Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-28
SENTENCE OF LABOR
LEADERS DISCUSSED
FELLOWSHIP MINISTER ASKS
FOR SOBER THOUGHT
Christianity the Law Of Love, and the
True Character of Its Founder
Is Never Properly APP
preciated

| Reynold e. Blight, minister OF the
Los Angeles Fellowship, discussed the
recent sentence of the labor leaders in
a prelude to his address yesterday at
Blanchard hall. He said:
Last Wednesday Samuel Gompers,
John Mitchell and Frank Morrison, all
officers OF the American Federation OF
Labor, were sentenced to twelve
months, nine months and six months
in prison, respectively. These sem
fences were imposed by Justice Wright
of the supreme court of the District OF
Columbia for contempt of court in
violating an order enjoining them from
placing on the unfair or We don
patronize' list the Buck Stove and
Range company of st. Louis.
at Is a serious thing to criticise the
action of the courts. If we attack the
integrity of our Judiciary we are strik-
ing a blow at the bulwarks OF law
and order Philosophical anarchy is
the dream of poets and prophets, but
anarchy at this time would mean dis
order and Chaos. The good citizen is
the law-abiding citizen, and every sane,
conservative, patriotic citizen is under
obligation to uphold the authority OF
the courts and the dignity of the law.
If the law is at fault it must be rem
edied, but so long as the law exists
and the courts earnestly try to admin
lister Justice in harmony Herewith, the
law should be obeyed and the courts
supported. So much for abstract prin-
ciples.
1.-THE sentencing of these labor lead
ers will have a far-reachtng effect. The
high position occupied by the men in
volved the notoriety of this particular
conflict between capital and labor and
the publicity given to it by the daily
press make it a historic decision. The
labor leaders believe themselves
wronged, and, coming as the climax
of a long series of court decisions dis
eliminating against labor, it has tend
ed to aggravate and irritate the labor
men of the nation to an unusual de-
gree. We should not hastily condemn
the men who as representatives of or
gained labor have been sentenced for
contempt. Let us not forget that in
every generation the reformers, the
progressives have been lawbreakers.
The laws and courts have often been
the buIwarks of special privilege, re-
action and tyranny, and the most pa
triotic citizen has been the man who
dared denounce their injustice and was
brave enough to go to Jail for con-
science sake
when we see wealthy and powerful
lawbreakers fined by impartial courts
for violating law and by legal hocus-
pocus relieved from the necessity of
paying the fines, while on the other
hand labor leaders are sentenced to
long terms in prison for acting, as they
believe, within their rights as citizens,
we hesitate to pronounce judgment
upon them.
Even if the decision is unjust it must
not be used to inflame the passions of
the multitude, to stir up strife and to
set class against class Such agitation
is wicked and indefensible. The sober
minded citizen must remain cool and
dispassioned and use his best influence
for moderation and tranquility in the
hope and belief that justice will finally
be done"
The subject of Mr.. Blight's address
was Jesus Christ the Enigma of the
Ages" and he made the point that
Jesus has never been understood be-
cause the principles by which he di-
rected his life were in conflict with the
selfish ideals of each succeeding age.
We shall never fully appreciate Jesus
until we measure men and things by
dove. Above all things he was a lover
| lover of God and a lover of mem
and that made him a martyr for the
truth and the worlds redeemer.