Evening star., 1937-07-19
LABOR PEACE PLEA
MADE At SERVICES
HONOR|NC PRELATE
Dr.. Fitzpatrick Appeals for
Cooperation at Gibbons
Memorial Rites.
|PRELATE'S LONG FIGHT
| FOR HARMONY CITED
Current Industrial Strife Called
Time to Delight Commu-
mist Organizers"

American employers ana labor
leaders were warned yesterday that
they must cooperate in spirit OF
Christian fair play to end the cur
rent industrial strife in order tc
stave off communism.
The warning was sounded by DR.
John R. Fitzpatrick, dean of Colum-
bus University Law School. in an ad-
dress paying tribute to the late James
Cardinal Gibbons on the 1O3d ami.
versary of his birth.
In the name Of the revered prelate
DR.. Fitzpatrick appealed to Catholic
employers to lead the way toward ar
intelligent solution of the current cap.
ital-labor strife by application Of
Christian principles, and called or
labor organizations to cooperate by
IAN orderly arrangement of their owr
house"
Spoke at Memorial Services.
DR.. Fitzpatrick spoke at memorial
services held under the auspices OF
the knights of Columbus at the statue
in memory of Cardinal Gibbons ir
front of Sacred Heart Church, Six
teenth street and Park road. More
than 20,000,000 Catholics participated
in the services through representa-
tives Of their organizations Wreaths
were presented by 27 Catholic So
CietieS
Cardinal Gibbons long fight fol
democratic ideals and decent working
conditions have Influenced the social
and economic thinking of millions
DR.. Fitzpatrick said
The great prelate was not toe
ethereal to lay down practical stand
ards of conduct for the working man
and his employer" the speaker en-
phasized. He was man imbued with
keen sense of social Justice. He fore
saw the futility of strikes and general
industrial disturbances. He fought for
tolerance and understanding. He
sought cooperation, rather thar
threats, OF both capital and labor in
the settlement of industrial disputes.
Sees Communism Aided.
Current industrial strife has plunged
the Nation into "a bitter civil war
DR.. Fitzpatrick said with class lined
up against class. 1t is such times as
these that delight the Communist
organizers. They flourish in an era OF
discomfort and economic dislocation,
Unless checked, the strife between
iaoor unions and employers threatens
the foundation stones of democracy
mat communism, or some other form
OF foreign government. will be clamped
down on this Nation is almost toe
obvious for discussion
DR.. Fitzpatrick described the wap-
ner labor relations act sas 'one of the
greatest weapons ever devised bv man
Tor social amelioration" and called
lor cooperation in its enforcement
IN the battle against communism.
The attempt by some "unscrup-
ulols employers to frustrate the
law, he declared, creates the basis for
communism about which we hear so
much in this country today"
Employer "Incincerity" Assailed.
Assalllng the 'insincerity" of those
employers who profess to obey the
law, but refuse to sign contracts with
thelr workers, DR.. Fitzpatrick said
That although the act does not REQUIRE
signatures on contracts, their refusal
nulllhes the spirit of the law. He
cited that employers sign contracts
Tor practically every commodity they
BUY, and described the services of the
worker as commodity.
In appealing to Catholic EMPLOYERS
to show the way to industrial har-
mony, DR.. Fitzpatrick urged:
Abolish sweatshops. boost wage,
wherever possible. shorten the work
week and thus create thousands of ad-
ditlonal jobs, and above all else. live
up to the letter and spirit of the
Wagner act. Prove your good inten-
tions by signing contracts with YOUR
workers. BY such an attitude toward
your workers, the germ of communism
will die"
Labor Unions Warned.
Describing labor organizations as
not without fault in the current
strife, DR.. Fitzpatrick warned that
Government regulation of labor unions
is in prospect unless immediate stems
are taken by the unions themselves
to check irresponsible labor leaders
Labor must justify the powers given
1t by an enlightened Congress-" he
said.
DR.. Fitzpatrick, whose address was
broadcast earlier over a Nationwide
hook-up, was introduced by Walter
I. Plant, State deputy of the Knights
OF Columbus, who presided at the
ceremonies at the Cardinal Gibbons
statue. Plant said the life of the
former Baltimore prelate exemplified
the highest type of Americanism.
Rev. DR.. Joseph P. Christopher
professor Of languages at Catholic
University, gave the invocation, and
Rev. Joseph M. Moran, pastor of St.
Thomas the Apostle Church do.