The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-12-09
ORGANIZED LABOR
Zeal Contribution TO the Work
OF Civilization.
4 CATHOLIC CHURCH VIEW.

Warranted In Principle and justified
In Aehisvement-To Suppress Trade
Uniorisr7 Would Rob Progress Of
Main Support
Those who ind it difficult 10 be pa
tieut with organized labor and who
honestly believe that il meuaces highly
priced liberties VIII sometimes md
their views wideu=l. their spirit of
federation broaGened and their under
standing slarpeued when they en-
deavQr Co catch wider truths u whose
existence the labor unions give srriA-
ing proof.
Given ideals Of American life as
they have been handed down and Civ
en the industrial conditions which con-
frou--d the American lalare-. or-an!-
cation If labor became inevitable. Il
was the necessary protest against IN
bearabl- conditions and the necessary
aspiration toward those ideals which
millions saw tyo d.u.y t. De satisfied,
but loved too dearly TO lose without
struggle. Had AMER an lab9r.lg men
not created their unions they would
have shown the spirit Il slaves and
they would have meri--d the fate Of
the slave
Organized labor stands for 4 definite
ethical Judgment q human life. q the
family and # society. This Judgment
Of life IS wider and deeper and much
nearer the whole truth u existence |
than thu mere political " economic
estimate 4 life This latter : in
tre1ched in our institutions. and il con (
dennis severely Tie principles and
methods by which labor-1g men aim
painfully 70 work their judgment q
life into our civilization
Organized labor Is The ally = al .
employers who hold - the ethical .
Judgment y life rather than % The
economic One VIII scarcely pretend .
that competition : Al =-L.--- --Te2- .
rio1; one Wi. scarcely claim -12- the .
competitive struggle cas- 10 pay
the 1gb,er and higher ta1----=s =
those -to compete. Now. -Le employ
- who has high moral r-l------s-1-3
there are many who Lzv=-v-5 : con-
peeled u compete with IN employer
who Las low moral principles i q
the ua-c- q Ire latter unless Il r.
ce.ves assistance from those il the
ranks II labor who cherish ideals and
are Wiling % struggle f5- them.
Again. The leb1-.-g class has ideals,
and IT does not ind those ideals es-
tablshed anywhere nowadays in
manner 70 satisfy is aspirations. 1
These ideals have come to strongest
expression IL the labor movement. and
in So far as the labor movement has
affected The lawmaking, public 5pin-
ion and social standards 10 that ey-
tent our institutions and our tradl-
tious commence to incorporate the
spirit Il labor's idealism. To suppress
organized labor, TO hinder II from
working day and night TO apply its
principles and is views in our social
life. would he To rob the progress Of
one II IFS main supports
Organized labor is part Of g world
movement THAT viii II modified form
control the future. Il IS warranted in
principle. L is justified in achievement.
hyg-tu. il outlook and is & real contri-
button 70 The Institutional work II
civilization. IL IS a.. this and mora
than this in spite u rs mistakes. in
spite u Us mistaken policies. II spite
Of 1-ulgagu=s who have m.s.ed II. IN
spite Il IFS Impotence. II spite of its
lack Z s-s-gr.-a. sense. Tie L.s-5ri-
cal a---. -lel-s " those who oppose
organized labor are none 100 hon l-able.
Il would be- well for rL= sincere mind
81 man who dEb-s tie labor union u
look around il widely and in a spirit
o. fair 1.lled1ess before sitting down
~ advocate IT'S determination L II
were trusted more by the powers that
b- il would make fewer mistakes and
would have Jess excuse f5r them. on
the whole, il would seem w-sesc 10
welcome + 10 our modern civilization
ana O. cooperate with il n ringing
c-- what is best and Lobles- II tie
vsrk.-EElen and III lifting them into
wider participation n the prizes II
Ite-EeT. Dr. Wuiau J. Kerry. Cath
ole University, Washington.