Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-09-27
CATHOLIC PLATFORM.

More than 600 ArchfSshops, Bish-
ops and other prelates q the Roman
Catholic Church, representing every
section of the country, were on hand
TO attend the opening session at the
Catholic University n5sWednesday
of the conference calledAby Cardinal
Gibbons. 1t was the Largest gather
ing of Catholic churchmen since the
meeting of 1884 in Baltimore, of
which Cardinal Gibbons is the only
surviving member interest in the
conference was heightened by the
attendance of Cardinal Mercier, Bel
GUMS distinguished preiate. whose
record of service to his rountry dur
ing the war has won the admiration
of the world. Cardinal Mercier adj
dressed the conferences Wednesday
and later participated ilssome of its
discussions. Questions fbearing on
all phases of the work o. the Catho-
lie Church in America Will be con-
sidered at the conferenae, which is
expected to continue in 3ession until
today. -
That this conference.wm have the
most far-reaching results upon So
cial and economic conditions in the
United States was TO be expected, as
it was called expressly 70 discuss a
programme that is full %of interest
not merely for the nearly 2 0 900, 900
Catholics in the United States, but
also for every American> no matter
what creed he may confess or to
what religious denomination he may
belong. No doctrinal points are to
be debated, and while matters of re-
ligion and church administration
will of course receive attention, TIE
parts of the programme which have
aroused the most earnest and wide
spread interest are those that deal
with social reconstruction, the en-
forcement of Prohibition, national
ization of education, and especially
the rights and mutual relations of
capital and labor. The official pro-
gramme is designedly made broad
enough to embrace every phase OF
the great problems with which
America is wrestling almost If not
quite as desperately as the countries
of Europe In brief the platform
laid down by the conference is as
follows:
Establishment of discharged SOL
diers and sailors as owners of farms,
in groups or colonies, assisted by
loans from the Government.
Perpetuation of the United States
Employment Service and the War
Labor Board.
Elimination of women from all
work that is harmful to health or
morals; proportion Of Women in in
dustry reduced to the smallest prac-
tical number; equal pay with men
for equal amounts and qualities OF
work
No reduction in the general level
Of wages attained during the war:
Cities to take up the housing
problem.
Cooperative stores to reduce the
cost of living by eliminating all mid
clemens profits
The minimum wage.
State insurance against Illness, in
validity, unemployment and old age,
supported by levy on industry.
The right of labor to participate
in industrial management.
Vocational training in all qualified
private schools as well as in public
schools, but always in such form as
not to deprive any children of at
least the elements of a cultural edu-
cation
Taxing child labor out of exist
ence.
Prevention OF monopolistic control
OF commodities and adequate gov
eminent regulation of public service
monopoiies.
Heavy taxation OF incomes, excess
profits and inheritances.