South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-05
LABOR CAUSE
IS UPHELD BY
TWO SPEAKERS
Minister and Union Leader
Address Union Services at
Methodist Church.
SEES FRANKNESS NEEDED
indianapolis Minister Cham
pions Right of Collective
Bargaining of Workers.

What labor owes 20 the church
and what the church has done for
labor We're forcefuUy presented at
the union services in the First Meth
odist church last night Two champ
ions OF labor. one the editor of the
Blacksmiths and Helpers Journal.
and the other the pastor of the East
10th ST. Methodist charch. Indian
apois put forth the merits of or
sanized la Dor.
w. NJ. Martin of Chicago traced
the growth Of organized labor and
IN detailing its history portrayed the
: development OF union from the days
Of the scrfs and vassals 10 the guilds
and thence 10 the start OF the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor II years
ago in New York city in the rear of
"a cigar factory.
~Touers found 10 necessary TO or
ganize." said the editor Of the Black
smiths Journal They had to pro-
tect themselves among other things
from the effect of immigration. men
from Europe coming 10 this country
and working for a mere pittance.
Wages were held down and strike
after strike developed.
Strike I.abOr's Last Desire
"A strike is the last thing that
labor wants. 1t is its one weapon
for self protection. Labor showed
as its last national convention in
Denver that IL has represented
100000 workers
The question has often been ask
cd what is labor and why does not
it occupy its rightful place? Labor
is defined ACCIDENTALLY as the effort
made for the satisfaction Of human
needs. It is placed in importance as
first with land second and capital
third.
Labor does appreciate many Of
the things that have been going on
in the church. IL owes a debt Of
gratitude for the good IL has learned
in them. IT owes the church it's graf
itude for the Interchurch investiga-
ton OF the steel strike. and for the
investigation OF the tramway strike
in Denver. Labor owes much for the
Improvement of working conditions
20 the church. Then, too. the church
has taught the parents OF little ones.
and even tOiiers, the necessity for
them in turn 20 teach the children
>~heir prayers. Labor remembers the
Influence it cast over labor. 1t is un-
fortunate that this influence is not
working strong today for labor is
not well represented i'm the church.
But he time is dawning when labor
viii again take its place i'm the
church. when there viii come an in
terest in all things good and holy TO
make better citizens and better
workers"
Urges FaCtions BE Frank.
Collective bargaining was cham
pioned bv Rev. George Heunigers Of
Indianapolis. I'm presenting what the
church has done for labor
IF 1 were a toiIer I would join
a union as fast as I could present
money for payment of my dues DO
Rev Henaicer said. Organized la
Dor depends upon solidarity, but UNI
ionism Will not live If it is fostered
on these three elements; discomfort
belief that he cannot rise and in
creased wage demands. John Mitch
ell once said that the toi,er. alas,
aust come 90 the conclusion that
~ forever ne must remain "a toiler. III
the church has its way. the toiler
will always progress. John Mitchell
did not always remain toiler when
he died ne left an estate of $c25. 900
Labor owes more than a debt of
gratitude 90 the church. For every
Improvement in tho working Condi-
tions IL is indebted Co the church.
Better housing, child labor legisla-
ton, al must be credited 10 the
church. The churches enabled the
workers 90 enjoy better conditions
where politicians would not the UNI
ions themselves could not bring them
about. Moreover. the church has dis
covered the soul Of the toiler
Labor must be IN the open So
must capital. in disputes each must
put all their cards on the table face
up. Il is the one and only solution
OF the capital-labor problem.