The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-13


one of those writer's of the Bible who
were en- fire with G0d-given zeal for hui
man justice and .mercy-in rebuking, on
behalf Of the eternal law of God. the
spirit of commercialism which has always
been prone TO treat men as if they were
things. Professor G.. A. Smith, the dis
tinguished scholar and preacher of Glas-
gov, writes that when, to a large en-
ployer of labor, who was compaining
that his employees, by refusing to live
at the low scale of Belgian workmens
We're driving trade from Great Britain,
he lthe professor put the question:
Would 1t not meet your wishes IL.
instead of your Workmen being ievcled
down, the Belgians were leveled up? This
would make the competition fair between
you and the employers of Belgium The
employers answer was:
care not, so long as / get my
profits.
OR Smith adds: He was a religious
man, a liberal giver to his church. and
he died leaving more than e1ooooo-'
Large Range of Questions.
AT this point we come within view of
the large range Of questions involved in
the organization of labor, such as: The
question of collective bargaining; the JUS
tice of the demand, on the part of trades
unioniSts. to settle terms through their
chosen and salaried agents; the claim on
the part of employers that they can
treat only with committee of their
the claim which all of US may justly
make, where public utilities are involved
(and from what large modern industry
is this element wholly absentD that en-
ployers and employees shall not unduly
haraSs the general public by their dis
putes. These questions demand, for their
complete solution, a practical study OF
details, tact and good judgment but,
above all. | think, the spirit of concili-
alton. As there are different kinds of
employers, SO there are different kinds
of trades unions. No right-minded citi-
zen can defend the intimidation of fell
low men, who wish to exercise their right
to work, even at wages lower than the
normal. LaWlesSness of this sort should
be condemned. but so, we must candidiy
affirm, should all other kinds of lawless-
ness. I think we have learned some i'm
portant lessons, even through our past
mistakes. And we shall learn more and
mOre-the better, however. If we restrain
passions and seek impartial justice The
outlook is by no means hopeless, though
there are menacing clouds. We can all
recognize, 1 think, that in this city, with
in the last few weeks. we have had
valuable Illustration of what organized
labor can do to better the lot of wage
workers, using eOmmendable self-re-
Straint.
A Social Evolution.
Perhaps a large view Of things will
emphasize the conviction that we are in
the midst of an important stage of So
cial evolution Perhaps we have been
trying too long to put the new wine into
the old and WORKOUT bottles.
AT any rate, / plead for a Christian,
hrOtherly spirit And I plead for it. dis
justly due. in spite of misunderstanding
and discouragements and difficulties,
from those to whom the greater oppor-
tunitieS of education have been given.
And this is where the G. A. /. l.. comes
in. / could not have wished for bet
ter name. Possibly the Church Social
union, which has been in England no.
table instrument of social service, and
which, in this country, is now affiliated
with the G. a. l. L., represents the I'M
DERIVING principle more accurately. How
ever this may be. l am thankful that
this church of ours has taken a leading
position in upholding the principle that
the law of Christ is a practical law, to
be applied TO social affairs. as well as
to affairs of private morality In the
words of the late Bishop Huntington the
first president Of the c. A. 1. L:
g Mankind is not now to be redeemed.
but to be taught that the redeemer of
mems souls is the redeemer of society, of
the nation. of the state
&C. A. J. J.. now has for its presi-
dent Bishop Potter of New York. Prac-
tically all the bishops-if not quite all
are honorary vice presidents. Its prin-
ciples are simple New Testament Drin-
ciples. 1t puts PRAYER first among its
methods. 1T aims at definite, practical
Improvement. without sensational plat
form OratOry 1t publishes an excellent
little monthly entitled Hammer and Pen
1t seeks to inform its members. not to
inflame them It holds its convention
this week in New York
4 should like to see a chapter of it
or of the Church Social tInior-fornnad
here / should like 10 have even few
earnest men and women in this parish
representing. if possible. both employers
and waSe-workers. meeting together
praying together studying together so &C
to help in advancing Christ's kingdom
of peace and good viii areong men. Such
chapter might well investigate such
practical questions as child labor, the
drink evil, the working of company
stores.