There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in work. Were he ever so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works; in idleness alone is there perpetual despair. Work never so mammonish, mean, is in communication with nature; the real desire to get work done will itself lead one more and more to the truth.

The latest gospel in this world is, know thy work and do it. "Know thyself;" long enough has that poor self of thine tormented thee; thou wilt never get to "know it, I believe! Think it not thy business, this of knowing thyself; thou art an unknowable individual. Know what thou canst work at; and work at it like a Hercules! That will be thy better plan!

Consider how, even in the meanest sorts of labor, the whole soul of man is composed into a kind of real harmony, the instant he sets himself to work. Doubt, Desire, Sorrow, Remorse, Indignation, Despair itself, all these like hell-dogs lie beleaguering the soul of the poor day worker, as of every man; but he bends himself with free valor against his task, all these are stilled, all these shrink murmuring far off into their caves. The man is now a man. The blessed glow of labor in him, is it not a purifying fire wherein all poison is burnt up, and of sour smoke itself there is made bright blessed flame.

Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work, a life purpose; he has found it and will follow it. * * * How blessed for the meadow itself, let the stream and its value be great or small! Labor is life; from the inmost heart of the worker rises his Godgiven force, the sacred celestial life-essence, breathed into him by Almighty God; from his inmost heart awakens him to all noble

ness, to all knowledge, "self-knowledge," and much else, so soon as work fitly begins. Knowledge! the knowledge that will hold good in working, cleave then to that; for nature herself accredits that. Properly thou hast no other knowledge but what thou hast got by working; the rest is yet all an hypothesis of knowledge: a thing to be argued of in schools, in endless logic vortices, till we try it and fix it. "Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by action alone."

Work is of a religious nature: work is of a brave nature, which it is the aim of all religion to be. "All work of man is as the swimmers:" a waste ocean threatens to devour him; if he front it not bravely, it will keep its word. By incessant wise defiance of it, lusty rebuke and buffet it, behold how it loyally supports him, bears him as its conqueror along. "It is so," says Goethe, "with all things that man undertakes in this world."

All true work is sacred; in all true work, were it but true hand-labor there is something of divineness. Labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in heaven. Sweat of the brow; and up from that to sweat of the brain, sweat of the heart; which includes all Kepler calculations, Newton's meditations, all sciences, all spoken epics, all acted Heroisms, Martyrdoms, up to that "agony of bloody sweat," which all men have called divine! O, brother, if this is not "worship," then I say, the more pity for worship; for this is the noblest thing yet discovered under God's sky. Who art thou that complainest of thy life of toil? Complain not. Look up, my wearied brother; see they fellow workmen there, in God's eternity; surviving there, they alone survive: sacred band of the Immortals, celestial Bodyguard of the Empire of Mankind.

A SYMPATHETIC SOUL. The American trade union was born with a sympathetic soul. Her ear is tuned to catch the whispering, wails of oppression. Her tongue has always denounced the wrong and upheld the right. Her hands have always been lifting men to a higher and better life by shortening their hours of toil, increasing their rate of pay and improving their environments in general. If she erred it has been on the side of mercy and humanity, for, as an organization she has always marched forward,

only demanding the God-given and constitutional rights of the American workmen, seeking to arouse them to a sense of their rights as citizens of a great republic, and through organization establish their liberty. She has never thrown down the gauntlet to any one, and only stood by demanding the rights of free men under a free flag. If this is un-American I pause for some one to show me where and why.-W. D. Mahon.

ADVERTISING METHODS IN PUBLIC HEALTH WORK.

