The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-07-11
CHURCH OPPOSES
REDUCING WAGES
Increased Incomes for Labor and
Participation in Management
Urged by Catholic Council.

Pledging hearty support to all legiti-
mate efforts made by labor to resist
general wage reductions, Bishop Peter
]. Muldoon Of Rockford, ILL.,. Bishop
Joseph Schrembs Of Toledo, O.; Bishop
Patrick j. Hayes Of New York City
and Bishop William T. Russell Of
Charleston, S. c., representing the HER
archy Of the Catholic Church in Amer
lea in administering the National Cath
Ollie War Council, have issued the fol-
lowing as a part of an official pro-
nouncement on economic and social re-
construction:
Wage Rates Should Be Sustained.
"The general level of wages attained
during the war should not be lowered.
In a few industries, especially some d.
rectly and peculiarly connected with
the carrying on Of war, wages have
reached a plane upon which they can
not possibly continue for this grade Of
occupations. But the number of work
ers in this situation is an extremely
small proportion Of the entire wage
earning population. The overwhelming
majority should not be compelled or
suffered to undergo any reduction in
their rates OF remuneration, for two
reasons-frst, because the average
rate of pay has not increased faster
than the cost Of living; second, be-
cause a considerable majority of the
wage-earners Of the United States,
both men and women, were not receiv-
Ing living wages when prices began to
rise in 1915. In that year, according to
Lauck and Sydenstricker, whose work
ls the most comprehensive on the SUBJ
ject, four-fifths Of the heads OF fami-
lies obtained less than 800 dollars,
while two-thirds Of the female wage
were paid less than 400 dol
lars. Even II the prices of goods
should fall to the level on which they
were in 1915-something that cannot
be hoped for within five years-the
average present rates Of wages would
not exceed the equivalent Of q decent
livelihood in the ease Of the vast ma
jority. The exceptional instances to
the contrary are practically all among
the skilled workers. Therefore, wages
on the whole should not be reduced
even when the cost of living recedes
from its present high level.
Living Wage Minimum Of Justice.
Sven II the great majority of work
ers were now in receipt of more than
living wages, there are no good aso
why rates Of pay should be lowered.
After all, q living wage is not necessa-
rily the full measure of justice. All
the Catholic authorities on the subject
explicitly declare that this is only the
minimum of Justice. In q country as
rich as ours there are very few cases
In which 1t is possible to prove that
the worker would be getting more than
that to which he has q right II he were
paid something In excess of this ethical
minimum. Why then should we assume
that this II the normal share Of almost
the whole laboring p~opulation1 Since
our Industrial u and instru-
meptalities are lY{nSieRt to provide
more than q living wage for q very
large proportion of the workers why
should we acquiesce in . theory which
denies them this measure Of the COM
forts Of life7 Such a policy II o only
Of very questionable morality, but II
unsound economically. The large de-
mand for goods which IL created and
maintained by high rates of wages and
high purchasing power by the masses
10 the surest guarantee of q continuous
and general operation Of Industrial -
Establishments. It II the most effective
instrument OF prosperity for labor and
capital alike. The only persons who
would benefit considerably through a
general reduction Of wage are the less
ef1cient among the capitalists and the
more comfortable sections Of the con
sumers. The W~age-earners would lose
more in remuneration thar they would
gain from whatever fall In prices oc-
wages. On grounds both Of justice and
sound economics we should give our
hearty support to all legitimate efforts
hat call is as urgent now as 1t was
n 1917 or 1918. Because an individ-
ial has done his duty conspicuously UP
Until now does not excuse him from
urther efforts. There can be slack
IFS in peace times as we'll as in war
lines, and our organization will work
lntiringly to see that all of the PEG.
Die Of these Northwest states realize
heir duty and do it. Incidentally,
while we are performing our duty to
he nation and UNFOLDING the honor
If our district, state and community,
We will be doing q favor to ourselves
W learning habits Of thrift and the
falue of service.
There will be a Fifth or Victory
Liberty Loan, a movement in which
We can show our thankfulness for the
,afety Of our country and the saving
II the lives of hundreds Of thousands
Il those dear to us.
Organize Societies.
"Just low we are most vitality in
crested in properly starting the 1919