The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-02-22
CATHOLIC CALL !.
TO RECONSTRUCT
Church Council Lays Down Lines
to Guide in Solving Post.
War Problems.
TO INQUIRE SOCIAL JUSTICE.
Rs-s.nploymsnt, Labor Assesms, Social
sstterrnsnt, Economic Conditions
and Relations Dstwsen En-
pieysr and Worker Sub.
Jeets Of ot'seiaI Pro-
nounesmsnt

nounesment
Drawn up BY the four bishops who
represent the hierarchy Of the Catholic
Church IN America In the administra.
ton OF the National Catholic War
Council, an official pronouncement Oh
the social and economic reconstruction
problems facing this nation has beeo
issued from the headquarters Of this
church council In Washington, d. G.
The document bears the signatures Of
Bishop Peter J. Muldoon Of Rockford.
ILL.,: Bishop Joseph Schrembs of To-
Iedo, o.; bishop Patrick ]. Hayes OF
Now York City and Bishop William 7.
Russell of Charleston, 8. c.. and reads
In purt us follows:
Forsword.
"The ending of the Great War has
brought peace But the only safeguard
Of peace is social justice and 4 con.
tented people. The deep unrest 70 EN-.
pl,ntIcnlly and so widely voiced
throughout the world II the most seri.
GUS menace to the future peace Of
every milton AVID of the entire world.
Great problems face uA They cannot
be put inside: they must be met and
solved with Justice to all.
''ln the hope of stating the lines that
will best guide Us In their right solu
tIon the following procurement 10
t~tv fl,SA 1ty1tt
tee of the National Catholic War Coun
ell.
Replacement Of Men In esrvles.
"The FIRST problem In the process
Of reconstruction 10 the Industrial 70
placement Of the discharged soldlers
and sailors. The majority Of these
will undoubtedly return to their previ
GUS occupations. However. very
large number Of them will either nnd
their previous places closed to them or
will be cager to consider the possibility
Of more attractive employmentA The
most important single measure for
meeting thls situation that has Jet
been suggested 10 the placement OF
such men on farms. Several months
ago Secretary Lime recommended to
Congress that returning soldiers and
sailors should be given the opportunity
to work at good wages upon some part
of the millions upon millions Of acres
Of arid. swamp and cut-over timber
lands in order to prepare them tot cul.
tivation. President Wilson, In his an
nuAl address to Congress, endorsed the
proposal. AS fast as this preliminary
tnsk has been performed the men
should be assisted by government loans
to establish themselves as farmers,
either ms owners or as tenants having
longtime leases.
Farm Colonies.
at is essential that both the work Of
preparation and the subsequent settle
ment OF the land should be effected by
groups or colonies, not by men living
independently Of one another and In
depressing isolation.
"A plan of this sort Is already In
operation In England. The Importance
of the project as nm item Of any social
reform program IL obvious. 1t would
afford employment 10 thousands upon
number Of farm owners and independ.
ent farmers and would tend to lower
the cost OF living by increasing the
amount of agricultural products. II II
IL to assume any considerable proper.
tons 1t must be carried out by the gov
eruments OF the United States and Of
the several States. Should 1t be under
taken by these authorities and Oper.
ated on, systematic and generous
scale 1t would easily become one of the
most beneficial reform measures that
has ever been attempted.
Employment servles.
"The reinstatement Of the soldiers
and sailors In urban Industries will no
doubt he facilitated by the United
States Employment Service. This
agency has attained fair degree Of
development and efficiency during the
war Unfortunately there Is some dan
Ger that 1t Will go out Of existence or
be greatly weakened at the end OF the
period OF rehabilitation. 1t Is the oh
vIous duty of Congress to continue and
strengthen this important institution.
The problem of unemployment Ii with
Ms always. Its solution requires the
cooperation OF many agencies and the
uae of many methods, but the primary
and Indispensable instrument II 4 ma.
tional system OF labor exchanges act.
ing In harmony with State. municipal
and private employment bureaus.
Women War Workers.
zone Of the most important prob
l. a. oA