The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-09-05
ozANAM ON EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYED.


just wage is often denied the laborer
are reducible to two main classes: in
ability on the part of the employer
and wilful exploitation of labor AS
remedies for the former he suggests
more adequate knowledge of the
Laws of supply and demand, more
rigid economy in avoiding waste, and
a more perfect distribution of money
for rent, interest, tax and profit; in
brief a better understanding of indus
trial and commercial questions. The
second difficulty is not solved so
easily, since it is the result of per-
verified human will. 1t is due to the
greed of capitalists and dividend
hunters, and must therefore be met
by definite action on the part of the
State, of the community, and of the
labor unions.
In his definition of exploitation
Ozanam is eminently clear and to the
point. The employer becomes guilty
of this crime when he does not con-
slider the workman as an associate and
an auxiliary, but as tool from which
he is to derive as much service as pos
sible at the least expense possible"
This is Catholic doctrine in it's integ-
rity.
Such exploitation of man by man
Ozanam calls by no other name than
slavery. The human laborer, the
masterpieces of the Creator, the
image of God, the immortal heir of
80
been reduced to a mere machine. His
service has become servitude. He is
'only part of capitalism, like the
slave of the ancient pagans." No more,
therefore, is done for him than for
the machine at which he stands. 1t
is all question of the greater econ
omy. Child labor follows, and the
mother likewise is torn from her
home. The moral and intellectual
needs of the toiling masses are of no
consequence and the family is dis
integrated without qualm of con-
science. Sanitary conditions are
neglected and the workshop becomes
veritable prison house where man,
woman and child are condemned to a
ton. Such must of necessity be the
conditions wherever the liberistic
form of capitalism is allowed full free
dom without the interference of State
action and labor unionism. Such have
been and still are the actual results
in many instances. Need we wonder
that the great Catholic social leaders
all with one voice more bitterly con-
denim the vices of individualism or
liberalism than even the errors of
Socialism. The first are the cause.
The latter only the effect.
What then is to be done? Clearly
the Government must interfere. The
policy of absolute liberty, Laissez
faire, laissez passer, can not be toler-
ated. The individual laborer, says
Ozanam, is under threefold disad-
the capitalist, and therefore is urged
by need to accept the terms which are
offered him. He has a more limited
horizon than his employer and is con-
sequently more subject to alarm and
intimidation. He is finally more re-
Stricted in his choice of occupation
The capitalist can find many ways of
investing his wealth, the laborer is
bound to his machine or at least to
the trade which he has learned.
While such is the condition of the
laborer, there is no less danger, on
the other hand to be apprehended
from paternalistic government. Ex-
perience has shown that it hampers
industry and strangles commerce. No
worse form of universal slavery could
finally be imagined than the paternal-
ism to which Socialist agitators would
subject the entire human race.
The solution, therefore, of the prob
lem must consist in proper balancing
of liberty and authority. Government
intervention is necessary, but must be
restricted to extraordinary circum-
stances. Much can be accomplished
by the education of the worker and
by proper labor organizations. The
employer likewise needs to be taught
that liberal wages encourage the
workman, make him take more pride
and pleasure in his task and help him
to identify his interests with his
occupation.
We have already briefly indicated
Ozanam's economic solution 1t would
be wrong, however, to convey the
impression that he believed the ques-
ton to be mainly an economic one
He we'll understood that the evils of
the time were all reducible to want
of charity and Justice. The restora-
tion of economic justice, where it is
violated, depends largely upon the
power of law and of organization.
But justice can never be restored with
out charity, the absence of which is
the radical reason for the existence
of the social question itself. To pastor
and people alike, therefore, Ozanam
reads the great lesson of charity.
They must go out into the world and
take an active part in relieving misery
wherever they find it. They must
move the hearts of the rich and cheer
the hearts of the poor. In both they
must enkindle the fire of charity
which Christ came to bring into the
world. Charity, then, will return to
earth leading Justice by the hand.
But it must be charity founded upon
faith and religion.