Connecticut western news., 1919-02-27
Church Council Lays Down Lines to Guide in Solving Post
 War Problems.
TO INSURE SOCIAL JUSTICE.
Unemployment, Labor Reforms, Social Betterment, Economic Conditions and Relations Between En- pIoyer and Worker Sub-
 jects of Official Pro-
 nouncement

Drawn up by the four bishops who represent the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in America in the administra- ton of the National Catholic War Council. an official pronouncement on the social and economic reconstruction problems facing this nation has been issued from the headquarters of this church council in Washington, n. C. The document bears the signatures of Bishop Peter J. Muldoon of Rockford Ill. Bishop Joseph Schrembs of To- ledo, O.; Bishop Patrick J. Hayes of New York City and Bishop William T. Russell of Charleston, S. C., and reads in part as follows:
 Foreword.
 "The ending of the Great War has brought peace. But the only safeguard of peace is social justice and a con- tented people. The deep unrest so em- phatically and so widely voiced throughout the world is the most seri- ous menace to the future peace of every nation and of the entire world. Great problems face us. They cannot be put aside; they must be met and solved with justice to all.
 "In the hope of stating the lines that will best guide us in their right solu- tion the following pronouncement is issued by the Administrative Commit cil.
 Replacement of Men in Service.
 "The first problem in the process of reconstruction is the industrial re- placement of the discharged soldiers and sailors. The majority of these will undoubtedly return to their previ- ous occupations. However, a very large number of them will either find their previous places closed to them or will be eager to consider the possibility of more attractive employments. The most important single measure for meeting this situation that has yet been suggested is the placement of such men on farms. Several months ago Secretary Lane recommended to Congress that returning soldiers and sailors should be given the opportunity to work at good wages upon some part of the millions upon millions of acres of arid, swamp and cut-over timber lands in order to prepare them for cul- tivation. President Wilson, in his an- nual address to Congress, endorsed the proposal. As fast as this preliminary task has been performed the men should be assisted by government loans to establish themselves as farmers, either as owners or as tenants having longtime leases.
 Farm Colonies.
 "It is essential that both the work of preparation and the subsequent settle ment of the land should be effected by groups or colonies, not by men living independently of one another and in depressing isolation.
 "A plan of this sort is already In operation in England. The importance of the project as an item of any social reform program Is obvious. It would |afford employment tJ thousands upon thousands, would greatly increase the number of farm owners and independ- ent farmers and would tend to lower the cost of living by increasing the amount of agricultural products. If 1t is to assume any considerable propor- tions it must be carried out by the gov ernments of the United States and of the several States. Should it be under taken by these authorities and oper- ated on a systematic and generous scale it would easily become one of the most beneficial reform measures that has ever been attempted.
 Employment Service.
 "The reinstatement of the soldiers and sailors in urban industries will no doubt be facilitated by the United States Employment Service. This agency has attained Il fair degree of development and efficiency during the war. Unfortunately there is some dan ger that it will go out of existence or be greatly weakened at the end of the period of disqualification. IL is the ob- vjous duty of Congress to continue and strengthen this important institution. The problem of unemployment is with us always. Its sOlr:ion requires the cooperation of many agencies and the use of many methods, but the primary and indispensable instrument is na- tional system of labor exchanges act ing in harmony with State, municipal and private employment bureaus.
 Women War Workers.
 "One of the most important prob- lens of readjustment is that created by the presence in industry of im- mense numbers of women who have taken the places of men during the war. Mere justice, to say nothing of chivalry dictates that these women should not be compelled to suffer any greater loss or inconvenience than is absolutely necessary, for their services to the nation have been second only to the services of the men whose places