The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-07-24


The statement asserts that "it is
a false idea that the churches are
only concerned with religious, educa-
t'onal and charitable enterprise
They are or should be vitally con.
cerned with civic, economic and other
social interests"
Rights of working men to share in
the control of industries are set forth
in this statement at length. I'VE
have come upon times when people
are not submissive to injustice or to
unnecessary privation and suffering"
declares the church commission.
They are deeply and justly in earn
est If those who are the actual in
dustrial, political and social leaders
of the nation will not act upon the
| principle that the greatest shall be
the servant of all then the people
themselves, with indignation and bit
terness, are sure tc take their destiny
and that of the world into their own
hands.
"Class consciousness and the use OF
lutionary groups. The possession o.
wealth and education tends to the
formation of classes, and industrial
ownership and management to a class
conscious ruling group. We observe
the dangerous tendency of many state
and municipal officials to deny fair
hearings to radical offenders and to
use unnecessary and provocative bru-
tality during strikes.
Legislatures, judges and officials
should act firmly but justly, without
buster and with unnecessary violence.
Workingmen believe that they do
not get an equal chance before the
law and it is highly important that
whatever real basis there is for this
conviction should be removed.
"A deep cause of unrest in indus
try is the denial to labor of snare
in industrial management. Laborers
must be recognized as being entitled
TO as much consideration as employ
ers and their rights must be equally
safeguarded. This may be accom-
plished by assuring the workers as
rapidly as it can be done with due
consideration to conditions a fair
share in control; by opportunity for
ownership with corresponding repre-
sentation; or by a combination of
ownership and control in cooperative
production.
"The living wage should be made
the first charge upon industry be-
fore dividends are considered The
resistance of labor to general wage
by reduced hours of work should re-
ceive moral support from the commu-
nifty, except where the demand is
clearly unreasonable. Wage levels
must be high enough TO maintain 4
standard of living worthy of respon-
sibie free citizenship in democracy.
Actual wages, that is wages reck-
oned in power to purchase commodi-
ties, have been decreasing for several
There is urgent need of provision
by industry under the guidance of the
government for some regular method
of adjustment of wages and salaries
to the purchasing power of money. !
High wages are desirable as a gen. |
eral principle" Employers who justi
fy low wages or wage reductions
should open their books and submit !
their figures to public scrutiny adds
the commission
To nrnUida plpvrpaDt rom
mission advocates that nationwide |
employment service be maintained
and suggests adoption of policy Of
public works and land settlement, a |
guarded extension of opportunities
for social insurance to cover unem- !
ployment due to industrial conditions |
or i'll health; and the rehabilitation
of industrial cripples under the direc- /
tion of the state and at the expense
of industry. A general policy of vo-
cational training is approved
Concerning the payment OF the war
debt, it Is pointed out that power |
full influences are organized to shift
the burdens of this debt on the pub |
lie while the public itself is unorgan-
lied and practically unable to pro !
tect itself" A revolt, the commits,
sion says, already has taken place
against the policy of levying direct
taxes upon minor luxuries OF the peo- |
pie Resolute use, it adds, should be
made of graduated income and inner.
itance taxes as "a just method for
placing the heavier burdens upon
those most able to bear them"
The church asserts that 1t stands |
for living wage for industrial women
and equal pay for equal work. It
urges persons having free capital to
invest 1t in homes for workers. 1t
points to be need Of community GEN. !;
ters that churches should be open |