The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-10-25
Federation Leader Says Catholic
Reconstruction Plan Has
Workers Backing.
WAGE FARMERS WELCOME IT.
Support Of Catholic Church Valued BY
Labor Men, a. They Work for
Social eettsrmsnt. Hs
Declares.

DOR ana chairman OF the NatiOnhl CUIu-
mittee for Organizing Iron and Steel
Workers. has responded for organized
labor to the reconstruction pronounce
ment recently issued from the Ma
tional Catholic War Council, WELDON.
ing and valuinR most highly Its e.
pressed cooperation In the task of re-
construction to which labor has set It.
self. In a statement outlining the at
titude Of the iaboring man toward this
program of social reconstruction Mr..
Fitzpatrick says:
Nothing has appeared In long
time that will be Of more substantial
benent to the cause Of organized labor
and of economic Justice than the social
reconstruction program Of the Ma
tional Catholic War Council. The four
bhhops who have signed this pro.
gram and issued It 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 Its ancient and I'M
changing principles to modern condl-
lions In a way that makes for the
progress and general well-being Of the
race.
1.-THE program of the National
Catholic War Council Is virtually the
program Of organized labor as ex-
pressed by the ohicial declarations OF
the American Federation Of Labor and
the program of the Chicago indie.
pendent Labor party. It's declarations
In favor Of maintaining the present
wage rate and progressively raising II.
reduce the cost Of living and to contro,
large fortunes, constitute the strongest
possible support for the position taken
by organized labor. II should be print.
ed In Its entirety In every labor journal
In the country. Nothing will do more
to strengthen the cause Of orderly bnt
fundamental economic reform As op-
posed to the plans Of those who would
destroy our entire civilization At one
blow In the hope Of lettering the con.
ditions Of the masses. 1t Ia an AIDE.
auate program provided II can be
accepted and promptly carried through
as a program of action. II Is not .
visionary program; 1t IL not the pic
ture Of q Utopia to he realized In the
far-dlstant future. II is what labor de-
,hn tx.Iah ia
avoid the excuses and dangers Of
violent and bitter upheaval can do
nothing better than to acknowledge Its
true conservatism and aid organized
labor In putting II into practice. !
must agree with Its authors that con-
ditions in America are far less dis
turbed thnn In European countries, yet
| I believe II would he a serious mistake
not to realize that the workers and
| producers of America are In a mood
for action.
I'm nenrIy every respect the pro-
gram Of the National Catholic War
Council Is 80 comprehensive and ~
adequate to the needs of the times that
I nm confident Its Wide publication and
its adoption by a political party pledg'
| ~
needs Of large number who are on
the point Of breaking from their old
mooring, and Joining with such hither.
to inconsidcrnble groups AS the Social.
lists. 1t Is the sign which has been
greatly needed that we can achieve
the reforms on which our hearts are
set without breaking all the traditions
Of the past. good a. well as bad.
''This program should be evidence
to many who have opposed labor's
aims without understanding them that
labor speaks today In the interests Of
all society, In the interests OF true con-
servatism. 1t IL not men who have
changed. We are not departing from
the ancient principles Of justice and
right. We are merely applying those
principles to new conditions that have
arisen very rapidly-so rapidly that
many have failed to realize them. It
Is suilicient for those who doubt the
need to ponder the statement here set
'orth with unquestionable authority
thut "a considerable majority Of the
wnge earners Of the United States
both men and women, were not 70.
ceIving living wages when prices be-
gan to soar in 1918 and that since
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 Ia 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 It has set II.
self labor welcomes and values most
highly the cooperation and support Of
the Church. and the Church will gain
along with labor a. a result Of the
splendid pronouncement Of the four
representative bishops who have sign.
ed this report"