The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-31
CHURCH ATTITUDE
TOWARD UNIONS
Workers Have Right to Com
bine to Promote Interests.
NO MENACE TO SOCIAL PEACE

Organized Labor Strongest Lever Yet
Discovered For the Economic Uplift
of the ToIIer-Wage Garner Who Re-
fuses to Become Unionist Lacks Spir.
Il Of Solidarity.
We wish to analyze In detail the at
titude Of the church toward labor
unions. When speak Of the church I
mean the great historical church of
Christ. And thus do define her posi-
ton with regard to the unions:
The church approves Of the principle
Of association and of its application in
the various departments Of social life.
She claims that the right to associate
with his fellows for the attainment Of
a legitimate end Is birthright of man.
She has gained 1t for herself and is
most willing to extend it to all lawful
purposes. Laborers. have right to
combine In order to promote their COM
mon interests. In doing SO they violate
no just law; they imperil no legitimate
interest; they act within the sphere Of
f, social justice. What is right cannot be
| detrimental to the commonwealth nor
subversive Of order and peace. Labor
unions in themselves cannot be regard
ed as menace to social peace or as an
injustice done any one else. They are
lawful, expedient, commendable. They
are desirable.
No stronger lever for the economic
and social uplift Of the laboring classes
than labor organization has as yet been
discovered. 1t makes for the independ-
ence of labor, the greater security of
its remunerations and Its protection In
every sense. 1t brings to recognition
the dignity Of labor and its social value
and prevents Its degradation and ex-
ploitation.
1t would follow from this that labor
ers themselves should appreciate their
unions, as they stand guard over their
vital interests. The wage Garner who
refuses to join the union seems to be
lacking in the spirit Of solidarity. His
view is narrow. He understands not
his real interests. He weakens his
own cause.
The employer should recognize the
right Of coalition on the part of his en-
ployees. He should not thwart or balk
their efforts of organization. IL he does
this he does them an injustice, making
the exercise of fundamental right Inn
possible. There is long way from an
abstract recognition of right and the
full souled, hearty acquiescence in It
The latter should be the attitude Of
the employer. But all the unions at
tain to in most cases Is mere toler-
ance, grudgingly and niggardly ac-
corded. A favor so ungraciously be-
slowed calls for no great gratitude; a
right SO unwillingly admitted begets no
good will -
How different were the situation II
the organizations Of the workmen were
heartily welcomed and treated with
kindly consideration! Would it not i'm
mediately change the spirit Of the
unions, convert them into friends and
allies? Confidence begets confidence,
friendship breeds friendship, good will
creates good will. The hostility and Of
fensive attitude Of the unions toward
the employers are mostly nothing but
the echo Of the intolerance and the con-
tempt of the employers who have re-
pulsed the well meant advances of
tho{r np,nlnuaoo Tho rafIIcaI RI roanO.
nize their unions embitters the labor
ers, for it bespeaks an implicit inten-
ton of gaining oyer them an unfair
advantage and of curtailing their
rights. The man who desires to do
what Is square by his workmen has lit
tie reason to oppose their unions, for,
though the latter occasionally are
guilty Of excuses and make exorbitant
claims, they generally remain within
the limits Of justice and equity. The
honest recognition of the trades unions
Is little short Of social duty, If it Is
not really demand of justice.
If laborers have the right to form
unions and there be undue interference
with the exercise of this right it be-
hooves the public to remove these ille-
Ultimate barriers. 1t is reproach to a
society If within its bosom class Is
: prevented from exercising its rights
and is thus handicapped in the pursuit
Of its natural happiness. The public
enjoys the fruits Of labor; it is then
also responsible for the condition I'M
der which this labor Is performed.
We sum up. The church strongly adj
vocates the principle Of association. In
her doctrine Of the brotherhood of all
men she establishes the firmest foun-
dalton for associated life. Her infu-
. ence is everywhere unifying, conciNa-
tory, fraternizing. AS long as the
unions pursue just ends with legih-
mate means they enjoy the approval Of
the church. Under her tutelage won
derful and efficient organization Of
labor sprang up in the middle ages.
| The church views with favor the ef-
q forts Of the unions to better the mate
: rial conditions of the workingmen and
to educate them to higher level. u
deplores their occasional excuses, but