The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-08
mini 7 /
T [: / Il. !
0RK (. v |.
federal Council Of Churches
ofM christ Urge Survey
Of u industry
IdTN S SUPPORTED.
ters allied Upon 70 Urge
Christian Principles in
s G controversy.
MUD sERI S SUPPORTED

AtOIi q s0SSASJ .s, 53$8 w ,f4s
s:sYAsHINGTON. May 8. In
apastora1s letterto the churches on
Sfhs coal strike the social service
OF the Federal Council
Of Christ in Amer
fca decIares that the principles OF
sahTistShavesb been violated and are
in the coal industry.
& ss,Ws;i th the result that it IS d1sor-
. Ns.geaanfzed. Wastefu1 Of human life and
Acknowledgements and IS endangering
4 peace OF the community"
Ii u states that while the miners
agreed sto the recent appeal by the
on social service OF
SfhesFaderalsCo Council and the Nation
3aItSGatholica8Wel Council for
of miners and opera
Y storS toNsett1e their differen ces, the
sscbuference plan failed because Ger
fatnsoperators refused to conform
afOstheE procedure that had previous
Ssn@be agreed upon. CONTINUING,
saws that he: two great church
asked the government
exhaustive and scleh-
gt ficS stud of the coal industry SO
ta1atSthe public may have 1ntorma-
tionE onsswhich to base Intelligent
'S1ud gment{andS because a knowledge
isanecessary before re- re-
"a aaoSdrganizationSst that will remove the
greater OF the industry can be
saftsmpt ted ts
ssSEsTheEl etteTSisS as follows
heapresent#c conflict in the coal
iYIffI11 Rtry ii its deplorable effect!
oont%hunanf lives and human rela
stfonships lis OF vital concern to the
of America. Inc
s1IIuIrtiches are teachers Of brother
HOOD viii b he struggle is de-
ssfroyingsin those concerned fast5r
dian the8churches can build 1t up.
sTheYs#ha strong sense OF rs
tys for be well-being Of
sthessnn1ore than two million mer
directly or indirectly
ponsSt1le industry, and Is now
The churches are in
SvoIYed.i in the confusion
sandgpaTtisansb bitterness which is G!-I
Of mining comm
;Iiif They have a vast stake N
81 whatever makes for strength OFT
weakness, a and Il for a solidarity or
class divisions, in the nation.
Principles Violated
:ssssThe principles upon which tn
ssschurchs acts Gin a time like this are
Ssetsforth in the social ideals OF the
churches. DIV itch We are commit
Sfeds They're tsupon the teachings
ofSChrist and til eys may be summar-
izedassfo blows
sss The ksacredness of the indf-
sVidualahuman life, and the su-
preneSimportance of its oppor-
funitysforS self-expression hap
pinessE and development;
The esprit Of brotherhood.
itself in good
dea1ing, and co-opera-
81
The8mo olive of service, which
SHOULD be the supreme motive
Industry, 81 bordin atfns the
sSmotives Of 8pecuniary gain and
8ambition.
erheseS principles have been VIC
lated and sare9being violated in the
Goa the result that
isSdisorganized, wasteful OF hui
1a1an%lifeSand economic goods. and ,
rs endangeringt the peace of the
scommunf
SsSsSsssessss Great Hazard to Life.
ssss d the first place, the coal IN
.dnsryssis one Of great hazard to
life,sand OF minimum security 1r
HespectS to employment and income. \
s4tretains insnormal times more men
is atleasts loo, 900 than can be CIV
ianEggu1ar employment, and an es-
IcassiVe number of mines The |
and the loss OF income re
asuItingAf this condition are de.
,mora1fzing These evils must be
daaIf#Wit III Intimately, with primary
:scSnr1sId for the human factor
fnsthe#indu stry.
ssssEsSecondl notable progress
hasMbeen& made in the direction OF
peaceable government and whole:
some human relations in the coal [
mining Industry the achievements
erSyears8 have been in large !,
measure lost in the bituminous /
aasranchso f the&ind' tstry by the sud.
dsuSabandonmento of the machinery
dfAsronf ference and agreement. In
eds this movement to-
ardssfrtendlyr citations and consti-
has been stead
Nv sisted with the result that
4hssesfieldsS have been in a state OF
bStf sconf1 let and virtually open
;gsar ItSis manifest that the right
offh esEmine workers to collective
actfonSisS fund amental, not only as
Is Justice to them. but as
essential to peace in the industry
Third1y, the ideal of service APP
! peaf have had as little Tecogn!-i
aassn theymining and distribution
Sfsoals assin any other industrial
snterprises t has been especially
subject stoSexp1oitation and &specula-
fnSn: and sas#aSres it has failed
steady employ
1nent but also in recent years to
SUPPLY thesnationw with coal at rea-
abIe#cost .=;
Conference Urged
fs$wasa inssviewso OF these princi-
pfss Fiat the commissi on the
churchs AMI social service Of the
Fsdarm8Council $of the Churches OF