The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-13
CHURCHMEN URGE
SOCIAL JUSTICE.
FOR WoRKMEN
Contended People Only Safe
guard Against Menace Of
Unrest, Points Out Report.

Unrest, Points Out Report.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 13-Adoption
of minimum wage schedules, mainten-
ance in general Of the wage levels at
tanned during the war and permanent
establishment of the National War
Labor Board and the United States
Employment Service were advocated
in report made public today by
four Catholic bishops, constituting
the Administrative committee Of the
National Catholic War Council.
While favoring. in the interests of
health and morality, prohibition Of
child labor and reduction to the
smallest practical limits of the en-
ployment of women in industry. the
committee urged equal pay for wo-
men doing equal work with men. It
declared also for insurance of work
ers against illness, old age. and un-
employment until wages are high
enough to tide over such periods, for
abolition Of monopolies, for continu-
ance Of heavy taxes on large incomes
and excess profits. for cooperative
merchandising in necessities to reduce
the cost of living and for government
assisted colonization of unoccupied
farm lands by demobilized soldiers
and sailors.
AS a measure outside its present re-
constructor program but of value in
solving the problems of capital and
labor the committee urged gradual
participation by labor in the manage
ment and eventually in the ownership
Of industry.
Social Justice Uroed
The report, entitled Social Recon
struction; General Review of the
Problems and Survey of Remedies,
was issued in the names of Bishops
Peter j. Muldoon, of Rockford, ILL.,,
Joseph Schrembs, of Toledo, O., Will
liam T. Russell, of Charleston, S. c.,
and Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J.
Hayes of New York. AS members of
the War Councils Administrative
Committee they represent the Cath
Ollie hierarchy Of America in general
direction of war work in this country
and overseas.
emphatically and widely voiced
throughout the world is a most SER
ious menace" the bishops held up
social justice and a contented peo-
pie" as the only safeguard Of peace.
The authors of the report disclaim-
ed any attempt to formulate COM
prehensive scheme of reconstruction.
Their recommendations, it was stated,
were confined to reforms that seem
ed to be desirable and also obtainable
within a rea sonable time, and to those
general principles which should serve
as guide for more distant develop
ments."
Provision For Soldiers
Discussing the rehabilitation of
the military forces, the report in
dorsed the suggestion of Secretary of
the Interior Lane that discharged
men should be given an opportunity
to work at good wages in retaining
unused lands, afterward to be as
sisted by government loans to estab-
Ish themselves as farmers. 1t cred
tied the Federal Employment Service
with "a fair degree of development
and efficiency during the war;" and
urged that Congress continue and
strengthen the organization as a
means Of helping to solve the. ever
present problem Of unemployment.
The bishops rated the National War
Labor board as lone of the most benc-
fetal governmental organizations OF
the war" It's efforts, they asserted, |
had prevented innumerable strikes
and raised wages to decent levels in |
many industries"
Its main guiding principles" the
report continued, "have been a family |
living wage for all male adult labor
ers: recognition of the right Of labor |
to organize, and to deal with employ
ers through it's chosen representatives |
and no coercion Of non-union laborers |
by members of the union. The War
Labor board ought to be continued in |
existence by congress, and endowed |
with all the power for effective action |
that it can possess under the federal |
constitution. The principles, methods. !
machinery and results of this institu- |
ton constitute definite and far-reach- |
ing gain for social justice. No part OF |
this advantage should be lost or given |
up in time of peace"
While holding that mere justice, to i
say nothing of chivalry," dictates that |
women who filled in industry places
made vacant by men called to war
should not be compelled to suffer any
greater loss or inconvenience than is
absolutely necessary" in the readjust.
ment under peace conditions, the re-
port declared that no female worker
should remain in an occupation harm
full to health or morals. In this class
lhcation. street car operation and the
cleaning of locomotives were especial.
ly mentioned. An efficient national
employment service. 1t was stated,
would be able to shift to domestic and