The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-10
PRESENT WAGE SYSTEM
TO BE OVERTHROWN
"Cod Grant That II May Come as an
Evolution Rather Than as a Revo-
luton" Declares Dr.. Thayer at
Hedding M. E. Church.

"An overthrow Of the present wage
system in this country is surely coming
and God grant that it may come as an
evolution rather than as = revolution
said the Rev. DR.. Tbayer in his sermon
on the Common Purpose Of the Church
and the Labor Union" at the Hedding
NJ Z. church yesterday morning. Con-
tinuing, he said that It was the duty Of
the church to recognize the spirit Of the
labor unions against the "plutocracy
which is ruling this country to-day in
every way contrary to the spirit Of
Christianity, and together with the Ia
boring men seek TO create public senti-
ment for the abolishment Of the present
wage-earning system and bring forth a
system whereby there win be an equal
distribution Of the product Of labor; a
fraternal federation and every man will
be servant 10 servant. The church ought
TO be friend Of the laboring man and
am glad TO say that Il Is more so to-
day than ever before"
In beginning, Dr. Thayer said that the
presents day problem was how 10 secure
justice and equality for every man, not
IN the sense that every man shall have
the same amount Of money whether be
works for It or not, as II is sometimes
ignorantly alluded to, bat that there
shall be an equal chance for everybody,
and everybody shall receive a fair COM
pensation for the fruits Of his labor.
This question, he said, was not new
one. but IL Is as old As humanity itself
In the time Of Christ slavery was uni-
versal and now we have the present
wage-eaHning system which Is becoming
no better than slavery. Things were
nominally better, he said, before machin-
cry was introduced, when every man
made his own clothes and shoes; but
when the introduction Of machinery came
the whole fabric Of society was changed.
People say that wages have increased
in the past thirty years. As an example
as to how they have increased take the
statement Of railroad corporation which
claimed that it raised the wages Of its
employees per cent. from 1896 to 1902.
but the earnings of this same corporation
increased 50 per cent. in that period a
8 per cent. increase for the laborer and
62 per cent. for the capitalist Is just
what / maintain II not the fair thing
And furthermore, the cost Of living
in the past twenty years has nearly
doubled which is another obstacle in
the path Of the laboring man. The
with a large family must
accept The wages paid where he IS living,
fox il costs him more than he can afford
TO move where wages are better. He
never knows when be win be suddenly
out Of work for some reason for which
he Is not responsible, and be has not the
surplus to liYa on that is boarded in
the Golfers Of the capitalists. People say
that these things are bound To be SOL
thev nust ,e sos aet Say they need
not be 50.
TT Is surprising why good, honest men
ss soon as they become members Of a
corporation stand back and say, i am
not doing it i; ii Is the corporation. Cor
have had 10 be compelled to
adopt system and improvements for the
Of the lives Of their employees
which they had not done before because
they cried that II would prevent the
corporation from paying dividends, The
moneyed forces Of this country control
he principal newspapers, the legislatures
md pass and refuse to pass what laws
hey want to.
1T il a fact that we cannot live much |
ongeT under the present conditions IN /
his couRtry, and 4 crisis is surely com
ne. Plutocracy Is In control and Is max /
ng 1t harder for the wage-earners every
lay ] do not want my audience to think /
am a pessimist, but / say these things /
,ecause I believe it Is the duty of min-
sters Go preach the truth, and this is a
ruth that has got to be met. II is a /
ruth that the church has got to meet /
or the future of the churches In this I
ountry depends on the welfare Of the t
aboring man, If the laboring man turns
Igainst the churches they will fare badly. /
rhe church and the laboring people must
work together.
@The church is the best friend the
aboring man has, and through its moral
influence great good can be accomplished.
We must say TO the lahoring man, live
ight yourself create favorable public I
pinion, and vote as your conscience
,rompts you. Jesus Christ was work
ngman and lie is the only leader that
an lead you on to victory. He under.
tands and has the power TO aid yon if
-ou win look to Him and do as He would