The modern public health movement has been a development of the present generation, almost of the last decade. Two distinct methods, based on equally distinct lines of reasoning, appear to have been adopted. One view assumes that public health must be secured and maintained by means of a great organization, a state health police force, which will prevent the violation of the laws of health in the same way that the regular police force prevents crime. The other view aims rather at the education of the people, so that the laws of health will become common property and the power for their enforcement will lie in public opinion. The advocates of the first theory devote themselves to securing large appropriations, so that more inspectors can be employed. The advocates of what may be called the educational method endeavor rather to spend such funds as are available in presenting basic facts to the people in a strikingly impressive and convincing way. In this educational work, the State Health Department of Virginia has been especially, prominent. Few, if any, states with as limited funds have been able to produce so many new and excellent educational devices. The Health Almanac, now used by six or seven states, was first issued from Virginia. The State Department of Health saw no reason why the household almanac should be monopolized by nostrum venders. The latest innovation from Virginia is another device, captured from the "patent medicine" advertising agent. Any one who has driven in country roads and lanes is familiar with the omnipresent tin sign, tacked on fences, gate posts, telephone and trolley poles, and even on trees and the sides of barns, urging the public to try "Dr. Killem's Sure Cure for Bright's Disease" or "Ketchum's old Reliable Cure for Consumption." Obviously,

to

No

such advertisements caught the public eye and held attention, or "patent medicine" firms would not continue to employ them. Why not use the public highways advertise health as well as quackery? sooner said than done. A series of six placards, printed in black on yellow tin sheets, 10 by 14, are tacked up all over the Old Dominion. The farmer, the automobilist, the country swain riding with his sweetheart, even the humble foot traveler trudging along the dusty road, will now see from fence posts, walls and telegraph poles such messages as these:

THE BEST FARM IN THIS COUNTY is the one on which the health of the family is best protected. BEWARE MOSQUITOES. They breed in stagnant or slowly running water.

TYPHOID FEVER

CAN BE PREVENTED.

The education of the people in regard to health is advancing, says The Journal of the American Medical Association, when the trees and posts by the wayside are converted into heralds of good health and disease prevention.

MARTIAL LAW MEANS NO LAW. What is martial law? Some people have a vague idea that it is military law, but this is a mistake. Military law has nothing whatever to do with martial law. Military law is simply that branch of the laws applicable to military service and duties, consisting of the statutes, regulations and principles by which the army and its affairs are governed. The misunderstanding has arisen partly from the name given to it and partly from the fact that it is the military which frequently carry out the regulations, while often the military forms of courts are held.

The police, however, if duly authorized, may carry out martial law.

It is difficult to define the meaning of martial law in non-technical words. The dictionary definition of martial law is that it is military authority exercised in accordance with the laws and usages of war when the civil authority is wholly or partly suspended; either by proclamation or by the actual presence of a hostile force. But the best definition given has been that of "no law."

It means that the supreme authority is empowered to do as it wills and that all ordinary laws, for the time being, have no There are operation whatever. no laws dealing with its application, those in command possessing entirely arbitrary power. This means that there will be a complete revolution in the ways of the people wherever martial law is proclaimed. All ordinary life will be affected, and it will no longer be the case that "an Englishman's home is his castle."

As a rule, when a place is under martial law, its inhabitants must clear out of the streets before a certain time every evening, say 8 o'clock. Then all places of amusements, public houses and so on are closed entirely.

Even during the daytime a limit is made as to the number of people who may assemble, so that a party of people-numbering above, say, half a dozen-would be liable to instant punishment. Also certain places and certain streets are forbidden to the people, who may be compelled to keep beyond a certain radius from the specified places.

Those in authority may take any object they like from anywhere, entering houses as well as shops to commandeer whatever they wish without any control. Any person may be compelled to give a complete account of his movements, past, present and projected, and may be searched or even arrested without a warrant.

Crimes are dealt with very severely. Thus suppose a man breaks a window. Instead of being hauled up before a magistrate and subjected to a small fine the policeman would be perfectly justified in shooting him immediately.-Exchange.

"THE UNION LABEL."
By J. J. C.

Many "card members in this Brotherhood" would do well to study, imitate, emulate and advocate the principles and policies of the Woman's International Union Label League in its fight for the union label.

