Baily Name Industrial Martin-.
Published Daily except Sunday
*H Nome Mine Worker*' Union, No. 240. Western Federation of Miner*.
Subscription Price
One fear .... .. m ... ... »>«.-. «-. m ...-• »... •<* ^ • $10*^
111(Months.... ...—.... ......... m m .-.. — .. m ... .. .. |10«t0
One Month . ... MIM
"To secure to each laborer the whole product of his Ubor, or as
nearly as possible. Is a worthy object of any good government."—
anranam Lincoln
Address all Communications to Dally Noam Industrial Worker,
Box 210 Nome, Alaska. Phone, Black 114
- All changes In standing adrertisements mast reash this office at six
o'clock each erenlng to Insure Insertion in the follovsing Isaac.
Advertising rates made known on appllcaUon.
entered as second class matter March 1, 1911, at the post offlee at
Rome, • Alaska, under the Act of March I, 1879.
Nome, Alaska, February 5, 1010.
A well known magazine issues it3
December number with a remarkable
cover page. It depicts Mars, the
God of war with darknened back
ground, sword in hand dripping with
blood, standing aghast at a vision
of Christ in the distance, surround
ed as it is with a halo of heavenly
light. The inference is that the war
god is shocked from his work by the
miraculous appearance of the Savior,
and halts in his infernal operations
during that month wherein the birth
of Christ is celebrated.
All of which is supposed to show
the potency of religion and the di
vinely healing effect of grace upon
the souls of the most savage of men
Now that cover is all buncombe
This is said with no disrespect to
wards thoso who believe they are
religious, but because the magazine
cover doer, not begin to illustrate an
actual condition.
One of the most positive facts in
connection w'th the war is that all
the nations involved are religious
They all more or lesss openly pro
fess one sort or another of Christ
ianity. Some are protestant and
others Catholic; • but all
unite in worshipping the
same tied, and outside mers
theological difference, in accepting
the same code of religious moral
ity. Moreover, it is positively cor
rect that instead of being in any
way a deterrent upon the nations,
their religion lias been deliberately
used to increase their fighting capa
city, thair war fervor, their determi
nation, zeal and enthusiasm.
Moving picture men have depicted
divine service for departing regi
ments, they show high ecclesiastics
Mossing flying machines, guns and
battle Hags. They show the very
great importance which the leaders
attach to the religious ceremonies
that are an adjunct of warlike meas
ures.
Furthermore every ruler without
exception signifies his trust in God,
and days of prayer for victory ar;
frequently hold by both sides in the
conflict.
The idea suggested in the cover |
design that Mars rti : the pagan
God that doniinat word while I
Christianity sleeps is not so far from
actual fact that it is a mtsrcprosen- j
tation and perversion cf the truth. |
Hand in hand with the war has gone j
on the religious mummery of the i
tulers who fomented, it; hand in!
hand with the war has gone on the
religious ceremony that is recognize 11
as suitable to arms and men of war; |
hand in hand with the war has gone
the inculcation of religious beliefs
which were powerless to prevent
the war.
There’s not a single nation invclv-1
ed in this war, not even Fran, e,
which can he called an irreligious
nation in the accepted sense of th
term, and wo see it declared tint
one of tlie happiest features cf the
war is that the fighting are,
becoming more and more religious.
Now there is no admitting that |
the doctrinos of Jesus Christ have ]
anything in common with this war, |
nor is there any religious code ex-'
eept that of Mahomet which justl-1
ties its slaughter. Everyone agrees
that the war has turned back civili
zation along the path of retrogres
sion; everyone agrees that it is an
evil and an unmixed evil. But who
will be found to como rorward and
declare that Christianity has been a
failure in those nations that are at
war?
Yet to judge the value of present
day Christianity by the standard set
down by its Founder, surely it is
found wanting. The tree shall be
known by its fruit. Grapes do not
grow on , thistles. And judging by
the fruit of thousands or years de
votion to the recognizod principles
of Christianity surely it would have
to be condemned.
Facing this alternative some reli
gionists claim that It is God’s judg
ment on a sinful world. Rut that’s
mere absurd conjecture and It is
endowing God Almighty with a
sense of justice, in that the very in
nocent are the greatest sufferers,
that would disgrace a savage.
Besides, what materialism there
is certainly cannot be laid at the
doors of the men who started this
war. _ The Kaiser is nothing if not
religious; Franz Josef, tottering to
his grave prays with the official
zealousness of age. The Tzar is not
only a religious man but is ex offi
cio head of the Greek Catholic
Church; King George is reputedly
punctilious in his religious observ
ances, prays like a preacher and
styles himself the herditary Defend
er of the Faith.
We have been repeatedly assured
by both the Kaiser and the Empe
ror-King of Austria-Hungary that
God has been fighting with them
and it would not become us to ques
tion the religious quality of eithei
who have so close a familiarity
witli the mental attitude of the
Creator.
