Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-10-16
CHURCH PROGRAM
PLEhSES LABOR
Federation Leader Says Catholic
Reconstruction Plan Has
Workers Backing.
WAGE ElRNERS WELCOME IT.
Support OF Catholic Church Valued by
Labor Men, az They Work for
Social 5etterment, hs
Declares.

Chicago. 1880 John Fitzpatrick. pres'-
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 to the reconstruction pronounce
ment recently issued from the Ma.
tionai Catholic War Co.ncil. welcom.
Ing and valuing most highly its ex-
pressed cooperation In the task of re.
construction to which labor has set II.
self, In a statement outlining the at
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 II to the world are
entitled To the heartiest 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 heartening labor they have also
given splendid proof that the Church
Ia equal to the demands of the times
and Is applying It's ancient and un-
changing principles to modern condi-
tons In a way that makes for the
progress and general we'll being Of the
race.
''Thc program Of the Nptionai
Catholic War Council II virtually the
program Of organized labor a. ex-
pressed by the ofIicial declarations Of
the American ! ..tieration OF Labor and
the program of the Chicago indie
pendent Labor party. It's declarations
In favor Ut 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. It should DO 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 NJ op.
posed to the plans Of those who would
destroy our entire civilization at one
blow In the hope Of bettering the con.
dItions Of tho masses. II In an ade.
quite program provided II can be
accepted and promptly carried through
M program OF action. II ID not .
visionary program; It In not the pic.
ture of Utopia to be realized In the
far-distant future. Il II what labor de-
mands now, and those who wish TO
avoid the excessas and dangers Of
violent and bitter upheaval can do
nothing better thanto acknowledge its
true conservatism and aid organized
labor In putting It into practice. I
must agree with It's authors that con.
ditions In America are far less dis
turbed than IN European countries. yet
I believe 1t would be 4 serious mistake
not to realize that the workers and
producers Of America are IN . mood
for action.
I'm nearly every respect the pro
gram Of the National Catholic War
Council 10 - comprehensive and 20
adequate to the needs Of the times that
am confident its wide publication and
its adoption BY political party pledg.
I'd to carry Il out would satisfy the
needs of large number who arc %
the point Of breaking from their "a
moorinEs and joining with such hitAer.
to inconsidcrab's groups n the Social
lists. II y the sign which has b4sn
greatly needed that we can achieve
the reforms on which our hearts are
set without breaking Nil the traditions
Of the past. good a. well ~ bad.
"This program should BE- evideaee
TO many who have opposed lab0es
aims without understanding then that
labor speaks today In the interests of
all society. In the interests Of true COZ
servatism. It II not men who have
changed. We are not departing from
the anciens principles Of justice and
right We are merely applying those
principles to new conditions that havs
arisen ve-- rapidly--so rapidly that
many have failed to realize them. Il
In sufficient for those who doubt tho
need to ponder the statement here st
forth with unquestionable authority
that a considerable majority Of tho
wage earners OF the United States,
both men and women. were not -
ceiving living wages when prices ~
gan TO soar in 1918 aud -that sincs
1915 the average rate Of pay has not
increased faster than the cost Of liv-
ing Labor knows these bitter truths,
and labor has reached the point where
II fl 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 Il has set It.
self labor welcomes aud values most
highly the cooperation and support Of
the Church. aud the Church will gain
along with labor - result OF tho
c,lnudfA announcement NJ the fOuP