Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-30
SHOP TALK AT
 RICHMOND RADIATOR CO
Given by Rev. c. H. Ricketts Upon
 Unifying Influence of Labor.


 At the plant of the Richmond Radi- ator company Wednesday noon Rev. c. H. Ricketts addressed a good sized audience of men on the Unifying In
 iuence of Labor. Pleasing solos were rendered by Mrs L. O. Potter, accom- panied by Miss Kramer. Rev. MT. RicBetts said that the tendency of the age was towards unity and that all the world was realizing the folly Of each one going his own way when by working together intelligently so much better results are accomplished.
 The reason why the Middle Ages have come down to us as the Dark Ages is due to a lack of unity. Every body seemed to be against everybody else. The army of one nation was al most constantly pitted against some other army; one petty prince was all the time trying to throttle some other petty prince; the merchandise of one people was considered contraband of war by some other people and this general lack of cohesion resulted in weakness and suffering.
 Swinging Towards Unity.
 So apparent is the folly in making world interests separate and unrelated that we are now swinging in the di- rection of unity. There is of course the danger that the pendulum will swing to the opposite extreme of cen tralized control But we can no more stem back the incoming tide of pro- gross because of possible dangers, than we can the flood tide of the Atlantic because it covers the white shore with seaweed. The get together spirit is touching all life with a potential inspiration. The time was when the banks of every considerable stream in New England were marked with little wooden mills or cotton mills. But that day has passed, or is rapidly passing. The little mill, living its separate ex- istence, has either been wiped from the map or merged into the big cor pOration. Quite recently one might have seen the little rural schoolhouse nearly everywhere in New England. That little schoolhouse has made an incalculable contribution to New Eng lands organic life. But it is passing in obedience to the voice of unity that is saying: Get together. consolidate, combine for the sake of efficiency" and who would keep back the spirit of the age? Now and then there breaks forth on almost audacious desire for a con- solidated ChriStendom. In one great branch of the Christian family more than half it's energies are wasted In keeping up it's denominational fences and a farm of which fences are the chief product is a mighty poor propo- sition. Not very much has thus far been accomplished along this line, but the great modern spirit of getting to- gether will not down. Years ago much was said about state rights but that question has been completely over- shadowed by the rapid growth of fed eral control The great Jefferson would stand appalled, before the pow CT exercised by Woodrow Wilson. In every department of life we feel the onward sweep of this majestic spirit of unity.
 Unity in Nature.
 Study any map that shows the phy- sical features of the earth's surface the sense of relation. and unity. AS a concrete example take the great Mississippi valley, and how strongly bound together are these physical facts. The roar of the freshet in the mountains of Montana is answered by the bursting levee in Louisiana; the denuded AppaIachians make Arkansas and Missouri suffer from low water. The tFlrob of Pittsburgh is felt by the great heart of New Orleans, two thou sand miles away. Nature has made mighty organism out of mountains valleys, forests, lakes and rivers. In dustrial, agricultural and all human life is supported by the unity in na ture. If one needed more proof of this, I think the human body with its different organism working toward the same intelligent ends, would satisfy all reasonable doubt
 Labor's Unifying Influence.
 Let me prove this statement by re- ferring to the iron industry in which you are engaged. 1 think you will take 1t for granted that iron is deposited in Pilot Knob and on the shores of Lake Superior by natural forces working in unity and tremendously. Iron has slept in the depths of the earth for unknown centuries, and it would sleep there till doomsday unless disturbed by labor, Nature has no process known to man whereby iron ere can be Wrested from the mines and transformed into steam Labor is the only connect ing link in the providence of God be- tween natures supply and mans de- mand, Is it not labeF that digs the crude ore cut of the mines and puts it into Sthe proper shape fer transPorta- tionS? Is it not labor that puts it upon ears fer shipment. thus connecting the iron trade with the railroad business? ? Is it not labor that transports frenl Pilot Knob or Lake Superior te the foundry? Is it not labor that meits Again the railroads and other modes 9f shipment eeme inte play before the product finds it's place in the structure of a mans house The dis tance between nay study and Pilot Knob is a, long one, but it is sPanned by chain, every link ip which repre- sents some form of labor. This is a good illustration of the unifying inf1u- ence of labor
 It has been said that nearly all the