The Connecticut labor news., 1922-05-19
Have DisOrganized and Wasted Human Life and Endangered Peace of the COm- munity, Declares Pas tOral Letter Issued This Week.

Washington, May IO.-ln a pastor al letter to the churches on the coal strike the Social Service Commission of the Federal Council of the Church. es of Christ in America declares that the principles of Christ have been violated and are being violated in the coal industry, with the result that it is disorganizcd, Wasteful of human life and economic goods and is en- dangering the peace of the COmmun- tiy."
 It states that which the miners agreed to the recent appeal by the Commissions on Social Service of the Federal Council and the National meeting of miners and operators to settle their differences, the confer ence plan failed because certain oper- ators refused to conform to the pro- cedure that has previously been agreed upon. Continuing 1t says, that the two great church bodies have asked the government to set up an exhaustive and scientific study of the coal industry so that the public may have information on which to base in telligent judgment and because a knowledge of facts is necessary be- fore a reorganization that will re- move the greater evils of the indus try can be attempted,
 The letter is as follows:
 "The present conflict in the coal in dustry, with it's deplorable effect upon human lives and human relationships, is of vital concern to the Christian churches of America. The churches are teachers of brotherhood, which can build 1t up. They have no strong the struggle IS destroying in those concerned faster than the churches sense of responsibility for the we'll being of the more than two million men, women and children whose live lihood depends directly or indirectly upon the industry, and is now jeopar dized. The churches are involved in evitably in the confusion and partisan bitterness which is dividing hundreds of mining communities. They have vast stake in whatever makes for strength or weakness, and for solidar- ity or class divisions, in the nation.
 "The principles upon which the church acts in time like this are set forth in the Social Ideals of the Churches, to which we are committed. They rest upon the teachings Of Christ and they may be summarized as follows:
 "The sacredness of the individual human life, and the supreme import ance of it's opportunity for self-ex- pression, happiness and development;
 "The spirit of brotherhood, which expresses itself in good will, fair dealing, and co-operation;
 "The motive of service, which should be the supreme motive of in dustry, subordinating the motives of pecuniary gain and personal ambi- ton.
 "These principles have been vio- lated and are being violated in the coal industry, with the result that 1t is disorganized, wasteful of human life and economic goods, and is en- dangering the peace of the commun ity.
 "In the first place, the coal indus try is one of great hazard to life, and of minimum security in respect to employment and income. It retains in normal times more men by at least 100000 than can be given regular em- ployment, and an excessive number of mines. The anxiety and the loss Of income resulting from this COndi- ton are demoralizing. These evils must be dealt with ultimately, with primary consideration for the human factor in the industry.
 "Secondly, while notable progress has been made in the direction Ot peaceable government and wholesome human relations in the coal mining industry, the achievements of former years have been in large measure lost in the bituminous branch of the in dustry by the sudden abandonment of the machinery of conference and agreement. In certain fields this movement toward friendly relations and constitutional government has been steadily resisted with the result that these fields have been in a state of bitter conflict and virtually open war It is manifest that the right ol the mine workers to collective action is fundamental, not only as matter of justice to them, but as essential to peace in the industry.
 "Thirdly, the ideal of service ap- pears to have had as little recogni- ton in the mining and distribution of coal as in any other industrial enterprise. It has been especially subject to exploitation and specula ton; and as result it has failed not only to provide steady empolyment, but also in recent years to supply the nation with coal at reasonable cost.
 "It was in view of these principles that the Commission on the Church and Social Service of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America united with the department of Social Action of the National Catholic Welfare Council in an ap- peal on behalf Of the Christian con science of America to the various associations of operators in the Cen tral Competitive Field and the United Mine Workers of America, urging them to meet in an interstate confer cnce prior to April Ist, a course to which they had committed them selves when the present agreement was negotiated; and to formulate an agreement which would be fair as be- tween themselves and just to the pub lie The President, through the Sec retary of Labor, had also urged the same procedure. This the miners con