The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-08-04
Pope Leo XIII.
and Socialism
WHY EVERY CATHOLIC SHOULD
HE 4 SOCIALIST
ny EDWIN }. BROWN

bt \ SOCIALIST
In nay first article gave YOU Pope
y laos definition OF the class strug-
gle.
lie said '-rhe elements OF con-
flict are unmlstakahlc. the growth
OF Industry, the discoveries ~ SET
ence, the changed relation Of mas
ters and workingmen. the enormous
fortunes % individuals (which the
Socialists say 10 the surplus value
appropriated from iahorl. and the
poverty Of the masses. the Increased
sclt.relianee and the closer mutual
tien: and finally, a general detsrior-
ation.r
Now let mo quote Pope Loo's sec
ord paragraph. In which he said
Venerable brethren. as on former
occasions. when Il seemed opportuae
&C. refete false teaching. We have al
dressed you In the interest % church
and OF the commonweal and have
Issued Letters on Political Power, on
Human Liberty, on The Christian
Constitution % the state. and on
similar subjects now we have
thought u useful 20 speak on the
matter on which we have touched
once or twice already. Hut In this
letter the responsibility OF the apos-
solls erfiss urges us 70 Urea, ne
order that there may be no mistake
as 90 the principles which truth aud
justice dictate for Its settlement
The discussion Is not easy. nor l. u
free from danger n is not easy 20
define the relative rights and tho
mutual duties % the wealthy and 81
fhe. poor. OF capital and 81 labor
And the danger lies In this That
crafty aEitsturs constantly make use
OF these disputes to perVert mems
judgments and TO stir up the people
60 sedttion."
PORE LEO FEARLESS AND TRrE
We now see that this xssd ana
fearless man has nddrcsskt the
Catholic church % this world In the
% the "eommonweaI- tpublic goodl
on Political Power on Human
Liberty the Christian Constitution
S g the - STATE ard nov on The Con.
peciaiiy that the pope says; 1t lsl
not easy TO define the relative right.
and the mutual duties % the wealthy
and Of the poor. Of capital and OF
labor"
must now discuss three things
with Catholics In a truthful. funds-
mental manner. but not IN the dis
graceful way. that The wandering
them In his AnaniRs volume, entitled
The Nation Of Fatherisss Children"
after he and Martha Moore Avery
party and sstraeised from the work
Ing class political movement
First. I must discuss the Condition
OF Labor.
Second. I must discuss Capital
Third. I must discuss Labor.
The remedy for this class struggle
OF. as Pope Leo said. this conflict"
win write on next week.
THE CONDITION or LABOR
We must no, ecnfound those who
labor with those who exploit labor.
The iaborinx woman. child or man
10 one who sells their labor power
in order TO live. They have nothing
else to sell. lest IL be their bodies
or their honor.
- The Condition Of Labor then 10
that the one who can live the cheap
est can work for tho lowest wages
and will get the job. The capi,sltst
class gets ali surplus value created
BY labor. Labor creates all. but gets
clothing and shelter sufficient to
generate human energy uabor pow.
err, which n soif again 90 capital !
Tho surplus value Is that wealth
created BY labor. but which goes TO
capital because OF the profit systeU- I
wage labor. then. IL wage slavery |
because the iabor>r 10 In one class
and In order 20 live must sell his
labor power 10 the exploiting class !
In the United States there are
about thirty-flve million vase
slaves and about forty-eight million
sotfIs directly dependant upon he
. wage workers who share their earn
ings, while ths surplus wealth Gre
atef by labor goes 10 create the
Enormous fortunes spoken OF by |
v'ope Leo In bis firN 'sph,.
Nhs Condition Of Labor, then, 10 that
Of slavery. want and degradation
The evidence is before US with the
hungry American school children.
~Two million five hundred thou !
sand children waze-alayes. WORKING
In mills. mines. factories ana shops
..sexeu million women and girl
-sc-slaves at like employment"
~ssxen hundred thousand sisters
living in women's communities Red
Light District
..Peni,entlaries full and lunatic
asyiuns crowded AlrEhouses hetnR
enlarged. while the army OF unsm-
ployed grows
Capital is a social institution and
grows out Of the socialized Hethyd
of wealth production. IL Is depend
ent on wass-siavery: labor created
ali wealth and wealth became capt. |
TAI only when exploitation began.
Capital has no right TO exploit
save what Il forces BY its economic
sorres a class government, by and
through the exercise OF the soclaI
power. Our legislature, our execu-
tive and Judiciary eons,I SUI ,hair
3 Constant exercise as a rule. IL In
The Interest OF the dominant class
In society Labor. being the gov
armed class has nothing In common
,.-t,h the 9overufng class. The con- |
= flict is over the surplus wealth cre-
stsd by labor. capital cares not for
Iabor--it wants and takes the wsaitn
created by labor. Capital IL not
parsonal thing. ~ IL a social inEtitu.
lion. and capitalists are creatures OF
their environment: helpless individ
n.fs represented by n sOulless. blood
t.. boneIess feshiess thing. cor |
poration that rules them.
LABOR
Labor In not now an lndlvihuhi
csr.0naI thing The socialIzed ma
Stinerv of production has soctaiized
49, and converted the Lawyer