The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-07-08
this guard system which is a
detriment to the mining industry
of W"su Virginia
TRADES-UNIONS
AND THE CHURCH
Frank Duffy Discusses the Ques-
ton in the Carpenter in an En-
tertaining and Instructive Way.


our country. Their fault and
! vices, their likes and dislikes,
their schemes and hobbies, their
| desires and intentions have been
flauntingly portrayed to public
gaze from time to time. They
have been praised and condemned
in the same breath. The search
light Of investigation, both public
| and private, has been turned upon
all their actions in full force. So
far they have stood the test un-
fliuchingly. The latest fault found
with them is their neglect and in
difference in attending to their re-
,ligious duties. Recently the ques-
ton has been asked, "Why is it
that the wage workers do not at
tend church more regularly3'
Not by the public. Oh no; but
by the ministers of the gospel, by
| those who preach and live by the
gospel. 1t seems strange that at
this late date after centuries of in
dustrial turmoil and oppression, it
has just come to light that the
wage-workers are negligent and
dilatory in the performance of
their religious duties, and yet no
osh.c- citizen of onr great republic
attends church more regularly,
promptly and with Il greater de-
gree of reverence and devotion
than the wage worker. Might !
ask here, why should this question
come up at this time, when preju-
dice RACES rampant against the
members of organized labor7 Is it
| to throw odium on them or to hold
them up i'll ridicule to the eyes of
the public, to be condemned as
something bad, untitled and un-
suited for American citizenship,
and to be looked upon as unde-
sirable members Of society? 1
hope not. If the wage workers
were to remain away from church
for one Sunday alone every news
paper in the country would COM
ment on it the following day as
something unprecedented and as
something that could not be ac-
counted for. Might l not here re-
verse the question, and ask why
do not the millionaire, the capital
ist, the well todo, the representa-
tives of gigantic trusts, big COM
| panieS and great corporations at
tend churchf Call upon them to
answer for themselves this question
just the same rs we are called upon
now. At the. present time they
screen themselves in the shadow of
the poor wageworker: their
presence is not missed in the
crowds of working men and women
who during the week having done
their duty faithfully and well to
their employer try at least on the
Sabbath to do their duty to their
HOu- hclISlOD udTlnS no one, De
| he millionaire or workman. If it
was not for the refining influence
of religion and the severe and
astutc rigor of the law the animal
disposition in human nature would
soon assert itself and in that bar
barous state depredations would
| be committed that would shock the
| world. Then instead of being
greatest and most progressive
county on the face of the earth. as
we are acknowledged to be now,
we would be one of the most back
| ward There is nothing in the
teachings of the church to preEent
the workers from attending ser
vices. Did not the Carpenter of
Nazareth, - the great laborer, pro-
claim that the "Laborer was