The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-13
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


Nobody is truly awake to his time.
who is not aware that a class war
threatens civilization. The gulf be-
tween the wage-earners and the en-
ployers Is already a wide once; and
many observers declare that in this
western world. as in Europe, 1t is
growing wider. Both sides isolay,
in conspicuous instances, unrestrained
bitterness, and conduct that is indu-
bitably lawless. The recent revela-
tons in Washington OF the unscrupu-
1ous Vaccinations of the National
Association of Manufacturers quite
match the constituencies plottings OF
the Mcnamara dynamiters. Both pot
and kettle are black. Accusations
may fairly be made by both Sides
Ihat way, however, lies the mischief.
There Is too much wholesale denun-
c1atiOn-all of which promotes dan.
gerous class consciousness-and too
ate effort to find out all the facts and
solid basis Of justice. At the out
set, let it be clearly and strongly
stated that whosOever rails against
any group of his fellow citizens, be
he an employer denouncing labor
unions or a workingman denouncing
capital. is hurting his own case ana
the common veal as we'll. Calling
names never brought Justice: and it
Is a childish way for mature men to
deal with an issue Of gravest import.
Concentrations are always unsafe;
and in the field Of industrial question
they are positively dangerous
A recent scholarly writer upon the
lie OF Jesus suggests that probably the
Man OF Nazareth was a master car
penter. an employer of labor. The skill
with which he handled men. and the
readiness Of nfh0r IN hi
and his frequent assumption Of the
standpoint OF the employer in his par
ables. are cited as possible warrant for
this conclusion. The conjecture is in
teSestlng, although merely one more IL
lustration Of the profound truth that
Christ meets life sympathetically on ali
levels. That he was a working carpen-
Ter we know beyond doubt. He toiled
with his own hands. as did his father
before him. That he should have risen.
IKE millions of other workingmen since,
to be also an employer Of labor, would
not be surprising. In any case. he was
not q class Christ. The attempt to
make him the representative OF any
particular religious or social group is
doomed to failure. Jesus understands
the case OF all who labor and are heavy
laden; and he knows also. as his teach-
lngs show, the viewpoint OF the master |
OF the house. with his Industrial re-
sponslpinties. Jesus is qualified to sit |
rs memDer OF every conference be-
tween employer and employed.
When vital Christianity is ON duty In |
ootn onice and shop. there can be no |
nsurmountable labor problem.
nttie more sympathy, and a little
ess rancor on both sides Of every In /
austr1al dispute. will help to an earlier /
ing. @ e><-Aa
:. me gospel Of hate and of connsca-
non which is being openly preached BY
'ne extreme group Of labor akitaforn
nenaces the welfare Of all classes OF
,ociety. and the integrity Of the nation
tseL. Syndicalism and sabotage-I
which mean the class strike and the de-
'.Iuction OF employers properfy-are
lotnlne less than anarchical. The sav-
ny sense OF the wholesome Amerfcan
'pir1t regulates them.
certain big truths lie at the base Of
ne iapor question. and no fiiscussfon
. the subject can fairly ignore them. s
me Is that in this land there are "a +
lxed classes" Most employers 81 Ia
'or mere were once themselves laborern.
Aao there = : constant addition c6 the: