The Connecticut labor news., 1925-02-28
Church Bound to
 Condemn War On Labor, Ministers Say
By International Labor News Service

Charleston, w. Va, Feb. ZS.-Ihe church is bound to condemn the propo- sals of certain business interests that la bor organizers be deported from the State. Such an attitude represents gross short-sightedness and poor sportsman ship. Furthermore, the refusal of bus mess men to admit representatives of labor into their counsels with equal voice and dignity represents a narrow type of statesmanship which in the econ omy of human action is bound to fail, or postpone the day of catastrophe" was the stinging rebuke administed to the Chambers of Commerce, Rotary and Xii wanis clubs and other associations that have been passing resolutions demand ing that labor organizers leave West Virginia, by the Rev. Oren H. Baker, pastor of the Morgantown (W. Va.) Baptist Church, in recent sermon.
 The subject of the sermon was Why the Church Has the Right and Is Un- der Obligation to Speak Out on the Question of Industrial Relations"
 "The church has the right" declared Mr. Baker, "and is under obligation to speak out on the question of industrial relations because 1t represents a view of human life which is in conformity with the highest interest of mankind, namely, the preeminence of the moral and spiritual development of humen so- ciety and the preservation of the integ- rity of the individual within that so- ciety. Any situation that raises ques- ton of human worth and destiny be- comes immediately, on principle, con- cern of the church, which is committed by its Founder and its history to lay under tribute the energies of men in order that such situations may be re- moved"
 While Mr. Baker mentioned no par ticular group, it was evident that he ,ad in mind those local explotiers of labor who so snugly hide behind hymn books on Sunday and war on the labor unions in particular, and the workers in general, during week days, when he uttered these truths:
 Moreover, let it be remembered that individuals can not maintain harmony with God until they have succeeded in effecting proper adjustments to one na- other. How can men maintain fellow | ship with the God of the Universe when | thew Io,,e r,o+ Ieorr,ed bo,., +o en;o,, the companionship of their fellow beings l Long prayers and elaborate rituals are 1 but mockery to God when the garments of the saints are stained with sins. l If we do not have intelligence enough l to deal with our fellow men, how shall we in our religious illiteracy and paltry professions bring ourselves to dispose of our troublesome neighbor by invok- ing the majesty of the mailed fist, by what diaboical strategy shall we intri- que the Almighty to hear our petty prayers?"
 T have no sympathy for the strong arm squad employed by the corpora tions to crack mems heads and beat them into insensibility, all because they honestly want to better the conditions of their fellow workmen," was the dec laration of Rev. J. C. Broomfeld, for mer pastor of the Fairmont (W. Va. ) l Methods Protestan Church and now president of the Pittsburgh Conference of that church, in a sermon on the st1b- ject, "The Church and the Industria Problem"
 Continuing, Mr. Broomheld said "Fairmont has seen in broad dayligh the operation of the strong arm squad employed by capital beating up a law abiding citizen, then hurrying to the of flee of the justice of the peace, comics sing to a misdemeanor, paying paltr, fine, and that was the last of it.
 "In my judgment, if any laboring mar or group of laboring men, had duph cated this in beating up an employer ot [ labor, the processes of the law woulc never have ceased operating until the violators were behind prison bars
 "This denial of rights and privileges to effect perfect organizations Ina: caused much trouble Collective bar gaining is the basis of all democracy The Magma Charta was gained as re suit of collective bargaining, and tn, Federal Government at Washington exists through collective bargaining o AS states.
 "Lobbie i'll the legislature are con trolled by the money interests and tn
 working man has no show against tn
 man of means in the justice courts.
 Opposition to the right of labor t
 organize is foolish. The day of idus
 trial democracy is coming. Morning 1 Loro n.,d 1ah1,.- .,,o..o.,,o.,+ :c .ocrc.,