The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-08-19
AND
EXCHANGE
Regular Weekly Letter of the
Reverend Chas. Stelzle Pre-
sents Much Food for Thought.

Inc other fclloW-what should be our
relationship to him!
This is the sum and substance of the
social question. There was time when
some men-thc so-called privileged classes
believed that the rest of the world was
created for their especial benefit. All
others were made simply to serve them,
to make life soft and easy. They could
not bear to think of hardship or of suf-
fering. Such things were intended only
for the ''lowcr classes those who were
SO related to the beast of the field, so close
to the clods of the earth, that all the
finer sensibilities were absent from their
lives!
Well, most of these have seen great
light. They discovered that the ''clods -
were capable of better things, SO they be-
gan to "help' them on to the higher
things of life. Amazing was the degree
to which ''the man with the hoe could
attain when he was given half a chance.
That he could hold his own with the best
of those who formerly regarded them
selves as of superior clay, of ''bluer -
blood, of finer grain, was Il discovery
which came us great surprise. Be it
said to the credit of most of them, they
welcomed the rcveat ion that the com
mon people were made of the same ma
teral that they were: that their ideals of
life, their heart hungcrs, their SORROWS and
their griefs, their loves and their joys,
were very much like their own All the
more willing were they to give their lives
in service in behalf of their more unfor-
tunately suited neighbors
But we re ready for another step
in advance. 1t was a fine thing to help
the man who was so ready to help him
self, or even the chap who didn t. 1t was
Christ like thing to bear the burdens of
those who We're heavy laden. There will
always be such i'll the world Misfortune
and accident, the lack of opportunity on
account of physical disability or illness,
and good many other things, will always
leave in midst those who should be
given helping hand.
However, the normal man, be he rich
or poor, educated through books or
through experience; be he black or white,
yellow or red, no matter what his circum-
stances. SO long as he S who is do
ing man s job in the world. is ''help-
ing the other fellow in a way which is
rarely appreciated. The poorest neediest
man in the world, who is doing his best, is
rendering Il real service to the richest
man in the world. lie is making a contri-
button to the world S work which mere
wages do not repay. Even the despiscd
immi grant who doesn t understand a word
of English, but who is contributing his
share to the common good by shovcling
dirt in construction camp. is making a
debtor of the man who will later ride
over that railroad track in his comfortable
Pullman. made smooth running because
that Italian made a good Job of his shov-
cling. But everywhere in hnman life, in
the lowliest places, in shop and factory.
on the street and on the road. everywhere,
men and women. and even little children.
are bringing their contributions to the
great treasurehouse to which we all come
and freely draw-some more. some less
but he who draws mos: becoming the
greatest debtor to all mankind.
Here s the point, then: Let s talk less
about ''helping, about service,' and
let S think more about exchange - for
that s what it is, the exchange of our
| ability. our contribution. And he who
| teaches his brother great truth himself
| learns another. which may be of greater
value than the nugget impaired to the
other.
The Labor Argus from now until Jan