Evening journal., 1919-09-29
CATHOLICS WAR ON
HIGH COST Of LIVING
tiierarchy's Pastoral Letter
Demands Strict
Regulation
DEFENDS WAGES AND
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

= the call Of the Pope, framed in lhes,
words, Rome now looks 10 America
10 be the leader in an things Catholic
ana to set an example to other ma.
> lions the hierarchy formally ohgan-
lied on Friday
. The FIRST announcement OF the or
ganization was accompanied by the
statement that a joint pastoral letter
over the signatures Of all the members
Of the hierarchy-the cardinals, arch
bishops and bishops-would be issued
as early as practicable. The letteg VIII
dsal with the most important re-
lgious, educational social and eco
nOmic matters now calling for the al
lcnsion and sympathy Of Catholic au-
thorily"
Bishop Shahan, fector Of The Catholic
University, who acted as spokesman,
said the letter undoubtedly would
emb0dy The recommendation OF the
message on social reconstructions," is
sued by four bishops in the name OF
the Catholic War Council This letter
frankly faces the present unrest and is
regarded as the most radical ulterance
OF any modern church
Tho hierarchy reserved itself into
/ Inc National Catholic Welfare Council
and agreed 10 meet every year In the
interim an administrative board, com
posed of three archbshops and four
bishops, Will act in the name Of The
hierarchy.
subordinate boards or bureaus will
be organized as speedily as is prac- |
licable. Each Of these will be sub /
icct 10 episcopal supervision and the /
bishop, who acts as directing bureau |
mead, also viii serve as liaison officer
with the hierarchy, TO whom he Will
make an annual report.
The senior member OF The admins
lrative board is Archbishop Hanna, Of
san Francisco. Associated with him
are Archbishops Dougherty, Of Phila
dclphia, and Bowling, OF ST. Paul, to-
gelher with Bishops Muldoon OF Rock
ford H.; Canevln. OF Pittsburgh
Russell, OF, Charleston, and schrcmbs,
OF Toledo, Ohio
The activities OF the National Cath
Ollie welfare Council viii extend into
problems OF education, the relation OF
the press and literature TO the Catholic
Church, social service, home and for
eign missions and the Catholic lay !
societies..
Bishop Shahan said the organization
mad been decided upon for the "pur-
pose OF furthering the religious. educa-
iional and social wellheing OF the Cath
orr Ohurchsin the United States, TO aid
the Catholic press and 10 assist all
recognized activities engaged in for
eign and home missions"
Cardinal Gibbons presided at the ses
sion Of The hierarchy, Again the meet
ing was behind closed doors.
Its message for society in It's
troubled state" as enunclated by the
four bishops and as now assured OF
Endorsement by the hierarchy said,
among other things
One OF the most important prob
lens of readiustment is that created
by the presence in industry Of Inn
nense numbers Of women who have 1
AIKEN the places OF men during the
var. Mere justice, TO say nothing OF
dictates that these women
should not be compelled TO suffer any
yreater loss or Inconvenience than s.
,bsolutely necessary; for their services :,
o the nation have been second only q
o iho services OF the men whose .
places they have been called upon 20 "a
IN. Ono general principle is clear NJ ~
'emale worker should remain I'm any Il
that is harmful TO health
,r morals" y
women should disappear as quickly .
Is possible from such tasks as con a
luetins and guarding street cars, y
cleaning locomotives and a great num- q
,er Of other activities for which con u
lliions Of life and their physique rem %
Ter them unit 81
Another general principle Is that
he proportion OF women in industry ID
,ught 10 be kept within the smallest y
PRACTICAL limits Those women who !.
re engaged in the same tasks as men u
mould receive equal pay for equal u,
mounts and qualities ~ work VI
"The general level OF wages attained u
Turing the war should not be low a,
red ~ ~
'On the grounds both Of Justice and ~
,ound economies we should give ouc ="
lcsrty support 10 all legitimate efforts =
made by labor 10 resist general wage M
Ill
The letter advocates social Insurance III
mt says. amy insurance scheme or
method that tends to m
eparaie The workers into a distinct Ill
md separie class, that ofiends against III
heir domestic privacy and independ- III
nee o~ self-respect should not he III
olcrated Ill
The letter Of the bishops takes mp |.
he question Of the high cost Of living N
asserting that the living cost has in II
70 per cent since 1915. II Vii
avs. iii
The letter concludes with a state
nent that neither tho moderate re- II
orms advocated, nor any other pro- |.
,ram OF betterment or reconstruction n
Vim prove reasonably effective with II
mt a reform IN the spirit Of both la II
,or and capital. III
"The laborer must come 10 realize II
hat he owes his employer and society II
IN honest days work in return for q II
air wage. and that conditions cannot |,
,e substantially improved until he
'oots out the desire 20 get maximum Il
u return for a minimum OF service y II