The use of the union label is the application of a tried and effective remedy to a well-known wrong condition. There is no theory or speculation about what it will accomplish. It does not lull us into the dreamland of eternal glory to awake us in the mire of despair.

In the broad field of education only a fool

or an imbecile would refuse to learn now, because of the promise of a complete education at a later day, or in the sweet by and by. Therefore in the industrial field one must indeed be a weakling who scorns the assistance of the union label, because he hugs the dreamy theory that in the nebulous future we may all be "millionaires."

When the union label is on an article, we are assured the article did not come from nor was it manufactured in a penitentiary. If the label is not on it, we cannot tell where it came from or what conditions it was made under. "Manufacturers" trademarks do not indicate anything, because many manufacturers put their trademarks on goods produced by convicts among filth and disease. Demand the union label on all your purchases and see that you get it. If your merchant does not carry a stock of unionmade goods and tries to work off (as they term it) something equally as good, refuse to purchase from him until he carries a stock of union-made goods and give him to understand that you will not accept any substitutes as there are none from your viewpoint.

The union label is either worth something to the organized wage-earner, or it is not. If it is not worth anything, then a great many working men and women in the labor movement have been fooled badly in the past twenty years or more. If it is worth something to the organized wageearner (and it certainly is), then a great many wage-earners have made fools of themselves during the same period of time, by failure to demand it on their purchases. The label is of value. Are you one of the self-made fools? Some people with whom I am personally acquainted can truthfully answer this question, but will they? Time will tell.

An organization without substantial financial means cannot cope with wealthy manufacturers, neither can it resist the encroachments of powerful corporations. Cheap organizations of labor, or labor organizations whose membership steadfastly refuse to pay the price of maintenance other than current expenses and fixed charges, usually prove to be dear and very expensive in the long run. Unable to take care of and properly support their members during protracted strikes or lockouts. The history of the cheap labor organization which is founded upon the basis of low dues is

marked with wrecks and failures and ultimate dissolution.

SO

The far-reaching effect that those called organizations have upon the general labor movement is too well known to every student of the labor question and needs no comment, other than to say it were much better for the labor movement as a whole that such organizations had never been formed; the very nature of their makeup precludes the possibility of them making any headway and can only be considered in the light of obstruction to the future success and well-being of the membership which comprise them. The membership of all so-called organizations should see to it that no stone is left unturned to place the standing of those organizations financially in a position to maintain its influence with the other powerful labor organizations who have proven their worth and wield their influence, ever building for the future in the hope that some day all who come under their banner may secure the protection that organization guarantees to all those who become parties to it.

Organizations that are financially weak cannot hope to successfully carry on the business for which they have been instituted any more so than an individual can hope to secure concessions from a corporation; under those conditions both are impossible, and will remain so until such time as a vast improvement is made which will bring about changed conditions and a desire to build for the future.

THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
By J. J. C.

The labor movement endeavors to maintain a fair rate of wages during periods of business depression; it strives to gain concessions from employers when trade and conditions warrant and profits are on the increase. It guards and protects the rights and interests of the wage-earners in periods of depression and in periods of revival in industries.

Success depends not altogether upon what we do, but on the contrary as a rule it depends more largely upon what influences we are able to exert upon others. The very strongest and staunchest members of organized labor are weaklings without such characters of congeniality.

Whatever strong traits of character are

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possessed by the members of labor organizations must necessarily be accompanied by a disposition and inclination that is capable of favorably imparting and transmitting them to others.

.

Organization, co-ordination, co-operation are the undeniable right of every body of wage earners whose objects are worthy and whose aims are just and equitable; and must necessarily be the resource of those who individually are unable to persuade their employers to recognize the justice of their claims and principles.

If utilized along proper lines, it can rightfully hope and reasonably expect to be the medium of educating all those who have not had the benefit of experience or knowledge of what this movement is or what it stands for; with the result that a spirit of fairness and practical brotherhood may be promulgated and practiced in the interest of the great mass of humanity who are very much interested.

