Labor-Unionism, the Saloon, Politics, and Religion.
Labor-unionism would append three prominent auxiliaries in its aspiration for the throne. These elements are the saloon, politics, and religion. The connection of labor-unionism with the saloons and with politics has been strikingly manifest in San Francisco and elsewhere for some time, and always to the sacrifice of principle and manhood.
Its religious relationships have also been more or less in evidence in connection with its political aspirations. An incidental straw in this connection comes in a despatch from Chicago, under date of September 22, which reads as follows: "Religion and trades-unionism were blended last night at a ceremony unique in the annals of organized labor.
The life of a child was solemnly consecrated to the cause of uplifting humanity. Herr Lee Glesener Creel, the nineteen-months-old son of H. G. Creel, is the 'labor baby' whose life was dedicated to the cause of organized labor at a ceremony performed in St. James' Church, under the auspices of the Allied Trades Council. The church was well filled with trades-unionists and sympathizers, who wanted to witness the first dedication of a child ever offered by his parents for such a purpose."