The Brunswick news., 1921-12-17
BROTHERHOOD IN INDUSTRY.

Brotherhood in industry is possible
and probable, J. w. Kline, president
of the International Brotherhood OF
Blacksmiths, Drop oFrgers and Help
ers, told the delegates to the, FEEDER
al Council Of. Churches of Christ in
America, in Chicago The subject OF
the evening was Brotherhood in In.
dnstry." "That depends entirely upon
the spirit that dominates both the EN-
ployer and the employee" he contin.
ued.
IAN honest employer has a right to
expect an honest days work for which
he rs willing to pay an honest wage.
The dishonest employer is demanding
that every fiber of mans being be
dflergized for his own benefit and so
he has installed every imaginable ma
chine to increase output and decrease
wages. So watehful is he in study
ing the movements of his employees
that stop watch that divides a sec
ond is used that even fraction of
that second is not wasted. That meth
cd is not the spirit of brotherhood,
but the spirit Of servitude.
'If We are to have a true and hon
est program Of brotherhood carried
out, there must be surrender of the
spirit of the task-master and the SER
want on the part of those who control
the destinies of the working classes.
Brotherhood in industry is, tc my
mind, most vitally needed if we are
to find a workable way to overcome
the evils in industry. Too many
churchmen who are employers as well
as too many churchmen, who are en-
ployees are inclined to fellow the spir.
it OF Peter who welded the sword Of.
steel until he was reminded by his
Master that it was not weapon to
be used in His service.
"The greed of mammon overshad
ows the spirit Of brotherhood. 1t has
withheld from the labcrer who reaps
our harvest, his wages. and an atone
ment will be required.
'If | thought II. c. Wells is correct
in his diagnosis of world affairs and
If the worlds ills are as serious ar
that noted writer says they are. the@
brotherhood anywhere is an rides
cent dream and the decalogue has
scant influence in T.odern business.
i, for one, will not scrap my faith and
allow my hopes to drift into an abys
nal darkness and bow to the powers
controlled by the spirit OF hatred
greed and war live in hope that our
Christian civilization Is not going to
drift into the quagmire of European
militarism and that it will not losc
any of its luster in the presence OF
shintoism, atheism, Jagnosticism or
other isms.
"The redemption and peace of the
world was purchased at an enormous
price but 1t Is man himself that makes
the vicarious suffering of the Son of
God meaningless by his intolerant and
inhuman treatment of his brother
man.
brotherhood is word used In FRA
ternitles but forgotten at the indus
trial conference table. Brotherhood
at the church alter should be genu
inc, but at the anvil and workbench.
Il Is far from realization The Rich
Young Ruler was a splendid moralist.
but wehn 1t WIS suggested to him
that he sell what he had and give II
to the poor. found that his spirit OF
brotherhood did not come mp 10 the
requirements OF the Nazarene.
"m the building up of the brother
hood in industry. there must be the
spirit &c toleration and recognition by
both employers and employees OF
their rights TO protection There can
be no unity in threats Of wage reduc.
tions ands lockouts on one side. and
their getting ready for strikes on the
other side.
"If the spirit OF real brotherhood
prevails In industry force would net
be necessary for one is dependent up
on the other. One organization.
through its financial strength. would
not mtimidate and refuse employment
Is men who belong to another organ.
izatlon, for the very life OF trade Hes
IN the mutual consideration 81 the
rights OF each and there would be ne
s,rch thing as aplocratic rule in IN.
slustry"