Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-12

who interpreted Jesus to the pagan
world and did more than anybody else
In those early days to spread the gos-
pei was by trade tentmaker. When
Jesus says "Come unto me all We that
labor and are heavy laden" he speaks
a plain word to the toilers Of his day.
whom he knew and understood so well,
and with whom personal experience
and intimate observation has SO album
dainty enabled him to sympathize.
But someone may say, no doubt
dustries of his time, and with his petty
problems. But the world has greatly
changed since his day. What can he
have to say that is applicable to pres
ent day industrial conditions?
1T Is true that great changes have
taken place in the last 1900 years. At
first glance. Gallilean village and a
thriving New England manufacturing
town have nothing in common. But
there is one thing that has not changed
human nature. 1t is the same here
In Waterville now as it was in NaE-
areth when Jesus was working at a
carpenters bench. And because the fu-
man element is the ill-important fac
tor in individualism, no matter how
complex the system or how great the
AAAASAPiANoIAOAA VI LUZ
this reason Jesus speaks a plain word
to capital and labor today, and pre-
scribes a remedy for goth century in
dustrial ills. 1t is simple remedy
the application of the Golden Rule.
And there is no other remedy, as the
world, though all too slowly, is COM
ing to realize. The employer must
treat the worker as he would wish an
employer too treat him if he were him
self worker and not an employer.
"The worker must treat the en-
ployer as he would wish a worker
to treat him If he himself were an
employer and not a worker. In any
business where the Golden Rule is
fully in force an honest days work
is in. itself a religious exercise and a
fair days pay is equally so. Where
the Golden Rule is not in force, en-
ployer and worker try to get the
most possible out of the other, and
er. Our industrial system with it's
great combinations Of labor must eX-
perience a change Of heart If it is to
escape disaster.
IF the golden rule in industry
were generally recognized we should
be willing that all necessary work Of
disagreeable and dangerous sort
should be especially well paid and the
hours of such employment should
not be long. Take coal mining for
example. do not enjoy paying $50
for a ton Of anthracite, coal but I
should not. wish to work in coal
mine at any price. ! love the fresh
air and the bright sunshine too well
not to sympatl1ize with the man who
thinks that six or seven hours a day
Is long enough to spend working in a
hole in the ground mile and a half
deep. If I felt sure that the lions
share of the increased cost of coal
really went into the pockets of the
miners, I should find some solace in
the higher prices ="
peoples across the sea are asking
for our assistance. There Is really
but little we can do to help them,
for their problems are first Of all
moral and spiritual, and then eco
nomfc, and last of all political. There
are two things for them to do. They
must, stop hating one another and
they must all hands go to work. If
there were any ways we could help
these European peoples find a mar
ket, at home and abroad for the pro-
duets of their labor, so that they
could become self supporting, we
should be doing them the very great
est possible service. All they have
any right to expect isl the chance lit
orally to work out their own saliva
tions."'s s.,4e
He said further that the American
Legion men are not ex-service! men
but service men, for they are serving
us STILL. President Roberts closed by
saying, "The patriotism of these men
Is the best defense of our country to-
day against the perils, that ,assail us.
God forbid that they may ever feel
that our gratitude has burned low"