The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-03
PRIEST URGES MANUFACTURERS TO ORGANIZE FOR RETIREMENT
 OF NEWS LIVING CONDITIONS

unemployed and the sick is not to be gatnsaid. but 1t meets two obstacles. In the first place it frequently B. stroys self-respect by its tendencies to pauperize people whom it is intended to benefit; on the other hand it does not reach people who are deserving of help because of their aversion toward accepting charity. The state insur- ance against the unemployment, sick ness injuries or age is more practical. to my mind, than charity depart ments.
 ''The wave of the industrial unrest is growing and we shall feel it especi- ally as a reaction after this war. Many would not see that and especi- ally those who would not part with the money they have made, money which often they do not need. But the problem we must face, and the soon CT wo do the better results will come for all.
 Now, let us look 1t the practical side. Is there. any remedy to inn prove the relation between the em- ployers and employees? Is the class distinction necessarily antagonistic :? There are remedies, and there is no need of antagonism for the progress of modern industries. All that Is needed is the intelligent and mutual understanding of each others needs But our effort in this direction must
 be animated by the spirit of Him Who came to make us all happy. -
 ITO relieve ourself of the pain is to heal our sore wound To check the pain of industrial unrest Ia to rem .edy that which caused the unrest. Are all the workmen who are on strikes led by the I. w. w. -agttators? My experience tell: No. These agitators are only the occasion which at times the workmen grasp, and will grasp. with a hope to better their.- in some cases, almost unbearable conditions of life, and on that account they are easily led by these unscrupnlousf fagi- tators and are led to the extremes be- cause they are blinded by. what they cali, 1.-the brightness of their own wrongs
 .'Tfe wounds of the unrest among the working class I would classify in
 brief. under
 Low wages
 2-Unwholesome surroundings, and 3-Dowering of family and social standards.
 By low wages I do not mean that workmen are never paid what they deserve. By low wages mean the lack of proportion between the pay envelope. the size of the family, the high rent and the high cost of eths necessities of life. Under the pres ent social system, mans wage must be a family wage, and not merely g wage of a single man. The home is the most sacred institution. A work man is expected to earn a living suf- ficient to allow his wife to devote, hel time and energy to the care of the l home and of the children. While Sths
 mother presides at home, the father
 must receive a wage sufficient to. keeI
 his family on basis of physical healtf l and social decency. In other Word' l the wage earner must be able to bu. l his and his family's health, decencl and efficiency. But the marked value l of wage is relative, it changes witf the fuctuation of the market. withth' 1 supply and the demand of the necessi I ties of life.
 l "A careful study of the statistics o1 l 1909 made by the federal government l reveals that a family of five needs | s744 a year for their maintenance We must not forget, it ds for the main tenance not incfnddng decent living according to each one's relative so- Iciaf standing. Since that time the necessities have increased at least 3t Iper cent. : We must not be surprised i then, to see the workmen applaudins
 a stirring address of some agftatol who forNa a few instances of unscrupo. Ilous employers hurls charges that al are -robbing their employees of the lproduct of their toll and giving away itine money in showy benefactions and endowments to extol their virtue ol
 generosity or to subsidize justice
 whilst their working people can barely exist.
 fcontinued on Page 2.1