Askov American., 1919-05-08
CHURCH OPPOSES
REDUCING WAGES
Increased Incomes for Labor and
Participation in Management
Urged by Catholic Council.

IlcuginE nearly support 10 all legiil-
mate efforts made by labor to resist
general wage reductions, Bishop Peter
Joseph Schrembs Of Toledo, o.. Bishop
Patrick j. Hayes Of New York City
and Bishop William T. Russell of
Charleston, s. c.. representing the bier-
archy Of the Catholic Church in Amer,
len In administering the National Cath
ollie War Council, have issued the fol-
lowing as part Of IN official pro-
nouncement on economic and social re
construction:
Wage Rates Should BE Sustained.
"rhe general level of wages attained
during the war should not be lowered
In II few Industries, especially some di
rectly and peculiarly connected with
the carrying on OF war, wages have
reached a plane upon which they can
not possibly continue for this grade Of
occupations. But the number of work
ers In this situation Is an extremely
small proportion of the entire wage
earning population. The overwhelming
majority should not be compelled or
suffered to undergo any reduction In
their rates of remuneration, for two
rensons-first, because the average
rate of pny has not increased faster
than the cost Of living second, be-
cause a considerable ma jorlty Of the
wagc-earners Of the United States,
hath man and wntman xy.srn not raaaiv.
ing living wages when prices began to
rise In 1915. In that year. according to
Lauck and Sydenstricker. whose work
Is the most comprehensive on the sub
ject, four-tifths Of the heads Of fami-
lies obtained less than 500 dollars.
while two-thirds Of the female wage
earners were paid less than 400 dol
lars. Even II the prices OF goods
should fall to the level on which they
were in something that cannot
be hoped for within fve years--the
average present rates Of wages would
not exceed the equivalent Of a decent
livelihood In the ease Of the vast ma
jority. The exceptional instances to
the contrary are practically all among
the skilled workers. Therefore. wages
on the whole should not be reduced
even when the cost Of living recedes
from It's present high level.
Living Wage Minimum Of Justice.
"Even IL the great majority OF work
ers We're now In receipt of more than
living wages, there are no good reasons
why rates Of pay should be lowered.
After aii, living wage Is not necessa.
rtly the full measure Of Justice. All
the Catholic authorities on the subject
explicitly declare that this is only the
minimum Of Justice. In country as
rich as ours there arc very few cases
In which II Is possible to prove that
the worker would be getting more thas
that to which he has right II he were
paid something In excess Of this ethical
minimum. Why then should We assume
that this Is the normal share Of almos,
the whole laboring population? Since
our Industrial resources and instru-
mentalities are suiliciept to provide
more than living wage for very
large proportion Of the workers why
should we acquiesce In a theory which
denies them this measure Of the com
forts Of lifep Such a policy is not only
Of very questionable morality. but Is
unsound economically. The large de-
mand for goods which il created and
maintained by high rates Of wages and
high purchasing power by the masses
Is the surest guarantee OF a continuous
and general operation Of Industrial es.
Establishments. Ii is the most effective
instrument Of prosperity for labor and
capital alike. The only persons who
would benefit considerably through "a
general reduction OF wages are the less
efficient among the capitalists and the
more comfortable sections Of the con.
sumers The wage-eaners would lose
more In remuneration than they would
gain from whatever fall In prices oc-
CURED as direct result Of the fall In
wages. On grounds both Of Justice and
sound economics We should give our
hearty support to all legitimate efforts