The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-09-05
General Methodist Conference at
Baltimore Applauds Trades
Union Movement.z-.:z=:.:.:: T. !:
RECOGNIZES ITS AIMS
ENDORSES IT'S PURPOSES
Conference and Arbitration Re-
commended for Adjustment
of Trade Disputes.


general, conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal church held at Baltimore a
memorial setting forth the attitude OF
the church towar dlabor, capital and
the sanitary conditions surrounding
working people was adopted. The
memorial was formulated by the
Madison Avenue (New York; Metho-
dist church's committe on the church
an breads in part as follows:
Duty of Church.
1--WE hold it an imperative obliga-
tion that the church interest itself in
such questions as those of the niqui-
tous exploitation Of child labor, the
,carelessness as to life and limb too
often shown in factory, in mine and
IN railroads; the downward pressure
sPmetimes brought upon wages by the
competitive system; the chronic
phase of misunderstanding and indus
trial warfare between employers and
employed; the regretable breach,
caused by misconception on both sides
Of the spirit and purposes of each,
which exists between large number Of
artisans and the church.
Basis of Reconciliation. 4
we welcome every indication of
a:-desire to end disputes and .l1ostili-.
ties eD..a+o-6ad a ndsfp-~e~reevsa-s
ton. We especially commend all
those employers, whether individuals
or corporations who in the conduct
Of their business have exhibited a
fraternal spirit and a disposition to
deal justly and humanely with their
employees, particularly as to wages,
profit sharing and welfare work, hours
Of labor, hygienic conditions Of toll,
protection against accidents and will
lingness to submit differences to arbi-
tratfon.
Sympathy With Labor.
1--WE cordially declare our: ifraternal
interest in the aspirations Of the la
boring classes and our desire to as
'sist them in the righting Of every
wrong and the attainment Of their
highest we'll being.
Right of Organizing. .
I'VE recognize that the fundamental
purposes of the labor movement are
essentially ethical and therefore
should command the support Of all
We recognize further that the organ
ization Of labor is not only: the right
of the labOrers and conducive to their
welfare, but is incidentally of great
benefit to society at large in the Sc
curing Of better conditions Of work
and lifs in it's educational influence
if,,1
and particularly in the Americaniza-
tion of our immigrant population
While we cordially appreciate the So
cial service rendered the community
by captains Of industry in maintain
ing large businesses, affording employ
ment to hundreds and by their pro-
ducts serving the needs of their fel-
low men, yet our primary interest in
the Industrial problem Is with that
great number who by their conditions
Of toll cannot share adequately in the
highest benefits Of our civilization
Their efforts to improve conditions
should receive our heartiest co-opera-
ticn, as must all similar effort on the
part Of employers or disinterested Or
ganzations.
Adustmejnt Of Disputes.
I'VE are gratifled by the growth OF
the spirit Of conciliation and the
practice Of conference and arbitra-
ton In adjusting trade disputes, anc
we trust that these methods may in.
creasingiy supplant those :of strikes
and lockeuts. with attendant boycotts
and blactlistings. We urge all ou1
members, both employers and en-
ployed, to the fullest possible promo.
tion OF the principles Of Industrial
peace and human brotherhood. W.
record our arm conviction that the
church, In so far as it is an employer
OF labor. either locally Or through its
general organizations, ought to ex-
emplify in plactice the princinles