Evening star., 1935-06-08
ECONOMIC REPORT
IS. REJECTED BY
METHODIST GROUP
More Equitable Distribution
of Wealth and Union Sec.
tions Spurned.
SOCIALISM" CRIES
HEARD IN DEBATE
Liberty Not Regeneration Is
Slogan as Churchmen Deplors
"Tugwellian" Theories.

WeluAu. tucOlleS, poiltlCal SOCIALISM,,
false economics" and recriminat ations
Of varying degree were passed back
and forth between two opposing fac
tions, delegates to the 15lst session OF
the Baltimore Annual Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church re-
fused today to accept q section Of q
report submitted by their Social Serv-
ice Commission dealing with the SUBJ
ject of economic justice"
In its stead, there was voted reaf-
firmation OF q section of the Social
Greed Of the church, dealing with
similar matters in terms of more gen.
eral nature.
In the disputed report were para
graphs calling for more equitable dis
tribution Of income. extension of social
ownership and control of natural re-
sources, and animation Of mot only
the theoretical right Of labor to or
ganize, but also the constructive ef-
forts Of labor in practice to effect this
organization"
Controversial Section.
The controversial paragraphs fol-
low in part:
I'VE heartily favor such measures
as the following to alleviate injus.
tice and insecurity: Adequate relief
to all who are worthy; State and Fed
eral programs Of public works at pre-
vailing wages: unemployment insur-
ance; old-ege pensions: minimum
wage legislation; abolition Of child
labor, and Q broad public program
of slum clearance and home building.
None of these measures, however,
can take the place of a fundamental
reconstruction OF our economic sys-
tenn. Economic expediency, 10 less
than justice, demands a much wider
distribution of purchasing power than
has so far proved possible.
In 1929, $4,000 American families
with incomes ABOVE $4,000 received
the same aggregate income as II $780,
900 families with incomes less than
$500. It is those at the bottom who
do most of the buying; those at the
top spend only small proportion of
their total income. In short, the bulk
OF the purchasing power is not where
1t Is most needed.
"Depressions can be prevented,
therefore. only u buying capacity is
more equitably distributed"
1T becomes increasingly clear that
Government regulation alone cannot
accomplish this: in the past two years
profits have increased while real
wages have decreased. The spread
between the lower and the higher
incomes is greater than before. Such
considerations render advisable, we
believe, an extension Of social owner
ship and control of our natural re-
sources and basic industries and their
operation for the welfare of all. 80
"A cooperative Christian society
VIII not come in day. In the midst
OF efforts on its behalf, more imme-
diate cbjectives must not be forgotten.
Among these the strengthening of the
labor movement is Of primary impor-
tance. If purchasing power is ade-
quately to be distributed, wages must
be greatly increased"
With the rallying cry Of 81 want
liberty and not regimentation," DR..
Francis r.. Bailey of the East Balti-'
more district led the fight against
the report and in favor Of substitu-
ton Of the church's social creed.
Among other things, he termed the
section too emotional-false eco
nomics that sound like Huey Long
and Father Coughlin-political social
ism-if the Government would make
1t possible for business men to have
confidence, we would be much further
out of the depression"
A subsequent speaker deplored such
"Tugwellian theories" urged that the
church not become a semi.political
organization. A third questioned ac-
curacy of the income figures and. on
being informed that they came from
the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the
Labor Department, concluded that he
didn't come to the conference ito turn
Socialist, anyway"
Plea for Adoption.
On behalf of the report. several
younger members Of the committee
pleaded for practical action, en-
phasized the point that the social
creed proposed rs q substitute was
drawn in 1909 and its adoption again
would "set our economic thinking back
for 26 years."
Their pleas availed little, however.
as a show of hands on the question
revealed clear margin In favor of
the substitute proposed by DR.. Bailey.
In the same report, the conference
went on record In opposition to COM
pulsory military training in any school
supported by public funds.
Earlier the conference adopted q
report calling for total abstinence for
the individual and absolute prohibi-
ton for the State.
Repeal Of the prohibition amend
ment has been with US long enough
to show that all promises for 1t have
failed" the report said. "The saloon
is back, liquor Is In politics and the
cost of fighting the Illegal liquor
trafdc is burdensome."
In the same report, the conference
went on record In favor Of all attempts
to improve the moral quality Of mo-
'tion pictures, and agreed to cooperate
with all faiths and groups to this end.