The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-02-07

Catholics will do we'll to heed the
warnings sounded by Rev. Joseph
Husslerie in a recent issue of "Amer-
ica." The warning is of especial in
terest to Catholic members of labor
unions.
According to the statistics drawn up
by a competent labor commission and
quoted in The Nation for August IL,
1909, about half of those in the trade
unions are Roman Catholics, the rest
Protestants or without religious pref
erence." This statement, carefully
prepared though it was, appears to be
rather excessive at the present date,
but it makes plain the great interest
which priests and Catholic societies
are called upon to take in the trade
unions of our country.
At the last general convention of
the American Federation of Labor,
when the resolutions drawn up were
not as radical as Socialists desired
they should be, Victor Berger, re-
marked that nothing else could be ex-
pected because of the predominance
of blue and green, a combination
which results in yellow. The green,
of course, represented the large Cath.
olic element among the sons of Erin,
while we may be sure that under the
blue he had not few of the Catholic
German workers in his mind, who by
their demonstrations at the conven-
tion were causing no slight confusion
in the Socialist camp.
The strength of the Church in many
of our unions was brought home to
the writer as he stood before st. Pat.
rick's Cathedral, in New York, to
watch the Labor Day parade march by
in serried columns. At times rank on
rank would reverently lift the hat, or
even pass with barred head along the
full front of the great Cathedral, show.
ing the pride they felt in thus pro.
Tossing before the world that faith
for which they were prepared to offer
up their very lives. Again only an
isolated few would acknowledge the
Lord there holding His review from
the silent Tabernacle. But where the
red was prominent one usually looked
in vain for the salute that meant sc
much, though the Celtic cut of fea
lures often told their tale or the HAND
half-lifted from instructive habit and
dropped again. The long, endless
files of the garment workers with
their Socialist pennons and Yiddist
inscription could not be, expected tt
know Who dwelled within, but, the
Italian labor union, too, marched by
as stolid and unmoved as If not one o1
all their numbers had ever heard ot
the existence of the Church of Rome
The force of association could vel
be studied here, and the absolute
need of discrimination between the
various locals. The activity of priests
and of the leaders of Catholic organ
izations can nowhere be better EN-
ployed than in following with keenest
interest the proceedings of the unions
to which the laborers beneath theil
care belong. The interests of the
workers are the interests Of the
Church. '"s''"
perhaps nowhere today" writes
one who is but repeating truism o1
modern economic, ''is the conflict
with the Socialist propaganda being
waged so continuously, SO actively ant
at such close range, as within the
ranks of the organized industrial
crafts The reason for this is evi
dent. The work of bringing to Social
ism the unorganized laborers Of any
country is slow and painful, must be
carried on with individuals and remair
insecure. Members of local trade
unions, on the contrary, have already
gained through organization a certain
solidarity, and if swung over to the
Socialist party can be permanent!
held by joint subscriptions to Socialis
papers and other influences that car
be constantly brought to bear upol
them. The outlying elements of labol
will then readily enough be caugh
up and swept along in any emergenc!
by the strong current of Socialist or
ganization.
Socialism and Labor Unions.
Socialism is contemplating nothing
less, than the absorption of, labo
unionism. Precisely, in as far as or
position exists between these tw'
forces is the bond between unionisn
and the church drawn closer. Bot
must have nothing more at heart thal
the true welfare of the worker and q