song service
before the address by Mr.. Stelzle. Presi-
dent O'Connell. in a short address intro
duced Mr.. Sickle.
Mr.. O'Connell said.
There is no subject in which the peo-
pie are interested to-day or is as much
misunderstood as organized labor. Mr..
Stelzle found when he was a young man
il was for his best interest % join a
labor union. He doesn't go behind the
door to-day or IN an out OF the way
place 10 tell the people ne believes in
organized labor.
He viii tell you or anybody else he
believes in organized labor in the most
public place he can find. Organized labor
takes the woman OCT OF the sweatshop
and puts her II the home II is for the
home beautiful. so a man VIII want 20
stay there instead OF spending his time
In the saloon or gambling den. Il stands
for the abolishment of child labor ana
the improving OF working conditions"
Mr. OConneu then introduced Mr..
Stelzls
L see on the card which announces
that 7 am 20 speak here to-day" said
Mr.. Stelzle. that among other things I
am called "a socialist. I am not. II is a
typographical error. But / believe q man
can be a socialist and a Christian The
church has not preached the gospel 10 the
men 20 make them contented. Il has
preached the same gospel 10 the employer
and the employe. That IS not right.
Members Too Far Away.
II is hard for a man 70 put himself
in another mans place You who are
members OF labor union are toO close
10 the labor question TO fully understand
IL. You are not far enough away 20 get
a large view Of this momentEs question.
The employer has a vain hope that
II the labor union was wiped out the labor
question would De gone. but it is not true.
If there was not a labor union to-day. the
labor question would remain. The labor
union is not the labor question.
II believe in organized labor I do not
stand for all organized labor has done
any more than I will stand for all the
organized church has done Organized
labor has. al times. been unwise. II has
made mistakes. But IL has not mo-
nopoly on them. The church has also
made mistakes. Many years ago II made
the same mistakes organized labor is
making to-day. Employers associations
make mistakes. You do not have 70 look
far back into the history Of the church.
either. 10 find the time when they had
their boycotts and their slugging The
church cannot say I am better than YOU
-'The labor union has come TO stay
The question is whether its influence Will
be for good or evil. Every effort 10 make
organized labor an influence for the good
should be helped by the people and the
clergy.
The right 10 organize is no longer de-
batable Every one has "a right 10 organize
as he pleases. Capitalists may organize.
employers may organize, and workiHgmen
may organize.
The manager of a corporation or firm
who refuses t. deal with organized labor
IS making a mistake. He forgets he is
delegated By his employers TO watch out
for their interests. and TO make bargains
for them. He should recognize the walk
ing delegate
Against Child Labor.
Organized labor IS against child labor.
It is the only organization that stands for
a square deal for women. Organized la
Dor stands for equal pay for equal work.
regardless Of sex. Organized labor stands
for sanitary conditions in the workshop.
Labor unions called attention TO the
Unsanitary conditions Of the Chicago
stockyards before a sociallstic novelist
did, but IL seems no attention was paid
TO their appeals. But when the people
were reached, and they stopped patroniz-
ing these places. the conditions We're soon
made bearable.
Il believe in these things. and believe
in the good organized labor can do. be-
cause I know. I have not observed. l
was one Of the participants.
Thirty years ago lived in a tenement
in New York City. and. with my mother
and four sisters, worked in what is called
a sweatshop. We had two rooms on a ton
floor. When 1 was eight years Old /
started to earn my living. I have been
working ever since.
MY mother was paid 81 for making a
dozen wrappers, and it took her three
days and three nights to make a dozen.
say three nights. because l remember
many times that she was workiT when
/ went TO bed at midnight after hard
days work, and when I awOke in the
morning | found my mother still AZ
work. Time and time again she would
go without her supper, so myself and
my sisters might have something TO eat.
Some times II was only the crust of a
roll. For years We did not taste butter.
For ages, It seemed. we did not know
the taste of meat Do Won N,nnder I I'M