In the face of all there facts,
therefore it seems atroctous to sug
gest that this war is not bein;;
fought by religious men; that their
religion has not accentuated their
fighting efficiency and that moreover
they are not the product themselves
of a hereditary religious frame of
mind which has contributed to tin
social cataclysm that now engulfs
all Europe.
None the less it is to be admitted
that there is nothing at all in the
religion of Christ which would drive
to war; that there is everything in
that religion which would urge
against war; that that religion
teaches expressly love not hate ol
one’s enemies; that it expressly
teaches that when one cheek is smit
ten, the Christian turn the other to
him who would wnite that other one
also. Yet its votaries have their
chaplains for ’egiments and battle
ships; have theli ecclesiastics hold
ing war services and sacrifices for
victory; have their preachers and
priests blessing battle flags, drums,
guns, ships, submarines and aero
planes. How are we to explain
these aparently irreconcileable and
directly antagonistic acts with tile
proiossions mat men mane:
.Most people accept the teachings
of Christ on the above heads as
part of the cardinal points of their
religious doctrines, and yet through
out the lives of men they arc honor
ed in the breach and not in-the ob
servance.
The fact is that what has passed
muster as Christianity has been an
adjustment of the doctrines taughc
by Christ to the economic conditions
that prevail. Just as It accomo
dated itself to the imperialism of
Constantine, ' the feudalism of the
Middle ages, so also has it modified
itself to accomodate the economic
system that prevails today in the
various. countries. It is therefore
not correct to hold the doctrines
that wero professed by the earliest
Christians as responsible for this
war. In tho historic processus
through the centuries, the v/r.y men
made their living also directed their
religious concepts. It Is true that
they did not at any particular era
begin a new form adapted to that
era. That form was built up with
in the shell of the old; it adapted
some of the paganism of Greece anu
Rome, and the pagan festivals and
the Christian festivals foil in line so
that they coalesced almost without
any other change than a change in
name.
The religious element thrt is ex
emplified In this war today is pre
cisely the same psychological Impulse
which led the Romans to worship
Mars and to consult tho auguries
in the event pf hostilities. That its
name is ghanged and thr.t -^o refer
no longer to Mars is because at least
; i , ., i ■.
superficially the Martian worship Is
not suited to the present day econo
my, which is less open and much
more affec.ed than any preceding
one, as might be expected from the
increased artificiality pf the present
day civilization, so-called. To the
Romans, living and prospering by a
slave economy recruited by conquest
the worship of a God of War was
a vital necessity. It represents a
national impulse which made for the
continued survival of that'remark •
able people. To deify that impulse
became then part of the natural or
der of things: its waning meant ex
tinction, as It did ultimately mean
extinction, as a dominant, a fortu
nate and a conquering race.
Today the nations ,tn mad anta
gonism find little time for the mild
altruism of the real doctrines of
Christ. To turn the cheek to the
onemy that it may be smitten, to re
sist not the evils with which they
try to overwhelm one with means
defeat and extinction, and with the
most natural movement in the
world, men become possessed of
the martial idea of God. The
psychologic impulse which imagined
a MarD creates itself another deitv
fashioned with some of the Christi
an adjuncts of divinity, but modified
to suit the field of battle.
The human concept of the Gods
adjust themselves to suit the chang
ing times just as much as they ad
just themselves to suit a changing
econmy. Representing a mental
attitude which Is born of present
circumstances, this is inevitable In
war.
It may be quite tr|o that when
the warriors of today in the trench s
reach that period when Christ is
supposed to be born and his nativity
is celebrated they turn from the
field of carnage to the hereditary
memory of a milder time end a
milder type of divinity! The older
teaching that knew nov war as it is
today may temporarily assert itself.
But not for long. The morn brings
the bombardment and I the assault,
and once again Mars i^ worshipped
as suited to the huimm needs ot
the warring men. "
It is when we revert, to nations
not at war, and realize that they arc
still at least as far as outward ob
servance is concerned deeply Christ
ian, that we can more fully appre
ciate the fact, that their doctrines
take but little part in the mental
make-up of society.
Superficially the same religion is
taught as was taught i^ the earliest
days of Christianity. But as tn«
changing economy prevailed and
those who dominated the world in
politics or government, in industry
and arts, in commerce and the vari
ous fields of human endeavor, ac
cepted the teachings-—those teach
ings automatically adjusted them
selves to thB requirements of the
rulers and the Industrial chiefs’. The
contempt for the accumulation of
wealth was Ignored; the craving for
power and*mlght was accepted;
treasure that rusted and that the
moth consumed were both esteemed,
end there was a complete modifica
tion In the observance so that there
was nothing exceptionally and ab
surdly Incongruous In %ncn devol
edly espousing the religion of pover
ty, teaching In Sunday School that
It was harder for a camel to pubs'
through tho oye of a needle than
for a rich man to enter the king
dom of heaven and yet -accumulat
ing wealth with all the concentra
tion of purpose that their faculties
were ‘capable of.
And it Is quite true that although
there is something absurd in men
professing the worship of the Prince
of Peace and praying the while to
the God "of Battles, It is no more
absurd and incongruous than the
actual achievement has been ac
complished during peace and men
can serve with ease and dignity,
witli success and happiness, both
“God and Mammon”.
