Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1909-01-14
TOR UPL..l||FT or man,
Churches IndOrse the Crusade
Of Labor.
WORK pr UNIONS COMMENDED

u
Federal Council Decides to Garry on.
the Policies Inausurated BY Work
mon Stands For Old Age Pensions
and Abolition Of sweatshops,
with clear cut definition Of its
STAND on the labor question the Fed
leral Council Of the Churches Of
Christ in America, recently in session
at Philadelphia made good its prom
Use to face and grapple with the llv-
ing, pressing problems Of today
It was advanced ground which the
council took. not statement Of
vague generaiities, but a specific in
dorsement Of certain large principles
and other particular probleWs for
which the labor unions and allied in
terests have been fighting.
1t expressed approval Of the labor
unions, which have worked for arbi-
tration. for the right Of all men to
employment, for the abolition DE child
labor, the suppression of sweatshops.
for free Sunday, for provision for
the aged and those incapacitated by
injuries and fer the most equitable
division OF the products Of industry
that can ultimately be devised.Y
These and many other causes were
thussdeclarad to be the causes of the
church. There was a further provision
for the establishment of a permanent
commission on the church and social
service, which is to maintain an or
ganization and make Thorough and
specialized study Of the question.
The statement in abridged form is as
follows:
'sThis federal council places upon
record it's profound belief that the
complex problems of modern industry
can be interpreted and solved only by
the teachings Of the New Testament
and that Jesus Christ is final authori-
ty in the social as in the Individual
life. Out of the sacrifice and feryor Of
the centuries has come fund of altru-
ism Which enriches today thousand
purposes for human betterment, some
Of which do not know the origin Of
their impulse. The interest of the
church in men is neither recent nor
artificial.
"The church now confrontS the most
significant crisis Of IFS long career In
part its Ideals and principles have be-
come the working basis Of organiza-
tidns for social betterment which do
not accept its spiritual leadership We
believe the church must demonstrate, Y
not by proclamation, but by deeds, its
primacy among all the forces which
seek to better the conditions Of human
life.
I'VE record our admiration for such
labor organizations as have by patient
cultivation Of just feelings and tenn
perate views among their members
raised the efficiency of service, set the
example Of calmness and self restraint
in conference with employers and pro-
noted the welfare Of the entire body
Of werkingmen.
I'm such organizations is the proof
that the fundamental purposes of the
labor movement are ethical. In them
great numbers of men of all rationale
ties and origins are being compacted
in fellowship, trained in mutual re-
spect and disciplined in virtues which
belong to right character and are at
the basis of good citizenship. By them
society at large is benefited in the Sc
curing Of better conditions of work,
In the AUGMENTATION Of our inmi-
grant population and in the education
al influence of the multitudes who in
the labor unions find their chief intel
IectuaI stimulus,
ITO us it seems the churches must
stand
sFor equal rights and complete jus
tice for all men in all stations of life.
ssFor the right Of all men to the OPP
portunity for self maintenance right
ever to be wisely and strongly safe
guarded against Entertainments Of
every kind,
..For the right of workers to some
protection ID gainst the hardships often
resulting from the swift crises Of in
dustrial change.
nFor the principle of Cancellation
and arbitration IN industrial dissen-
si0nS.
s.For the protection Of the worker
from dangerous machinery, occupas
tional disease. injuries and mortality. l
s'For the abolition Of child labor.
ssFor such regulation Of the condf
lions Of toile for women as shall safe
guard the physical and moral health
of the community.
'sFor the suppression Of the sweat
ing system.
For the gradual and reasonable re.
duction Of the hours Of labor to the
lowest practicable point and for that
degree Of leisure for all which IS
condition Of the highest human life.
"For release from employment one
day In seven.
ssFor a living wage as g minimum
ID every industry and for the highest
wage that each industry can afford.
.sFor the most equitable division Of
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