The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-02
capital is to let the spirit of the Master

capital is to let the spirit of the Master rule.
 I have no sympathy with any effort to break down the safeguards thrown around labor under the subterfuge that it is war necessity. Fortunately, I have , respectable backing in this opinion, for President Wilson says:
 T think it would be most unfortunate for any of the states to relax laws by which safeguards have been thrown around labor. I feel that there is no necessity for such action and that it would lead to a slackening of the en- ergy of the nation rather than to an increase of it. besides being very unfair | to the laboring people theInselves.''
 
 | The legislature of New York, at the l instance of big business fattening on | war profits. passed the Brown bill which, under the guise of patriotism. threatened the industrial standards Of the state. After the public hearing Gov ernor Whitman vetoed the bill, giving the | following well-tohught-out reasons: | If we are to sttain the greatest meas lure of efficiency in our preparation and 1 in our prosecution of the war we must not permit our people who are engaged in industrial pursuits to become appro- | hensive that the standards erected for their protection will be set aside. and we must not permit our Industrial popu- lation to have cause to feel that the wars burdens and sacrifices may rest most heavily upon the shoulders of those | least able to bear them.''
 l Secretary of Labor Wilson. who put in last week with us, doing everything in his power to bring about a more har- monious relation between the miners and l operators. also rings clear note that no labor laws shall be abrogated in this crisis. Listen to his wise worlds
 '"The counsel of national defense takes this position. that the standards that have been established by law. by mu- 1 tual agreement or by custom should not be changed at this time; that where either l tho employer or the employe has been able under normal conditions to change the standards to their own hkings they should not take advantage of the pres
 ent abnormal conditions to establish new standards"
 I am truly glad thar the churches of | all denominations have largely aabndoned l the former attitude of "other worldliness and are realizing that if as an institu- tion 1t Is to justify itself and hope for It's continuance, to command the support of the people, the church will have to con- 1 cern itself with the social and industrial conditions of workers, and must actively and whole heartedly advocate such re- forms as will permit men and women
 to develop their menta,, physical. moral and religious faculties.
 There is always danger that a preacher Il will undertake to settle labor troubles without ever having studied the question sufficiently to make his sermon carry weight beyond an emotional appeal. But
 every true minister will sympathize with the men who labor with their hands If he believes they are being unfairly treat ed. The pastor who will let any member of his flock be too closely sheared 10 furnish warmer clothing Tor his employ
 CTS without uttering his protest is out of touch with the Great Shepherd He
 should cry aloud and spare not
 t
 ] I do not think 1t necessary, nor do l
 believe 1t would be in good taste, to sug-
 gest to any preacher the way in which he
 should preach on the labor question. for 'I feel sure that every thoughtful pas
 tors heart h burdened by many of the