The Yale expositor., 1919-10-09
CHURCH PROGRAM
PLEASES LABOR
Federation Leader Says Catholic
Reconstruction Plan Has
Workers Backing.
WAGE FARMERS WELCOME IT.
Support Of Catholic Church Valued by
Labor Men, as They Work for
Social Betterment, He
Declares.

chicago. - JOhn FITZPATRICK, preSl-
dent of the Chicago Federation OF La
Dor and chairman of the National Com
mittee for Organizing Iron and Steel
Workers, has responded for organized
labor 20 the reconstruction pronounce
ment recently issued from the Ma
tional Catholic War Council welcom-
ing and valuIng most highly its ex-
pressed cooperation in the task Of re-
construction to which labor has set IL
titude OF the laboring man toward this
program of social reconstruction Mr..
Fitzpatrick says:
Nothing has appeared in long
time that will be Of more substantial
benefit TO the cause OF organized labor
and OF economic justice than the social
reconstruction program Of the Ma
tional Catholic War Council. The four
bishops who have signed this pro-
gram and issued 1t TO the world are
entitled to the heartlest thanks OF ev-
cry wage Garner who has the interests
Of his fellows at heart, and both they
and the Church will receive his thanks
and appreciation in full measure. In
the same measure they should receive
the thanks of every good Catholic, for
in heartenlng labor they have also
given a splendid proof that the Church
is equal to the demands OF the times
and is applying its ancient and I'M
changing principles to modern condl-
tionS in a way that makes for the
progress and general well-being OF the
race.
1.-THE program of the National
Catholic War Council is virtually the
program of organized labor as ex-
pressed by the official declarations Of
the American Federation Of Labor and
the program OF the Chicago hide
pendent Labor party. It's declarations
in favor of maintaining the present
wage rate and progressively raising II,
while at the same time taking steps to
reduce the cost Of living and to control
large fortunes, constitute the strongest
possible support for the position taken
by organized labor. 1t should be print
ed in its entirety in every labor Journal
in the country. Nothing will do more
to strengthen the cause of orderly but
fundamental economic reform as OPP
posed to the plans of those who would
destroy our entire civilization at one
blow In the hope of lettering the con-
ditions of the masses. 1t Is an ade-
quate program provided II can be
accepted and promptly carried through
as a program of action. 1t is not
visionary program; Ii is not the pic
ture of Utopia to be realized in the
far-distant future 1t Is what labor de-
mands now, and those who wish to
avoid the excuses and dangers of a
violent and bitter upheaval can do
nothing better than to acknowledge It's
true conservatism and aid organized
labor in putting 1t into practice. l
must agree with its authors that con-
ditions in America are far less dis
turbed than In European countries, yet
I believe It would be a serious mistake
not to realize that the workers and
producers of America are in a mood
for action.
"In nearly every respect the pro-
gram of the National Catholic War
Council is so comprehensive and so
adequate to the needs Of the times that
am confident its wide publication and
its adoption by political party pledg-
ed to carry IL out would satisfy the
needs of large number who are on
the point of breaking from their old
moorings and joining with such hither.
to inconslderable groups as the Social
lists. II is the sign which has been
greatly needed that we can achieve
the reforms on which our hearts are
set without breaking all the traditions
OF the past, good as we'll as bad.
This program should he evidence
to many who have opposed labor's
aims without understanding them that
labor speaks today in the interests Of
all society, in the interests Of true con
servatism. II is not men who have
changed. We are not departing from
the ancient principles OF justice and
right. We are merely applying those
principles to new conditions that have
arisen very rapidly--so rapidly that
many have failed to realize them. 1t
is sufficient for those who doubt the
need to ponder the statement here set
forth with unquestionable authority
that a considerable majority of the
wage earners OF the United States,
both men and women, were not re-
ceiving living wages when prices be
gan to soar in 1915 and that since
1915 the average rate of pay has not
increased faster than the cost Of llv-
ing Labor knows these bitter truths,
and labor has reached the point where
Il is determined to change these rotten
conditions, conditions which mean the
destruction OF Christian society II they
continue. In performing the task of
reconstruction TO which II has set IT.
self labor welcomes and values most
highly the cooperation and support OF
the Church, and the Church will gain
along with labor as a result OF tie
splendid pronouncement of the four
representative bishops who have sign
n An. -.