The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-07
INDUSTRIOUS TO DOWNRIGHT
OF LABOR TO ORGANIZE
-REX. }. q. FREEMAN.
HAS Greater Right Than Capital,
Pastor Tells Lenten Audi
ence in Opera House

There is nothing more monstrous
In our Industrial life than for organ
ICED business TO deny organized la
bor" declared the Rev James T..
Freeman, OF Minneapolis, in the Len
ten MONDAY service, Thursday, in the
Detroit opera house. Organized la
Dor has made errors, grave errors,
but no more and no graver than or.
ganized capital. II big business in
terests have a right to combine, labor
has just as great right. Indeed, l
Incline to the belief that labor has
the greater right
When | first went to work back
In 1882 in the New York Central rail.
road Offices In New York, w. II Van.
derbiit. the president OF the road.
knew the first name OF every clerk
employed there. Today, IT is doubt
full Ii the head OF single depart
ment OF the road knows the number
OF men under him, let alone their
personality. II is SO In all lines OF
industrial work today. Twenty years
ago, yes. even less than that, most
employers knew their employees more
or less intimately and the boss al
ways had a friendly good morning.
Bill for the man in his employs To
-AatbM Is known ehiy-by-
he is merely a very small part OF
unit
III is not so many years ago that
| was startled out OF my clerical
stanG.aloofness from public matters,
10 find myself, within few hours. in
the Very thick of street car strike,
leading the labor side. ! was sitting
in MY study enjoying an agreeable
hook when my telephone rang. on
The other end OF the wire a rather
rough mans voice yelled at me What
are you going TO do about this strike"
| said TO him i think you are on the
wrong wire--this is Freeman. the
rector oil ST. Andrews Yes, know
who you are. came the quick reply,
and ! repeat the question--what are
you going 10 do about this strike?
| told the man | did not think | was
going TO do anything. that IL was none
of My business. None Of your bust
ress he cried. Well il II isn't the
business OF Christian men like you
what hope Is there for settlement"
The conversation continued a few
moments and after | had hung up the
receiver | began to think that the
man was right II was my business;
it was Gods business; II was the
business OF every decent person In
the community
This incident occurred on a Sat
; urday afternoon. | did not occupy
my pulpit Sunday. Why? Because
! was in the midst OF that strike. get
ting acquainted with the strikers, in.
forming myself ON the real situation
and making plans 10 do my share
toward settling the differences be.
tween the strikers and the trolley
company. From that moment 10 this
r have never ceased to preach that
the church is recreant to her trust
IL she does not take part In industrial
problems. does not concern herself in
her neighbors' affairs when those af-
fairs need her help and support. The
industrial worker today hears a great
deal about the brotherhood OF man,
80 much in fact that he is getting
tired OF IL because he sees so little
of il in practice.
Employer. business man. mer-
chant | say 10 YOU that you've got
10 take your religion into your bust
ness and apply it's principles in your
cQndCct toward your employe or the
Kingdom of heaven will be forever
lost TO you. And You. refined cul
tured women, who live in comfortable
luxury, YOU have got 10 put aside your
Silken garments and concern your
selves in the conditions under which
your sisters of the shop OF the fac
tory, Of the department store, work
and live. Tomorrow | shall tell You
some OF the substitutes to put up
against the lure OF the cheap dance
hall"
Since Dr, Freeman has been the
speaker in the MONDAY service, the
theater has been packed to the doors.
lie Is an unusually forceful and vital
speaker and holds the attention OF
the audience in breathless interest
throughout his brief address