Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-03-07
Church Council Lays Down Lines
to Guide in Solving Post
War Problems.
TO INSURE SOCIAL JUSTICE.
Re-e.npioyment, Labor Reforms. Social
eetterment, Economic Conditions
and Relations Between En-
pioyer and Worker Sub
iects of Official Pro
nouncement

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 procurement on
the social and economic reconstruction
problems facing this nation has been
issued from the headquarters Of this
church council In Washington, D. c.
The document bears the signatures OF
Bishop Peter J. Muldoon Of Rockford.
H.; Bishop Joseph Schrembs Of To
ledo, o.: Bishop Patrick J. Hayes OF
New York City and Bishop William I.
Russell Of Charleston, s. c., and reads
in part as follows:
Foreword.
THE ending Of the Great War has
brought peace. But the only safeguard
of peace is social justice and con-
tented people. The deep unrest so en-
phatically and so widely voiced
throughout the world is the most seri-
Gus menace to the future peace Of
every nation ard of the entire world.
Great problems face US. They cannot
be put aside; they must be met and
solved with justice to all.
in the hope Of stating the lines that
will best guide us in their right solu-
! ton the following procurement Is
issued by the Administrative Commit
tee of the National Catholic War Coun-
| Gil
Replacement Of Men in Service.
THE first problem in the process
| of reconstruction is the industrial re-
| placement of the discharged soldiers
and sailors. The majority of these
will undoubtedly return to their previ
Gus occupations. However, very
| large number Of them will either finC
| their previous places closed to them oil
will be eager to consider the possibilit,
of more attractive employments. The
most important single, measure FOL
meeting this situation that has We
been suggested is the placement o.
| such men On farms. Several month:
ago Secretary Lane recommended t.
| Congress that returning soldiers ant
sailors should be given the opportunit!
to work at good wages upon some par
of the millions upon millions of acre:
of arid, swamp and cut-over timbe
lands in order 10 prepare them for cul
| tivation. President Wilson, in his an
| nual address TO Congress, endorsed thu
proposal AS fast as this preliminar.
| task has been performed the mel
should be assisted by government loan
TO establish themselves as farmers
either as owners or as tenants havini
longtime leases.
Farm Colonies.
tits essential that both the work o
preparation and the subsequent settle
ment of the land should be effected b
groups or colonies, not by men liyin
independently of one another and i
depressing isolation.
"A plan of this sort is already I
operation in England. The impOrtanc
OIL lIlt plOJtCt % ah ilCAti Va any -ptie
reform program Is obvious. 1t woul
afford employment to thousands upo
| thousands, would greatly increase. III
number Of farm owners and indepent
emit farmers and would tend to lowe
the cost of living by increasing III
amount of agricultural products. If
is to assume any considerable propo
a. n 40 tod hrr thxa
ernments of the United States and ;
the several States. Should 1t be unde
taken By these authorities and ope
ated on q systematic and generol
scale 1t would easily become one of Il
most beneficial reform measures thu
has ever been attempted
Employment Service.
1.-THE reinstatement Of the soldie
and sailors In urban industries VIII I
l doubt be facilitated by the Unite
States Employment Service. TIL
I agency has attained fair degree
development and efficiency during Il
war. Unfortunately there is some da
ger that 1t will go out of existence
be greatly weakened at the end Of d
period Of disqualification. 1t Is the Q
I vious duty of Congress to continue al
! strengthen this important Institute
The problem Of unemployment is wi
I ma always. Its solution requires t
cooperation slf many agencies and t
! use OF many methods, but the prima
I and Indispensable Instrument is Z
tiOnal system OF labor exchanges o.