The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-08-01
UR.PROGR[ss l[ONG
:. THE SOCIAL HIGHWAY i |! | |!
Reflections on the Achievements
of Men in the Social and In =.
dustrial World.
By Reverend J. A. Lu1nley, Pastor
of Congregational Church,
West Duluth. LII

Ties. WHICH make LOT. the common wei
fare Of the human race, no matter
where found, or by what name desig-
mated, wisdom will gladly appreciate
and with sincere heartiness appro
pirate. - -...- >~'
The Nation Builders. a.. "
The world Of honest genius is dill
gently. and often selfsacrificingly,
seeking after the best things, land
the more excellent ways The
achievements Of men have been many
and helpful, the adjustments in the
social and Industrial world have been
humane-labor has been released
from the many severe muscular re-
qutrements, formerly so: obliga tory;
and to such an extent that some of
the present day scientists have ex-
pressed fear for the arrested phys
ical forces. The great nation: builders
have been introducing marvellous
mechanical devices by which the toll
Ing multitudes have been relieved Of
the painful burdens OF the days Of
yore.
Tho Retrospective View.
Surely the nation has been making
progress. It has been giving up the
severer modes for the gentler: the
longer hours of toiling for the fewer;
the smaller compensation for the
larger; the poor houses for better
places Of habitation; the primitive
slender opportunities for the match
lessly magnificent privileges Of the
times. In the march Of civilization
difficulties have frequently arisen;
disturbing elements have been met
and overcome; foes Of our national
progress have been fought and van
quished; formidable antagonists Of the
peoples rights and liberties have been
suppressed. The rights Of nations
and states and cities and peoples have
had to be protected. The assaults at
The wrath Of the assailants has been
dark, unskillful and dtabolic. The
wars Of light against darkness have
been fought with incalculable severity.
Nevertheless, right has been ''rnore
than conquerer:" Right has "tri-
umphed gloriously." >~-
Tho Shiftless and Extravaaant.
The present restlessness Of the
thriftless, imprudent and socially in
iquitous, those who unwarrantably
assume that the world owes them a
living they will not bear
It's burdens. but will seek to- dis
possess the rightful owners, the just,
upright and enterprisingcitizens Of
their honorab1y acquired properties,
their honest compensation for right
eous toiling. Such despollers Of legal,
natural and moral rights are the. real
parasites on the social and Industrial
body. They are the disquieting snarl-
ers; the sour negatives wallowins in
the pollution OF their own staknation;
they are the un-Afnerican spirited,
mostly foreign intruders with vicious
life and traitorous Intentions: mental
ly superficial, maelstrom like aff1ic-
lions, by clemancy, suffered to con
tinue within our natural borders.
These have been, for a season, bomb
throwing, tempestous threatehers of
our social interests; they have gotten
| a slender following occasionally,
among them may be found those
| whose hearts have been moved by
evidences Of suffering, mostly among
the misguided and improvident do
nestle incapables. Doubtless the SUI
ferings were real but who shall say
that they suffered because Of the pres
ent economic system Many suffer be-
cause they commenced housekeeping
In mistaken manner; they were
without training or capability; they
sought to rear the home structure be-
fore they had we'll and firmly laid It's
foundations; they desired to live a.
luxuriously in the formative period Of
their fortunes as those who hat
passed the days Of struggle, and haG
by industry and frugality secured {
competency, which in their later year!
they we're enjoying. The sufferers hai
not deemed it needful to exercise tn,
quality Of self-denial and contempla
lively manage the interests Of home
building with frugality until they wer,
justified in making greater displays
they would have, and they did have
the unnecessary things, sometimes
many things absolutely destructive t.
their common good. Statistics declar
that in our country there is annual!
spent for strong drink $500, o00, o0o
for tobacco $750,000.0o0, for: amuse
ments .$400.0oo,000, for confectioner.
$178.000,000, for chewing gum $11,
10000. These stupendous figures re
present the cost of the needless thing
in the life of the homo builder Fey
persons would be unwise enough t
call them requisites. +, .::s-9 p
9quandsring Of Earnings. -
Most all people will agree that thi
vast amount Of money Is most ex
pended by the persons designated q
! "the wage earners." It in but TAI
to assume that the taking Of this, al
most incomprehensive sum Of cas-
from the legitimate channels of trad
is most incabculalle embarrassment
Of the whole Industrial and social sys
tenn, IT the cause OF the :grevious i'm
poverishment of the struggling mil
| lions. a. q: .. :s.: t3aar '>s.i.n :
The fallaey of this modern nighs
mare, socialism, il that 1t, like tn
somnambulist, stalks about al i
should not, ana where 1t has not til
prudent right q thing to be epitie,
It stalks about because It IL not full
awake--it has activity, but its activit
is not governed by normal reasonin
mental faculties. - .a>s.Es !
81 - x -44 Fa|i1Sioe 81 4oo{aIisya.s :s"sE{ Il