The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-12-30
Demand the Union Label
National Catholic
Welfare Council and
Wage Reduction

Washington, D. C.-The reversal
of a great process of moral educa
tion is seen by the Social Action De-
partment of the National Catholic
Welfare Council in the present eco
nomic reaction, which it declares has
attained so much momentum that the
great Christian principle of the liv
ing wage is not only neglected in
theory, but widely violated in prac-
tice.
A formal statement by the de
partment points out that before the
war, the principle of living wage
was gradually but steadily winning
acceptance from all classes of people,
and that during the war it was
formally recognized and enforced by
public authority through the United
States Labor Board.
The statement issued by the Social
Action Department is as follows:
"The present movement for wage
reductions disregards almost entire
ly the question of Justice, Some
times the demand for lower wages
is expressed in the brutal language
of economic materialism: labor
must be liquidated.' Sometimes it is
stated in terms that have a false
appearance of fairness: "wages must
go down. with prices" Scarcely ever
is the question asked: will the re-
duced wages afford the workers and
their families a decent livelihood?'
''It is now more than thirty years
since Pope Leo XIII. restated the
great Christian principle of the liv-
ing wage. When through necessity
or the fear of a worse evil said the
great pontiff, 'the worker accepts
less than living wage, he is the
victim of force and injustice Before
the great war, this doctrine had been
gradually but steadily winning ac-
ceptance among all classes of our
people. During the war it was form
ally recognized and enforced by pub
lie authority through the National
War Labor Board.
"Since the war we have seen
reversal of this great process of
moral education. In the last few
months the reaction has attained
such momentum that the living wage
principle is not only neglected in the
orv, but widely violated in practice.
The rem Ineration of immense num-
1ers Of employees has been reduced
to three dollars a day, and even less.
Three dollars a day is not now a
living wage for the father of fam
ily. In 1914 no competent authority
placed the cost of maintaining man
and wife and three small children at
less than two and one half dollars
per day. The United States Bureau
of Labor Statistics informs us that
the cost of living was in September,
1921. seventy-siX and one half per
cent higher than in 1914. The Ma
tional Industrial Conference Board
bureau conducted by employers as
sociations. estimates the increase in
living costs during the same period
as sixty-three and one-tenth per cent.
''The Social Action Department of
the National Catholic Welfare Coun-
Gil recognizes that some reduction of
war time wages is not only inevi-
table but practically necessary. The
department maintains, however. that
the lowered rates of pay should
safeguard the right of the worker to
maintain himself and his family in
reasonable comfort. We believe that
this rule is not only morally right
but economically expedient. In this
time of industrial depression, these
words of the Catholic Bishops Pro-
gram of Social Reconstruction are
peculiarly pertinent. The large de-
mand for goods which is created and
maintained by high rates of wages
and high purchasing power is the
surest guarantee of a continuous op-
ertion of industrial establishments" :"