Labor organizations have been foremost in calling public attention to and demanding the recognition of conditions against which their members are struggling. They are to be credited with forcing the observance of these facts both upon employers and the public. Had they not done so the labor organizations might have continued to be the dismal failure which so long faced practical conditions with theories in effect prior to the formation of labor unions.

THE FOUR KINDS OF MEN. He who knows not and knows not he knows not. He is foolish. Shun him.

He who knows not and knows he knows not. He is simple. Teach him.

He who knows and knows not he knows. He is asleep. Wake him.

He who knows and knows he knows. He is wise. Follow him.-Selected.

If those who make wars were compelled to fight in the front ranks, the world's peace would be assured.

Some men never realize that they cannot make a good showing by simply puffing and blowing.

He that is quick to anger is usually foolish.

MEMPHIS No. 40.

Only twelve articles in the last issue of the Clerk against sixteen the month before. Boys, that won't do. I thought we would increase our batting average instead of decreasing. What's the matter with those Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson scribes? We want our magazine to be in the big league and the way to get it is for our knights of the pen to adopt the Waco slogan: "Never miss an issue." Get busy, boys, and let's hear from you all. If you don't advertise yourselves in the Clerk we won't know whether you are in the land of the living or not.

If you don't think Memphis No. 40 is alive, make us a call on the second or fourth Tuesday night in any month and see for yourselves.

Business is not as good as it should be here, but we expect it to improve later on.

Mighty glad to se the Co-Ed boys lined up. Now for Frisco. Boys, don't let your little sisters get ahead of you.

This is hoping everybody got back home O. K. and that every one of the delegates will tell their experience at the convention in the next issue of this book and everybody read what's doing. If you don't receive your Clerk regularly, kick like h―.

WACO NO. 170.

HANK.

(Our slogan: "Never miss an issue.") If things keep coming in the future like they have in the past, Geyser City No. 170 will have lots of assistance in her fight for a larger journal. Two old hold-outs gave us a live article last month, being Dallas and Ft. Worth. Now, brothers, you have broken into print, try and come a little oftener. This writing for the magazine is not for notoriety or lodge advertising. Its main purpose is to create a closer band of fellowship among the three hundred lodges scattered from Maine to Texas. Not only that, but it is a source of accurate information. Anything allowed to appear in its pages can be relied upon to be absolutely true, coming as it does from those who are our best

friends and fellow-workers. It tells of a victory here, a heartache there, and is full of human interest and sympathy. To be up to date you have just got to read the magazine. If the agent was to come, tap each man in your office on the shoulder and say, "It would please me very much if you would write an article for me on a subject best suited to your individual taste," would you refuse to do it? Of course you wouldn't, for the simple fact that you wouldn't want to offend him by not doing so. Look at your organization in the same light and see if it isn't to the advantage of all concerned for you to display energy enough to let the organization as a whole hear from your locality. You who read this try and think to bring it up next meeting night and see if the lodge does not think the same. If so, start the necessary machinery working and appoint a corresponding secretary.

The big convention is now over, history, a memory. But there are hundreds who were not fortunate enough to go, just like myself, who would like to read what you saw, what good you think the convention accomplished, and a thousand things of interest that we would like to hear. Remember this, every individual who attended had an impression of what happened which is entirely different from what the man next to him had. Tell us about it, brothers, in the next issue of the magazine.

Nearly every lodge in Texas is writing to the journal except Sherman No. 315. Boys, I know something about you, and I know it isn't because you haven't a live lodge. Appears to be neglect, doesn't it? Your representative to the convention was a well chosen man-make him come across with a little dope about the "Athens of Texas." Houston and San Antonio will come in when they see us well represented in these columns. It's all for Texas's sake.

Verily, verily the muses, the whole Heavenly Nine, have descended upon the humble pen-pushers and they have responded with a surprising alacrity, grinding forth columns of poetical heart-touching verses. After pe