The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-11-10
Minister Favors
Organized Labor
Pastor at Plymouth Church Declares
Unions Are Force for Good

W
print the opinions of an eminent di.
vine on labor organizations. Few
churchmen are so outspoken on the
subject.
81 speak as the friend of organized
labor" said the Rev. Albert w.
Palmer at Plymouth church, Oakland,
Cal, in his special Labor day sermon.
"Only by collective bargaining can
the workingman secure for himself
under present conditions anything like
proper treatment or his just share of
the product of his labor. One EN-
ployee, for example, is helpless against
railroad corporation, but a strong
organization of all employees is not
helpless. If men can combine their
money into a great corporation, other
men have the equal right to combine
into a great labor union. | believe
that labor has sometimes made mis-.
takes and been badly led. There are
times when unions make excessive
demands, and then the employers
ought to oppose them. There have
been times when organized labor has
seemed to condone crimes of violence,
whereas the wisest labor leaders
know that the cause has everything to
lose and nothing to gain by violence.
81 do not believe that labor unions
ought to be abolished or crushed. If
the closed shop is necessary for power
full and effective unions, then l am for
the closed shop, because strong and
self-respecting unions are necessary
under present conditions. They have
a part to play in educating the work
ing men to greater industrial re-
sponsbility and self-control and in
preparing for that true industrial
democracy when those who invest
their labor in an industry shall have
their proper voice in the control of
that industry quite as much as those
who only invest their money.
"Those who would crush the labor
unions are foolishly short-sighted. TC
destroy the measurably responsible
labor union is only to drive under
ground a sense of injustice which will
sooner or later break forth in the
most unreasonable and revolutionary
social rebellion. When relatively con
servative common action in labor
unions is denied the ground is pre-
pared for the most radical kind of
syndicalism and even anarchy. If you
prefer the |. w. W., just destroy the
A. F. of L. and the l. w. w. will come
in to take its place"
Another Subject
Having given the views of the rev
erend gentleman on the labor ques-
ton, it is only fair to give his views
on another subject-prohibition. In
this. too, a large percentage of the
membership of organized labor agrees
with him. He says:
Because | am a friend of organized
labor | appeal for fair hearing on
the question of liquor and labor. There
is Just now a decided movement in
the ranks of organized labor toward
prohibition. Some say it is only in
spite toward the San Francisco Cham
Der of Commerce 1t is certainly true
that the liquor men in the Chamber of
Commerce have not proved the friends
Of labor that they usually claim to be.
But as a matter of fact the movement
for prohibition has other reasons for
it's existence in the ranks of labor.
What has happened in Oregon and
Washington? The so-called Grape
Protective Association a few weeks
ago issued a statement that prohibit
ton had reduced rentals in Portland
Sc TO so per cent, that whole buildings
were empty, business at standstill
and 10000 people had left town be-
cause of prohibition. | repeat their
statement because you may see it and
be misled by it.
1T is simply and absolutely untrue.
hold in my hand letters from the
Chamber of Commerce. prominent
business men, and the Mayor of Port
land himself Indignantly denying the
statements of the Grape Protective
Association The real facts are, these
Portland men say, that rentals have
not decreased, though crime and
disease have; that bank deposits and
clearances are much greater; building
permits for June, 1916, double those
for June, 1915; automobile business
doubled, while school reports show an
increase of population. l have similar
and even more striking evidence from
Seattle and Spokane
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
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