It’s because the people, who are
not observing of this incongruity
and this manifest discrepancy be
tween practice and preaching, stii»
believe that religion is not affected
by economic conditions, it possesses
for them the same extraordinary
mystic power that it did for those
whose faith was founded upon an
exact compliance between the Word
and the Deed. Today the faith that
was once full of vitality has be
come an outward semblance merely:
and when tried by the test of cir
cumstances it presents for our con
sideration a series of unpalatable
and grotesquo adsurdities. It’s 3
patch work of hereditary ideas too
old to hold together.
ALWAYS IN STYLE.
If you have your suit pressed,
cleaned and repaired by us-—
We will make them look like new
We do dry or gasoline cleaning.
! We do steam cleaning.
We make suits to order.
We make alterations.
Wq make and repair furs.
Wc do cleaning, pressing and re
pairing for Ladies and Gentlemen.
Wre guarantee all work and our
I priees are reasonable.
| First class workmanship.
| Come and see us, we will give you
j nur prices before we do your work.
We appreciate your patronage
NOME TAILORING CO.
Between Segerstrom & Hagen and
Zehners Jewelry Stores.
_
Let us estimate on your Job Work
United States Mail
WHY NOT WRITE! NOW ON THE EATON PRANK PIKE CO.
STATIONERY
THE REST IS NONE TO GOOD.
Rox Paper and Envelopes, 25c. per box and upward.
Writing Tablets, 5c. and 10c. and upward.
Envelopes, linen, 13c. for pkg. of 25.
Plain white Envelopes, 10c. per pkg. of 25.
Envelopes per box of 230 $1.00.
FREE! FREE!
A Reutitul Cut Glass
PUNCH BOWL
ONE CHANCE WITH EACH 50t PURCHASE OR PAYMENT ON
ACCOUNT. DRAWING ON LINCOLNS RIRTHDAY.
HILL^PHARMACY
inptrtnptrtrtpinnrtprirtinnprippppriptnpir
TUlJtllUljUljOuuuuij’JiJiJUlJiJuiTiJlJuiJiJi
THE NOME INDUSTRIAL WORKER ||
is prepared to handle
all kinds of
JOB PRINTING
Let us figure on your
work. Call up Black
134 or call at
THE INDUSTRIAL WORKER OFFICE
We have been appointed agents
for the
Dodge Automobile
The popular, fully-equipped,
pleasure car that satisfies ail
p
Cheap John Store
FOR GENT’S FURNISHINGS
FLANNEL SHIRTS WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY TO
SELECT FROM.. A COMPLETE STOCK OF GENERAL MER
CHANDISE, TENTS, T ARP ALINS. CANVAS, ALL aizm.
HIPPERS, EURECA AND U. S. RUBBERS A SHOE PACKS.
WE CARRY THE SIWASH SOCKS.
SEE CHEAP JOHNS STORE BEFORE BUYING. OUR
PRICES ARE ALWAYS THE LOWEST IN TOWN.
Kent Transfer Oo.
General Transfer & Freighting
Coal & oa
Phone Main 139.
FOR FELT SHOES, ARCTICS, MOCCASINS, GERMAN SOX.
SHEEP SKIN SOX, AND EVERYTHING IN WARM FOOTWEAR
MURPHY HAS THE 600DS
TARPAULINS AND SLED COVERS MADE TO ORDER.
\
PHIL MURPHY"
ARTIC SPRING
WATER |
Always at your Service.
Prompt delivery— Blizzard or
Shine at usual Rates 10
Buckets $1.00. 50c. a Barrel.
A. D. POTEET.
Phone Red 120.
a^aa«tfasfis!«fgra^^
INDEPENDENT
MEAT MARKET
Wholesale and Retail Dealer
in Beef, Pork, Mutton, Veal,
Ham, Bacon Poultry and Fish
Game in Season, All fresh
Stock. No old or damaged.
W. H. Webb prop. Phone M.1S
A FEW SPECIALS
OX OUR BARGAIN COUNTER THIS WEEK.
PEERLESS BORAX COAP, 5bars for.25c.
TEA GARDEN DRIPS, per can.50c.
YAKIMA DRIED PEACHES, per pkgs.10c,
CAULIFLOWER, per can...25«.
UNEEDA BISCUITS, 4 pkgs. for . ..25c.
SODA CRACKERS, family size per pkgs.35c.
MOLLER’S GROCERY
PHONE MAIN M ail Igaon? gXRHEX
ARB YOU BlHUSfl A PATWWD?
if m it adii w you to i&TMUfi»u
rate* of tU IiAutaU Worker. «y
puMUettea of ettpituattoo tkwdv.
Brlac jraur foMMure aottcea to fko
tntoatrlal Worker.
WE CAN DO IT.
for tint e]au Hack ul r»D
delivery pb me Male DM and (6*
PtofH'i Steam kutri alD eH
ml set laundry.
W. J. Wn iHM—B Prer*
WOKKKK.