The farmer and mechanic., 1909-10-26
ARE THE POOR OR THE RICH MOST DAN
GEROUS?

Inc Charlotte Observer SAYS that
senator Smiths utterance was the
most sensational at the conference.
senator Smith was last year elected to
the United States Senate from South
oafolna. he is a brother of the late
Dr. A. Coke Smith, Bishop of the
Southern Methodist Conference, q
IeaOer OF the cotton farmers and a
man OF zeal and high integrity. InE
the long debate and many votings on
the Aldrich tariff act, not once did
Senator Smith vote for a special tax
Tor trusts OF special privilege, but
voted against all species Of robbery
under the forms of law It seems
that, like his distinguished brother, the
late Bishop, Senator Smith is a Meth
odist and a leader in the lay work of
Charlotte Observer:
Il bring no railing accusation
against the spirit Of the church, but it
seems to me it's time the multi mil
Honafres are having missionaries sent
10 them. You emphasize the petty
wees which are seen in the poor and
then doff your hats to the scarcely
yelled crime that is stalking in silk and
gold, while the lOWly are being damned
by the vices of the high {Applause.)
This was the most sensational ut
terance OF the entire conference.
''If the church would cry aloud and
spare not and convict the thief who
steals railroad as quickly as the one
who steals a penny, the situation would
be rcnedied. We should give assurance
to the man OF low station in life that
when he strives to be better than he is.
the hand Of real friendship will be
held out to him.
Senator Smith spoke feelingly of
the pathetic scenes he had witnessed
in cotton mill vil1ages-of children
whose bodies were starved for lnsutfi-
cient food, Of mothers with everlasting
despair in their faces, Is it any
wonder that the seeds Of anarchy
spring up and thrive in their hearts :?
II have seen the bloom taken from
my own mothers cheeks and l have
seen her place herself in the stony
road in order that her children might
| have Il little easier experiences. DO
/ YOU suppose l would not rebel against
| the forces and the men that shape the
forces that stole from my mother the
/ beauty with which my love would
| have surrounded her?
means good tidings of great JOY which
shall be to all people," and that dOesn t
mean 4 theological dissertation on the
! hypostauc union, either, sad the
speaker. Christ harmonized the
functions of the body lie gave real
! help to those who needed if. The @os-
pei Of good viii means giving every
man q fair show, not because you are
a church member, but because You
love humanity"
The evils of child labor cannot be
tover-stated. Agitation, public scnti-
m ent and legislation have lessened this
evil. but there is much work yet to be
done to give TO the child the right tc
Gods sunshine and play instead Of be
ing too early tied to the shade Of fac
tory labor. Senator Smiths refer
ence to conditions when he was q
child, and to the forces that stole
from my mother the beauty with
which my love would have surround
ed her" and the "pathetic scenes IL
cotton mill villages should stir the
people everywhere to better these con
, ditions and labor to reduce the hours
i'm the mills and keep children nndeI
fourteen from working in the mills.
Why has the church lost power il
the busy centres? Is it not because
men and women who toll feel tina
there is more sympathy with the ficl
, and more praise Of Wall Street for the
donations it's nagnates give OF tainted
= money than With the children of th'
poor, working long hours and living II
iunhygienic homes? O, for a churcf
. that will make the men and women II
! the hard places of life feel that it eN
2 lists 10 show them a better way ane
: that it will not be silent when rich men
! generous with money, cOnSplrc to tak'