Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-15
POPE URGES INDUSTRIAL PEACE
NRADIO ADDRESS TO LABOR

Of Rerum Novarum 40 years ago. a fact
clearly revealed by the universal recog-
milton which the letter then received,
and by the inperishable place which it
has deServedly held and still holds in
the memory of successive generations.
being universally regarded as a signal
favor bestowed by God not only upon
ms church but upon all mankind.
Three Main Ideas.
1.-THE encyclical undertakes to develop
three leading ideas. In the first place
the Holy Father enumerates the fore
most among the many priceless benefits
which have resulted from Rerum Mo-
varum.
These are, for example, the giving
OF solid foundation and an eff1caciouS
impulse to the development of So
GEOLOGY and economics according to
Catholic principles; the promoting of
an ever more thorough and profound
formation OF workingmen in religious,
moral and social subjects, thus render
ing them more conscious of their dig
nifty as men and as Christians, fitting
them to protect the moral and eco
nomic interests Of their class with
knowledge and prudence, and to be-
come in this movement the leaders Of
their fellows, thus compelling the po-
litically supreme liberalism of the time
to yield little by little to new social
policy more favorable to justice, the
resolute and f1rm assertion of the right
possessed even by workingmen to form
for mutual aid and legiti-
mate defense Of their common inter-
eSts, right which liberalism wa, en-
deavoring to impede by unjust abuse
of power.
I'm actual fact numerous associations,
either Of laboring men by themselves
or Of tradeSmen, farmers or similar
workers, grew up on all sides. These
by putting into practice
in so far as circumstances permitted
the principles laid down by Leo XIII
and confirmed by his successors. have
merited well and still merit we'll of
and true social prosperity.
Held Social Magma Charter.
with good reason, therefore, the
Holy Father ends this flrst part OF his
encyclical by Affirming that the expert
ence of the past 40 years forces the
conclusion that Rerum Novarun Is the
Magma ChaTta Of all Catholic activity
In the social sphere.
I'm the second part his holiness
goes on to examine the points which
lend themselves most to discussion or
about which, in view Of the changed
conditions of modern times. he deems
It particularly necessary to speak In
clear and authoritative language.
First the encyclical vindicates once
more, as Leo XIII had done, the fun
right and even the solemn duty OF the
church and Of its head to intervene IN
,ocial problems, not, indeed, in technical
matters nor for temporal ends, but in so
far as these problems fall under the
moral and evangelical law.
"It then TeafhrmS the Catholic doc
trine, set forth by Leo XIII, concerning
the right of property and Its double
character, individual and social, de-
egoistical individualism and
as equally pernicious errors,
md stating briefiy what are the duties
Of ownership and the position OF the
state in regard to private property.
Speaking of the relations between
cauital and labor. the two elements OF
The actual economic regime, the molly
father repeats that neither has the right
DO demand fol itself alone all the profits
Of their mutual collaboration. He re-
rails the clear words of Leo XIII, Capt.
tai cannot do without labor nor labor
without capital
I'm the past there has been beyond
question an excessive and unjust dis
Of the commodities OF life
between capital and labor, for on the
one hand immense riches are accumu-
lated in the hands Of q few while on
the other the proletariat. who form q
multitude beyond all counting, have
nothing Of their own save their hands
and the sweat of their brow.
1T is therefore absolutely necessary
to reconstruct the whole economic system
by bringing It back to the requirements
of social Justice SO as TO insure q more
equitable distribution Of the united pro-
ceeds of capital and labor.
Thus will be achieved that uplifting
Of the proletariat which Leo XIII so
ardently desired.
The differences in social conditions
In the human family, which were wide
" decreed by the Creator, must not and
cannot ever be abolished, but on the
other hand the condition OF the prole-
tartan worker cannot forever be the
normal condition of the bulk OF man
kind. 1t is essential that the proletariat
be enabled gradually to obtain some OF
the advantages enjoyed by proprietors.
I'm the present order this can be
only by q fair and just
%
as really to satisfy the legitimate re-
4uirements of an honest working man,
not only for his person, but also for his
family, and to make It possible for him
10 improve his condition within the
limits above described.
Traces Lines Of Justice.
Toward the end OF the second part
the Holy Father traces the general lines
according to which the social order must
be renewed If it is to correspond with
the laws of justice.
''All opposition between the classes
must cease, and harmonious collabora-
ton must be established between the
various trade groups.
Work is not any kind OF saleable
but one in which the hui
man dignity of the working man must
always be respected.
THE various trades, industries and
must all work together for
the common good and human society
will be the more cordially united and
tremendously organized the more faith
fully all and each practice their own
professions and follow their own voca
tons.
I'm the third part, finally, the holy
father, from his lofty apostolic chair,
casts q general glance at the actual
state Of the modern economic world.
He does not condemn it as evil in
Itself, but he cannot fail to recognize
that it is seriously warped and bur-
dened with grave abuses.
Free and often unbridled competi-
lion has been succeeded by the exag-
gerated concentration in the hands of
D few of the whole economic power, not
only Of single nations, but OF the entire
world, and this concentration and this
power degenerate into tyrannical des-
potisrn.
The only efIicacious remedy for this
disorder is the return to the sane prin-
ciples of Christian social philosophy and
their prduent application to capital, to
abor and to the relations between the
two.
Socialism, too, which has boosted of
supplying a radical remedy for this
same evil-a remedy which was worse
thap Tho d{eaaea ftsalf-has UNDERGONE