The Irish standard., 1917-08-11
The Speedy Ad justmeni
Of After-war Indus
trial Needs.

Intention Proposed by the Holy Father
for the Month Of Augusta Prac-
tical Spiritual Campaign In Which
the Highest and Most Vital Inter-
ests Of Humanity Are at Stake
More Things Are Wrought by Prayer
than Our Philosophy Dreams Of
A Revolution In the Glass Relation
ship That Can Only Como About by
the Triumph Of Christian Justice.
Our Holy Father asks the clients of
the Sacred Heart to pray during the
month of August for the speedy ad-
justment of industrial conditions after
the war. May we believe that the in.
tention is prophetic, that our Holy
Father is hopeful Of a near peace?
During the three years of his pom
tificate the continual prayer of the
Pope has been for peace and the en-
tire Church has Joined with him in
that prayer. But If peace between
the nations is followed by injustice,
class hatred and class strifes it will
be only peace that the world gives,
not the peace our Lord left us. Dur
ing the war sentiments of patriotism
allayed much of the class antagonism
between labor and capital. Great for
tunes have been made and the owners
of capital have seen their profits enor-
mously swollen by the war. The in
creased cost of living is a worldwide
complaint. These conditions will in
tensify class hatred and class strife
after the war if there is not a speedy
adjustment of the relations between
capital and labor.
Justice must prevail in the relations
between the owners of capital and the
workman whose labor he hires. The
laborer must be treated as a human
being, not a mere cog in the indus
trial machine. His labor must not be
regarded solely as a commodity to be
bought and sold in the market place.
Capital must see to it that wages are
just. Working conditions should be
so regulated that as far as possible
neither the health nor life of the Ia
borer are in danger. Under modern
conditions labor has become more in
tense, the physical and mental strain
greater. The hours of labor should
be shortened to give physical relaxa-
ton, mental and spiritual improve
ment and time for enjoyment of the
pleasures of the home the laborer sup
ports.
Without labor capital is dead mat
ter. The owners of capital should not
absorb all the profits that are the
joint product of labor and capital.
The worker Is entitled to fair share
of the profits. The Church recognizes
and encourages the right of laborers
to unite in organizations to defend
their rights and to improve their
conditions. The laboring man should
take heed that no unjust means are
used to attain these ends. Catholics
should be on their guard lest false
principles of morality and social duty
be introduced into labor organizations.
Labor unions are bound to obey the
laws of the land and respect consti-
tuted authority. Violence, obstruction
of processes of law and destruction
of property are no less crimes in Ia
Dor organizations than in individuals.
The workingman should be just to
his employer. Labor must give its
best not it's meanest or poorest ef-
forts. The wrongs that labor has en-
dured in the past have been many and
h,1f IN oh h0 nhor
liable to the owners of capital and
try to forgive and forget past wrongs.
Capitalists are entitled to interest on
their investment, compensation for
risk and fair share of the profits
of production. These are the just
dues of capital.
The greatest menace to the speedy
adjustment of Industrial conditions
after the war is Socialism. It's prin'
ciples have been condemned by the
Church as opposed to revealed relig
ion. Socialism is also condemned by
reason and natural law. Pretending
to make labor the ruler of the State
Socialism reduces the worker to q
slavery more base and degrading than
any the world has ever witnessed. II
would enslave not only his body but
also his mind and soul. The worst
depressions of capitalism or autocratit
government would not weigh as heav
lily on labor as would the socialistit
State. Catholic workingmen should
resist with all their strength the spir
it of Socialistic doctrines. The in
trigues, the false claims and state
ments of Socialists should be combat
ed and opposed by Catholic working
men, who, on religious principles ant
for their own best interests will pro
tect their labor organizations from
such intrigues.
The Church has always supported
every legitimate effort of labor to oh
tain justice. She has been solicitou'
for the temporal as we'll as the spir
itual welfare of the worker. Her Di
vine Founder worked at the bench. HI
selected q mechanic as His foste