The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-04-18
President Gompers Answers Let
ters Of Inquiry From the
Christian Endeavors,
Shows How the Endeavor Socie.
ties Can Aid Labor in Obtain :
ing Sunday Rest.


people demand, not as a privilege, but
as right. that they should have
the Sabbath for their own use. 1t
was made for man.
Resolved, That we urge our men,
bers to continue their warfare against
Sunday work, remembering that if six
men work seven days they do the
work of seven In six days: therefore,
every time six men work Sunday they
are taking the bread out of the mouth
of one fellow workman.
American Federation of Labor,
Executive Council.
Editor Christian Endeavor:
Dear Sir-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of your favor
Of the 18th inst. asking in what man.
ner the Christian Endeavor could as
sist In reducing the amount Of labor
performed on the Sabbath.
Before replying, permit me to say
that the statemnt to which you al
1ude is undoubtedly accurate, that the
labor leaders, and I presume that you
mean the labor Organizations gener-
ally, are in earnest in their effort TO
reduce the amount Of labor performed
on that day, but particularly you are
right when you add that they have
not had the support they should have
had from the Christian people
In many Of the cities throughout
the country there are large plants in
1ull operation on Sunday. Business
houses often have their establish
ments open on that day as on any
other day in the week.
In my judgment it is not only to
the progress Of our people, the per-
petuation of our race, liberty Of our
country the moral, material and in
tellectual advancement Of all that one
:. day of rest in seven should e. be the
universal rule. :
Seven day workers are positively
poor workers, lacking the vigo,
stamina and character so necessary
to the maintenance of a sterling man
hood and womanhood. AS seven days
Of labor, as long hours Of labor mean
low wages, and consequent depriva-
tion of most Of the interests OF life
1T steals from the workers the op-
higher, better and nobler spirit,
which gradually but surely takes from
the worker all appreciation of his
rights and renders his incapable Of
performing his duty as a man. as a
father ,as a citizen. so that I regar
1t as absolutely dangerous to all our
interests and to our progress that the
workers should be required to toll
more than six days in the week.
The workers-that is the organized
workers-are constantly engaged in
the movement to reduce the hours of
labor, and that also implies the move
ment to limit the labor Of workers
to six days per week, In other words
Sunday rest.
We have sought this by legislative
enactments and by private agree
ments with employers. In the frs>
instance, we have had little. if any,
assistance from the church, and in
the second instance our movement
has invariably encountered their op-
position.
In many of our Industries where
we have the power we positively pro-
hibit our members from working
more than six days week. In others
our members are not in a position
to make so bold a declara ton with
any degree of success; and others
in order to discourage Sunday work
and bring It down to minimum, in
the hope that it may be entirely abol-
1shed, insist that the wages shall be
doubled for working on Sunday. IN
stead of the church giving this latter
method their aid, they look upon 4
as an arrogance and demogogy on the
part Of the workers.
Yes Christian, Endeavorers can be
OF assistance in reducing the amount
OF labor performed on q Sabbath day
The only concerted and practical ef.
feet of the effort to obtain Sunda,
rest and some relaxation from bur.
densome toll is made by those wht
are organized, and whatever advan.
tages are enjoyed by the unorganize6
workers is the result Of the activity
Intelligence and aggressiveness of the
organized working people.
If there is an earnest desire or
the part of your society to help ir
this movement, let them encoura e.
organization among the workers an6
the movement, and when purchasins
d1IlCIeo " veal VI use let tnem SET
to it that the articles bear the unior
label, as it is the only guarantee O.
fair, cleanly, sanitary and moral con
ditions Of labor. Let them be arnes
in the effort to put a. stop to tn,
enuervating methods by which indus
try is too often carried on-too man,
hours Of labor each day, too man,
days of labor each week.
Assuring you that the toilers, will
appreciate any assistance which ca,
be rendered them in the work the,
have before them, have the homo
to subscribe myself, i.
,. Very respectfully yours, So.
~ SAMUEL GOMPERS,
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