The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-09-07
Churches Caution
 Labor To Be Alert
Any Racial Discrimination Becomes Seed of Destruc.
 tion Within Movement, Community, Says Council

pies the enormous productive cap- acitieS which we have demonstrated in time of war. The port-war world will demand of the American people self-discipline and generosity. Tn all probability the United States will have to accept large measure of the responsibility of providing for the needs of many peoples of the world both for relief and economic improvement.
 In addition to such emergency measures 1t is imperative that we build an eneconmy ased not only on full production but upon adequate distribution. AS an important con- trihution toward this end we would commend the cooperative movement because of its potentialities both for better domestic distribution and for peaceful world trade.
 Along with other American groups, labor has the high calling, unde God, to bring vision and purpose to AInerica'S role In fashioning in- ternational political and economc institutions designed to assure c world ordered by law in the interest of peace and justice. It is encour- aging that organized labor here and abroad gives evidence that 1t is pre- pairing to take It's part in behalf of justice and brotherhood in postwar international reconstruction not only for itself but for the nation and for the world as well.
 The basic ideals and objectives of the labor movement are in principle closely akin to many of the social purposes of the Church. That these Ideals and objective are compromis- ed at times by labor is unhappily characteristic of the cleavage bee tween profession and the practice of all institutions and organizations, the Christian Church, itself not ex- cepted. Organized labor needs to be ever alert to its own shortcomings; for any lack of integrity, any racial discrimination, or undemocratic pro- cedures, even in exceptional cases, became seeds of destruction not only within the labor movement itself, but within the national community as well. On the other hand, church people should discount reports that treat with silence the good in the organized labor movement, but give exaggerated emphasis to its short comings. It is the obligation of church people to extend recognition and encouragement to that host within organized labor - many of whom are themselves members of churches who build into their unions the principles of integrity, justice, and brotherhood.
 The fact that labor has made great gains in the past decade should be welcomed by all Christian people. The curtailment, under the neces- sity of the national war effort, of important social standards and free- doms should be tolerate donly as a temporary eXpedient. Over long hours, night work, employment of mothers with young children, child labor, poor housing, inadequate health and accident safeguards, lack of rest periods and vacations, the freezing of employment-these conditions should be corrected as soon as the war emergency is over.
 It is greatly to be hoped that the practice of conciliation and volun- tary arbitration will become the general method of settling indus trial disputes.
 Moreover, it is well for Christians to remember that large as labor's gains have been. only about 27 per cent of the workers who may be considered available for organiza- ton are members of labor unions. Furthermore, the Wage and Hour Administrator in 1922 reported that T,5OO.O00 American workers still received less than 40 cents an hour and are still right on the edge of the minimum standards of health and decency or below it. We may indeed be. encouraged with the ad- vance that has been made and yet alert to what still needs to hs done.
 A labor movement. strong in num- bers, and in active cooperation with management. agriculture and gov- eFnment. is . social necessity in order to sustain democracw on the home front. make 1t effective in the world conflict. and aid its extension in the post-war world. Such a labor movement can be a strong ally of the Christian Church fa promoting jus tice and well-belng on behalf oi Christian democracy in the service of postwar reconstruction. May the church, and labor and ail other economic groups dedicate themselves with new vlsion. unsellishness and determination to the task os achlev- ing in human society Gods purpose for righteousness. justice end peace based upon the worth and solidarity ! of all men,"