Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-02-27
CHANGES
TOWARD LABOR
SAYS LYNCH

Indianapolis. Ind, Feb. Com
plete sympathy with the movement
Tor loser understanding and friend-
lier feeling between churches and la
Dor unions was expressed by James
M. Lynch, president Ct the lu.erna-
tional Typographical Union. in a
statement issued here today.
The modern industrial struggle is
we'll deserving of serious conSideIa.
ton by every institution interested
In ethics and human happiness" SAID
Mr.. Lynch. 1T has ever been a
source of disappointment to American
labor leaders that so many clergy
men have chosen to ignore the case Of
the working man or, worse still, TO
applaud the social program Of the
eXploiter. Fortunately powerful men
in the churches ale coming to give
their attention to the labor movement
and consequently TO sympathiSe with
the aspirations of Organized Labor.
Labor is Quick to reciproca'e this
interest. In New York We find Bishop
William I. Manning expressing from
his pulpit appreciation of aid offered
by organized labor in raising funds
fer completion of the great cathedral.
In Toledo, o. the Council of Churches
has invited labor leaders to address
meetings of the Ministers Union. On,
in Bakersfield, Calf, Bishop L.
Sanford preaching at St. Paul's Epis-
copal church, deprecates the disgrace
full manner in which the Better
American Federation attacks the
trade union movement.
Fear is blamed by Bishop Sanford
for the unrest and unhappiness in our
economic and social life. Each week,
the bishop told his hearers, weekly
letter reaches his desk from the Ia
bor-hating' organization, inveighng
against combination of workers in
their own defense. Such bitter words
SO full of hatred said the bishop
could only cerate the trouble against
which they protest
with exceptional Shrewdness the
bishop has laid his finger upon the
seat of the social malady. Men live
and work together in happiness only
when there is mutual sense of secuf-
ity. and when coed will rules, There
is a fighting spirit in men that pre-
cludes peace while men suffer inius-
tice at the hands of their fellows.
The capitalist who hopes to crush
labor into humble acceptance of want
and defeated aspirations is only heap
ing fuel on the fires of combativeness.
This type of capitalist is usually kept
by his personal concerns from gam
ing an understanding of philosophy,
psychology or any other branch OF
knowledge bearing upon the task he
undertakes. 1t is proper that preach
ers and all others, whose training and
understanding fit them for the JOB,
should show the way.
"And it is gratifying to forward
looking labor leaders, who would like
to believe in the erudition and sin
cerity of clergymen in general, to
learn that many preachers are at
tempting to bring reason TO bear on
the canital-labor controversy.
"The Rev. 0ren H. Baker, pastor OF
a Baptist church in Morgantown, W:
Va, has arisen as a champion OF
labor's right to organize. In has
state some organizations have de-
manded that labor organizers be
driven from the state. The church
is bound to condemn these proposals
of certain business interests this
minister declares. Let it be remem-
bered that individuals cannot mann
tain harmony with God until they
have succeeded in efrecting proper ad-
iustments to one another
"Some historians credit Moses with
being the first labor leader because
Moses arose in behalf of his enslaved
people when he saw an Egyptian boss
beat a Jewish workman. Moses slew
the boss and stood forth from that
time as the champion of down tLod-
den and suffering race. The Old les
lament is concerned almost wholly
with the endavors of common people
to maintain their freedom against the
tyranny of the labor eXploiter A
for the New Testament, certainly the
the exponent of wealth-through-eX-
ploitation can find little comfort in the
words of Christ, who came on earth
to relieve the suffering Of the many,
not TO assist favored or fortunate
few in monopolizing life's blessings.