The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-09-02

..fylfs Is sermon preached to the man
/ Tithout work. Why is criticism sharper
| against the Sunday laborer of the fields
| Why does lecture usually accompany
| the charity handed the laborer's widow
/ Why is labor representative called an
| agitator and labor leader a dema-
| gogue? Why does not the workman feel
at home within the cathedral he helped
TO raise? Why is opposition made to
the organization of labor, Why are
these things? And, on the other hand,
why do some laborers becioud their
cause by calling names?
II believe the simplest and truest sin
gle answer to these questions is that
| it is largely matter of habit. | am
reminded of the dialogue that took place
between two Irishmen. What's a mir
acle, asked Pat. "A miraclef said
! Mike, why miracle iswell, let me
Illustrate Supposin OF fell out of the
third story window of Grogan's block
and wasn't hurted, now what would you
call thotT An accident, Oi suppose,
answered Pat. Well now, suppose OF
fell out again and wasn't hurried, now
what would you call that Why, a
coincidence, Mike, Oh guess We'll now,
suppose Oi fell out agin and wasn't
hurried, now thin what wud you call
thot?' 'Bedad, I'd call that habit
THE employer long has been in the
habit of preaching and lecturing to la
Dor, of patronizing it when their views
met and of damning it when their views
differed. And labor long has been in
the habit of treating employers in
similarly foolish fashion. | believe these
are bad and unnecessary habits and work
more injustice than justice. Labor is
too dignifed, and capital too dependent
on labor, for either to follow such hab-
its of speech and treatment. These are
the things that lead to violence; and
you will agree, | am sure, that labor
is too powerful, the world too conscious
of her strength, ever to make it neces-
sary for labor to adopt violence either
as a remedy or for revenge. These are
the things that create, but do not cure,
dissension; and. like all bad habits, in
jure both subject and object. Were such
habits of expression and treatment cast
away by employer and employee alike,
close indeed would be that prophetic
day when peace and good will reigned
among men.
II have no sympathy with those who
continually array capital against labor
and labor against capital, who pirate
about classes and masses, who Judge the
many by the few, who cry Wolf when
there is no wolf, who descend from dip
lomacy to dynamite. These men. these
things, set men at each Others threats;
they destroy, but do not build up. Sup
pose there should come day when la
Dor and capital said to each other, we
are interdependent; capital employs la
Dor tits true, but tbs also true that la
Dor employs capital; let us not meas.
ure labor with the manufacturers meas
ure, nor measure the manufacturer with
labor's rule; but let Us find a measure
that will measure both And such
measure there is ready at hand for use
IA measure that measures our conduct,
toll and thought, with an accuracy di-
vine-a measure whose gold was mined
in the mountains of eternal truth--the
golden rule.
Right at hand lies an opportunity
to this rude. Last March the citizens of
this state added 10 its constitution this
provision: 'SThe general assembly may
pass laws compelling compensation for
injuries received by employees in the
course of their employment resulting in
death or bodily hurt, for the benefit of
such employees, their widows or next of
kin. 1t may designate the class or
classes of employers and employees to
which such laws shall apply" Legisla-
ton shortly will follow this amend
ment. OF course you are interested in
this legislation. You ought to be, for
it is of the utmost Importance to your
dependent ones, and the legislation ought
to be of the best, for it largely con-
Germs women and children.
Speaking broadly, the order of prog