The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-06-19

~N---N-N~~ I
-. upon the occasion of the annual
labor mass meeting under the dlree-
ton of the Presbyterian department
of church and labor. Ii was undoubt-
eS,lv the greatest labor meeting ever
held in Denver. The audience was
composed of the trades unionists and
their families. with hundreds OF dele
gates who were attending the annual
convention of the national Preshy-
terrain church.
The Denver Trades and Labor As
seulhiy had appointed a strong COM
mittee with Max Morris, vice-presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor. as chairman. to visit the local
bodies in order to secure their IN
terest. Seventy-five of the locals
appointed vice-presidents who were
seated upon the platform. The local
Musicians Union volunteered band
of forty pieces under Satriano. the
famous handmaster of Denver, VINO
rendered selections which were
eheered by the immense audience.
Governor John +. Shafroth presided,
and the principal address was given
nv the Rev. Charles Stelzle. superin-
ssndent of the department of church
and labor. Mr., Stelzle spoke on A
Square DEAR and said in part. as
follows
,yrha most important thing about
the labor question is 10 give the other
fellow a square deal. The average
worSinSman is too close to the labor
question 10 understand it but what
IS true OF the average workinsman. Is
nrohaAav lust as true of the average
EMPLOYER. Thousands of men are
being asluaed by the vain hope that
If they can abolish the labor union
they will have solved the labor Qaes-
lion. These men forget that the labor
union is not the labor question. III
every labor union in existence were
TO be abolished today. the labor ques-
tson would stin be present
The trades union is symptom. II
i the effect and not the cause of the
Industrial evolution through which
we are passing. 1t has been accused
of numerous indiscretions and there
have been occasions when some EN-
movers have been justified IN reient
lesslv fSh,ing unreasonable demands;
hut the trades union must pass
through it's period of hysteria, JUS
as has been the case in praeucais
every great reform movement IN
s,nsssnv the church-for one need no
so very far back in the history o
the church 10 find duplicated every
thing that we deplore in ORGANIZED
labor today. even down to the oos
cettinS and the slugging- HoweVe
else the church and labor may als
agree. we can at least sympa'hi1
with each other in the mistakes ina
we have both made.
s.The trades union has moral an
ethical value which is rarely apprs
eiated. Ii is the greatest force
the United States for AmericaniHn
the smmigrant. 1t demands equal pa
10 men and women for equal wori
I. snnnlies a liberal education IN II
meeting halls and through the iaoe
preSS. Ii opposes child LABOR
Srrurrles for better sanitary cono
,soos IT is an influence for mol
temperate living. 1t invites memoe
shin REGARDLESS of race, creed or con
and it is fighting for universal peac
While recognizing the mistakes IN
,ne trades union has made. lets gl'
il credit for the good that II nj
accomplished.
AT a recent sociological eonierehs
somebody declared that during =
mast twenty-five years the ehureh u
Increased three-fold, but that duril
the same period. social unrest n
a,so increased three-fold. The speaS
concluded that the church. as mes
NJ Keeping down social unrest
hesn non-effective. As though
were the business of the church
ss.>n down social unrest. Rather
,h,A onuosite true II is the husins
Of the church to create soeiai uhrs
Y There are no labor troubles IN La
est Africa. but If the missionar
that the church is sending there
y.
ON TO their jobs. YOU VIII soon III
os demands for better social cor
tsons among the workers Ines
soon come TO see the possaoih'ies
them in Christian civilization !
has been the history of the Gnu
in practically every generation. ~
.rsr dark the age. the church
always been the whitest light IN
tory. and when reform came 10