The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-11-05
Federal Council Reveals New
Facts on Detroit Church War

lean Federation of Labor convention.
The article brings out two new
facts: First, that the Y. w. G. A., as
well as the Y. NJ C. A., was invited
to participate in the Sunday services
during the convention; second, that a
nationally known minister declined to
speak when he was requested by those
who invited him to Detroit to avoid
any discussion of labor matters.
"The incidents which happened in
follows, in part:
"The incidents which happened in
Detroit during the week of October 4
to 10, involving the relationship Of
the church to labor, are of such ma
tional interest and Importance, es-
pecially to the churches, as to require
a careful statement of what actually
happened, the issues involved and the
events which led up to the climax on
Sunday, October TO-
"The matter of offering speakers to
the churches of Detroit ON that Sun
day was taken up by the social service
commission of the Federal Council of
Churches in accordance with a Gus
tom of several years standing. Dur
ing the annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor, speak
ers on the general subject of religion
and labor are made available to the
churches of the convention city.
National Figures Available
"These speakers have included the
national social service secretaries of
various denominations whose depart
ments are working together in the
and who always welcome
an opportunity to interpret the social
ideals of their churches, and also cer-
tain outstanding Christian labor lead
ers. These labor leaders have on
previous convention occasions pre-
sented the spiritual and social aims
of labor, emphasizing the ideal
which labor holds in common with the
church, in order to create better un-
and good will. The pres
ence of the leaders of the American
Federation of Labor made it possible
to offer as speakers outstanding
Christian labor men from different
parts of the country. The social
service commission scheduled its an
nual fall meeting at the same time
and place although this meeting had,
of course, no connection whatever with
the labor convention.
"The entire matter was taken up
early in the summer by Rev. James
Myers, industrial secretary of the
social service commission, with the
executive secretary of the Detroit
Council of Churches and after per-
sonal conference, lists of recommend
ed speakers were submitted. Letters
were sent during August to the ma
tional social service secretaries of the
church bodies affiliated with the Fed
eral Council requesting that they
communicate with the Detroit minis
ters of their own communions explain
ing the plan and asking for their CO.
operation. The matter was also taken
up with the National Catholic Welfare
Conference and the Central Confer
ence of American Rabbis to whom
it was suggested that a simultaneous
effort be made by all the religious
forces, and such approaches to the
local Catholic and Jewish clergy as
might suggest themselves. This was
acceded to heartily, as appeared later
Mr.. Myers made two preliminary
trips to Detroit, one early in August
and one early in September.
Detroit Intensely Open Shop"
Detroit is an intensely open shop
town. The coming of the American
Federation of Labor convention was
deeply resented by open shop organ
izations. Suggestions were made