News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-05-11

| but Wnat humlllty had entered that
home! Phyllis and her husband lived
with her parents, Gordon having
taken humble place in the mill. He
worked early and late. The Blngs
had made it hard for him, finding it
| difficult to overcome their resentment
but he stood the gaff. as they say,
\ and won the regard of ]. Patterson,
| although Mrs Bing could never for
give him.
In June, there had been public meet
ings in the town hall addressed by
Judge Crooker and the Reverend Mr..
Singleton. The judge had spoken Of
the grinding Of the mills of God
that was going on the world over.
Our civilization has had its time of
trial not yet ended" he began. ats
enemies have been busy in every city
and village. Not only in the cities
and villages of France and Belgium
have they been busy, but in those of
our own land.' The Goths and Van.
dals have invaded Bingvlle. They
have been destroying the things we
loved. The false god is in our midst.
Many here, within the sound Of my
voice, have god suited to their own
tastes and sins-an obedient tract.
able, homeless god. It Is my deliberate
opinion that the dances and costumes
and moving pictures we have seen in
Bingvile are doing more injury to
civilization than all the guns of Ger.
many. My friends, you can do moth
ing worse for my daughter than de-
prive her of her modesty and l would
rather, far rather, see you Stay my
son than destroy his respect for law
and virtue and decency.
1.-THE jazz band is to me a sign of
spiritual decay. 1t is step toward
the jungle. I hear it in the beating
of the tom-tom. 1t is not music. 1t is
the barbaric yawp of sheer reckless
ness and daredevilism, and it is every.
where.
Even in our economic life we are
dancing to the jazz band with utter
reckleSsness. American labor is be-
ing more and more absorbed in the
manufacture of luXuries - embroid-
cred frOcks and elaborate millinery
and limousnes and the landaulets and
rich upholstery and cord tires and
golf courses -and sporting goods and
great country houses-so that there
is not enough labor to provide the
comforts and necessities of life.
THE tendency of all this is to
put the stamp of luxury upon the
commonest needs of man. The time
seems to be near at hand when a
boiled egg and Il piece of buttered
bread will be Injuries and a family
of children an unspeakable eXtrava-
gance. Let us face the facts. 1t is
up to Vanity to moderate it's demands
upon the industry of man. What we
need is more devotion to simple liv-
ing and the general welfare. In plain
old'fashioned English we need the re-
ligion and the simplicity of our
fathers"
Later, in June, strike began in
the big plant of ]. Patterson Bing.
The men demanded higher pay and
shorter days. They were working
under a contract but that did not
seem to matter. In a fight with
"scabs" and Pinkerton men they de-
stroyed a part of the plant. Even the
life of Mr.. Bing was threatened! The
summer was near its end when j.
Patterson Bling and a committee of
the labor union met in the Office of
Judge Croker to submit their differ
The judge listened pa
tiently and rendered his decision. 1t
was accepted.
When the papers were signed, Mr..
Bing rose and said, your honor,
there's one thing that I want to say.
I have spent most of my life in this
town. l have built up big business
here and doubled the population. 1
have built comfortable homes for my
abOrerS and taken an interest in the
education of their children, and built
4 library where anyone could find
he best books to read. l have built
for the children of the
working people If l have heard of
my case of need, l have done my
pest to relieve it. / have always been
eGdy to hear complaints and treat
hem fairly. My men have been gen.
rously paid and yet they have not
eSitated to destroy my property and
0 use guns and knives and clubs and
tones. to prevent the plant from fill
lg its contracts and TO force their
ill upon me. How do you explain
:? What have | done or failed to
o that has caused this bitterness"
"AIr Bing, am glad that you ask
lie that question" the old judge be-
an. 1T gives me a chance to, pre-
ent to you, and to these men who
ork for you, a conviction which has
rown out of impartial observation of
our relations with each other.
First, l want to say to you, Mr..
ing, that regard you as a good cit
en-. Your genius and generosity