Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-23

4
Discussing the modest household, the
Pope said: 1.-THE working man mus
have sufficient wages to support himself
and his family. It is right, indeed, that
the rest Of the family contribute accord
| ing to their power toward the common
| maintenance, as in rural homes or In
the families of many artisans and small
shopkeepers.
But it is wrong to abuse the tender
| years of children or the weakness OF
women. Mothers will, above all, devote
their work to their homes and the things
| connected with them.
"Intolerable and to be opposed with
all our strength is the abuse whereby
mothers of families, because of the in
| suff1ciency of the fathers salary are
| forced to engage in gainful occupations
outside the domestic walls to the neglect
Of their own proper cares and duties
particularly the education of their chill
dren.
Every effort must be made, there
fore, that the fathers OF families re-
ceive a wage SUFFICIENT to meet ade.
quately the ordinary domestic needs.
Reforms Held Necessary.
"n in the present state of society this
| Is not always feasible, social Justice de-
| mands that reforms be introduced with
| out delay which will guarantee every
adult working man just such wage.
I'm this connection we might utter a
word of praise for the various systems
devised and attempted in practice by
which an increased wage is paid in view
of increased family burdens, and spe-
| cial provision Is made for special needs
However, the Pope said, lit would be
unjust to demand wages so high that
the employer cannot pay them without
| ruin and consequent distress among the
working people themselves.
If business makes smaller profits on
account OF bad management, want OF
enterprise or out-of-date methods, this
Is not just reason for reducing wages
II, however, business does not make
enough money to pay just wage either
because it is overwhelmed with unjust
burdens or because 1t is compelled to
sell its products at unjustly low prices,
those who injure 1t are guilty of a griev-
Gus wrong for it is they who deprive the
working man of his just wage and force
him to accept lower terms.
Let the employers therefore and
the employed join in their plans and
efforts to overcome all difficulties and
obstacles and let them be aided in this
wholesome endeavor by wise measures
Of public authority.
Urges Christian Harmony.
I'm the last extreme, counsel must be
taken whether the business man can
continue or whether some other pro-
vision should be made for the workers.
The guiding spirit in this crucial de-
cision should be one of mutual under
standing and Christian harmony be-
tween the employers and the workers "
Dor fNIO q VII
larly necessary-"Reform of the social
order and correction Of morals"
Because of the evils Of individualism
he said, the social life has been dam
aged and all but ruined, leaving viz
tually only individuals and the state"
Changed conditions have resulted In
large corporations doing what formerly
was done by small bodies, but lust as
it Is wrong to withdraw from the In
dividual and commit to the community
at large what private enterprise and In
dustry can accomplish, so, too. 1t Is
grave evil and disturbance Of the
right order for the larger and higher
organization to arrogate to itself func-
tions which can be performed efnciently
by smaller and lower bodies"
Discusses MussoIlnPs State.
without mentioning Premier Musso-
lini's Fascist state and its basic prtn-
ciple Of corporate organization both Of
employers and employees, the Pope dis
cussed it, listing its advantages and dis
advantages.
He reviewed briefly this form Of organ
ization under which the state recog-
nizes the syndicate, giving it some fea-
lures Of monopoly" and provides the
machinery for fixing wages, definitely
forbids strikes and lockouts, and adj
iusts disputes through the state au-
thority.
Little reflection is required" said the
Pope, ito perceive the advantages of an
institution" which includes peaceful
collaboration of the classes, repression
Of social examinations and efforts, and
the moders ing influence Of special min
istry."
Regarding its disadvantages, he said,
I'VE feel bound to add that to our knowl-
edge there are some who fear that the
state is substituting itself in place Of
private initiative, instead Of limiting it
self TO necessary and suficient help
and assistance.
ct Is feared that the new syndical
and cooperative institution possesses ex-
cesSive bureaucratic and political char
acter, and that Notwithstanding the
general advantages referred to above, It
risks serving particular political aims
rather than contributing to the initia-
ton of a better social order"
Condemns Cultural Socialism.
The difference between the Catholic
and Socialist viewpoints, he said, is
that the former holds that man was
placed on this earth to attain temporal
and eternal happiness by faithfully
fulfilling the duties of his station and
developing his faculties to praise the
glory Of the Creator.
Socialism, he said, Is not concerned
with this sublime end and afhrmS that
living in community was instituted
merely for the sake Of the advantages
which 1t brings to mankind.
The Pontih condemned the new
doctrine Of cultural socialism and
called upon Catholics who have be-
come Socialists TO return to the church.
The longed-for social reconstruction
he said, must be preceded by a profund
renewal Of the Christian spirit from
which multitudes engaged in industry
in every country have unhappily de-
parted" Otherwise. he said, all en-
deavors will be futile.
Shares Laid for FraiIty.
The condition Of the economic
world today lays more snares than
ever before for human frailty. Because
the uncertainty of economic conditions
and of the whole economic regime de-
mand the keenest straining Of every
energy on the part Of those engaged
therein" he said.
"As q result, some have became so
hardened against conscience as to hold
all means good which enable them to
increase their profits and to safeguard