The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-06
tcontinued from Page I'D
THE CHURCH AND LABOR.

Is it any wonder, then, that the
Church, through her Popes and Bish-
ops, endorses the essentials of mod
ern unionism? They are her prin-
ciples applied to the social conditions
OF the times. The dignity of the in
dividual, of woman, of the child, the
sanctity of the home-doctrines on
which the Church has insisted for CEN
turies-these are the ideas which are
at the basis of the whole labor move
ment. They have stirred it to action
and crowned it with success. Through
these ideas unionism may yet become
the most effective agency in the mod
ern world to check the advance of
socialism and to secure the reforms
which humanity demands.
A Common DeIusion.
Another thing which the course of
lectures referred to will serve to
bring out is the delusion of an in
definite increase of wages. Unscrup-
ulous agitators have taught the doc
trine that labor is the source of all
wealth and that, therefore, wages
should increase until labor obtains
possession of all wealth. How false
this doctrine is and how injurious to
labor itself moments reflection will
show. The productiveness of the BUSH
ness in which labor is employed nat
urally determines the limit of wages.
The moment wages become so high
that the investment ceases to pay, the
intellectual and material capital
which have created and developed the
business will be withdrawn and di-
verted to other channels. Then work
is at an end. Capital is seldom at
loss for lucrative investments. If the
worst comes, it can purchase govern
ment bonds. With the workingman
the case is different. When the mine
or the factory closes down he is out
of employment and his earning power
is at a standstill. Hence, in spite of
all the unions can do, there is limit
to wages, and it would be disastrous
to the workingman if he allowed him
self to be deluded into the belief that
an indefinite increase of wages is pos
sible.
The most, therefore, that under or.
binary circumstances, the working.
man can reasonably expect is a living
wage, that is, enough to secure a
decent subsistence for himself and
family. And, after all, the welfare OF
working people is not merely a mat
ter of wages. There are districts
where the wages are high and the
prosperity of the people very low;
whereas, there are other districts
where the wages are far from being
high, and yet the people are evidently
prosperous. Why this difference.
Economy and temperance, or the lacE
of them.
Greed of possession and thirst fol
pleasure" says Leo XIII, ARE twir
plaques, which too often make a mar
who is void of self-restraint miserable
in the midst of abundance. How true
these words are of many people in oul
large Wage-earning districts even the
cursory observer will not fail to recog
nize. What is the reason many labor
ers allege for demanding higher
wages? The high cost of living
While there is truth in the answer
the fact remains that high living il
chiefly responsible for the high cost
People are not satisfied with common
fare and ordinary clothing. They
must have the highest priced food il
the market and the latest and mos
expensive styles of dress. 1t is nj
wonder their children must be take1
from school at an early age and sen
to work. Shortsighted and cruel pol
icy which makes it impossible for the
children to rise above the condition
of their parents! How different things
would be if parents would only prac
tice Christian economy! Higher edu
cation would be the rule. The sons o
the toiler would soon control the bust
ness and Industrial interests of thu
country, grace the legal and medica
professions, and in larger numbers b,
adorned with the Holy Priesthood
and his daughters, instead of crowd
ing the factories and stores and Office
to the detriment, oftentimes of thei
modesty and womanly virtue, woult
become the queens of truly Christian
homes, or, aspiring to the highe
things, would consecrate their live
to God and humanity in holy religion
If our laboring people practiced econ
omy, they could gradually secur
homes for themselves and their chill
dren in some of Montana's pleasan
valleys away from the smoke and tn
corruption of the city, and there Goa,
from the generous soil some Of tina
wealth which is rapidly becoming tn
portion of strangers.
If all the toiler's earnings wer
spent for food and clothing one Nigh
declare high wages useless; but whel
any considerable part of them is cor
sumed for drink the highest wage
would be worse than useless. Drunk
enness is, perhaps, the greatest daI
; ger to which are workingmen are e1
posed. First of all, there is the every
where-present, and, in some places
always-open saloon, that base conspil
acy to rob the laborer of his hare
earned wages. Then, there is tn
temptation, after day or a night G
exhausting, deadening toll in tn
mine, the smelter, the factory, to see
J Compensation in intemperance and de
| bauchery. To resist requires COZ
4 cidoroI1o do0roo 0f moral oor,ro orx