The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-11-29
THE IRISH Standard srANDAHD. NOVEMBER 8 .e.,

The IRISH STANDARD;
tanned on basis Of competition.
must be so regulated by the law and
so controlled. in their prices that the
capital invested in them will obtain
only that rate of profits which is
received by competitive businesses.
"The mere fact that through mo-
| nopoly man has the power to take
more than this fair, competitive rate,
is not sufficient moral justification
of the proceeding. H..
ION the other hand, those concerns
which have to carry on their bust.
ness in active competition with one
another, will not require to have
their prices regulated by the govern.
ment. They will, as a whole. not make
extortionate profits. The few Of them
that do get more than the prevailing
rate Of profit will be able to do so
only because they are exceptionally
efficient-and exceptional efficiency
ought to obtain exceptional rewards.
Position Of Catholics.
In the movement for these two
classes Of reforms, Catholics ought
to take q prominent place. TO begin
with. they have, in the traditional
teaching and practice of the church,
sound social and moral principles.
They know that the right Of property
is sacred; that the state must not for
any reason violate the rights Of the
individual; that the laborer has an
indestructible right to decent liveli.
hood and to occupational conditions
which will not injure his health or
morals; and that the money-lender
has no right to more than a moderate
rate Of interest.
THE temptation to be vague and
general. however, confronts the Cath
oltc, despite this advantage Too
often the Catholic is content with
uttering high-sounding platitudes
about the necessity Of bringing
Christian principles to bear on the
solution Of the social question. Such
policy Is almost worse than silence.
Must Be- Specific. -
THE Socialist comes forward with
specific proposals to cure our social
ills. The Catholic must be no less
specific. He must be able to apply
Catholic social principles to the con.
crete problems Of today. He must
give his support to particular and
practical reform measures. When
there is question of the abolition OF
child labor, shorter workday for
women, workingmens insurance, a
minimum wage, better housing laws,
and all the other practical measures
that are agitated, he should give
these his active, intelligent support. "
The Bishops Message. -.
1.-THE moment you become selfish !;
the moment you become self-centered
to the exclusion Of interest in the
problems Of your fellows generally,
at that moment you begin to decay"
was the message Of Bishop McGolrick
to the Knights of Columbus.
"a little Philosophy" was Bishop
McGolrick's subject, and he turned
his philosophy on the value Of organ
ization and the need for unselfish-
ness in organized effort.
There have been thousands of or.
ganizations on this earth since the
world began" he said. There have
been great nations and great cities
that have dominated their times
There have been fraternal organiza'
tions that promised as much as yours
and they have been blotted out as
the figure Is blotted off the slate
Self is the reason. The selfish cannot
survive.
"You Knights Of Columbus are do
Ing a grand work Of charity. All over
this country you are interesting your.
selves in the great moral and social
problems. You are the patrons Of
education-the sort Of education that
develops the morals as we'll as the
mind. See that you continue in your
grand work. Do not build your club
houses for yourselves alone. Do not
let the germ Of selfishness enter your
body to destroy your effectiveness
When you step outside your organiz
alton to deal with the problems Of
the world, you are doing work that
stamps you as worth while and
destined to survive and grow strong
w. D. Dryer of st. Paul. Judge
Martin Hughes Of Hibbing and Ray
M. Hughes Of Duluth also gave inter
esting talks. isss