The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-26
WORK or UNIONS COMMENDED

Federal Council Decides 10 Carry on
the Policies InauGurated BY Work.
msn--stands For Old Age Pensions
and Abolition Of swsatsheps.
with clear cut definition Of its
stand on the labor question the Fed
erai Council Of the Churches OF
Christ in America. recently In session
at Philadelphia. made good its prom
Use to face and grapple with the liv-
ing, pressing problems Of today.
It was advanced ground which the
council took. not statement OF
vague generalities, but specific In
dorsement Of certain large principles
and other particular problems for
which the labor unions and allied In
terests have been Aghting.
II expressed approval OF the labor
unions, which have worked for arbi-
tration. for the right OF all men to
employment, for the abolition Of child
labor, the suppression Of sweatshops,
for free Sunday, for provision for
the aged and those incapacitated by
injuries and "for the most equitable
division OF the products OF industry
that can ultimately be devised"
These and many other causes were
thus declared 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:
"This federal council places upon
record its 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 fervor 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
1.-THE church now confronts the most /
significant crisis OF It's long career. In /
part its ideals and principles have be-
come the working basis OF organika-
lions for social betternient which do I
not accept It's spiritual leadership. We /
believe the church must demonstrate, I
not by proclamation, but by deeds, its
primacy among all the forces which
seek to better the. conditions Of human
life.
1--WE 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 eslmness and self restraint
In conference with employers and pro-
NOTED the welfare OF the entire body
OF workingmen.
I'm such organizations IL the proof
that the fundamental purposes or the
labor movement are ethical In them
great numbers Of men Of all natioRali-
ties aud origins are being compacted
10 fellowship, trained In mutual re
spect and disciplined Ia virtues which
belong to right character and are at
The basis OF good citizenship. BY them
society at large il benefited 10 the se-
curing Of better conditions OF work.
In the Amsricanization Of our innai-
grant population and In the education
ii influence Of tho multitudes who In
The labor unions ind their chief intel.
ectual stimulus.
ITO US II seems the churches must
stand
Fer equal rights and complete jus
Tee for all men In All stations Of life.
Fer the right Of eli men to the OPP
1ertunitx- for aelf maintepance1a right