Montana labor news., 1944-08-31
DUTY OF CHURCHMEN
TO DEMOCRACY

U
For seven centuries before the Pro-
Luther and Calvin, about 1915, the
/ Church of Rome claimed, and partly
exercised, a political authority over the
moral conduct Of every civil govern
ment in Western Europe. The Greek
Church, headed by the Bishop Of Con-
stantinople, exercised a like power ov-
er Eastern Europe and Russia. A
great upheaval came with Luther and
Calvin nthe continent, and Henry the
Eighth in England. Church and State
Wer separated in England, the Ger
man states, finally in France. Though
members of the Church of England
our Episcopal Church, differ very little
from those of the Roman Catholics,
and though Latin America is all Cath
lie in religion, yet as Americans North
and South, we all believe in the separ-
alton Of church and state.
This, however, does not mean that
earnest educated clericals shall not ad-
vance their opinions on political and
economic plans chying for immediate
world Being both a social and politi-
cal Democrat myself, believe that our
people should hear and consider the
words of the great churchmen on some
o fthese issues now throbbing in the
heart of the economic world.
Recently. in Butte, at the Catholic
Conference on Industrial Problems Of
Bishops, the Right Reverend Monsig-
nor Ryan made an address on some
basic pronouncements Of the Bishops,
so astonishing, so revolutionary, that
no daily newspaper in Montana dared
to publish it. Such words shake the
very foundations Of present capitals
tic society.
am an Episcopalian; I am an A
merican (Thomas Jefferson went to
school to James NIaury, my ancestor) {;
I hope I am a good Democrat. a
greed to every plan Father Ryan ad-
vocated AS his epoch-making speech
was smudged by our corporation own
ed daily press, I am trying to give to
churchmen Of Montana, clergy and lay
men, Gentle and Jew, Protestant and
Catholic, even the partly religious
bodies, such sthe AIasons, a sketch
of the address. Consider it all, topic
then reject such parts, but, if you agree
with me that all of it would lead to a
happier world, embrace it, vote for 1t,
work for it; at least learn what a deep,
earnest clerical student says.
Father Ryan, speaking for the Bis
hops, advocated a minimum wage scale.
That is, that all wages should be high
enough to ensure a good American
standard of living Other states have
passed such laws, but they seem never
10 have entered the head Of any cor
poration spinning top that we have
sent to our state legislature.
The Bishops pdan insurance against
UNEMPLOYMENT sickness, accident, old
has already provided some insurance
for unemployment and old age. For
my part. 1 cannot understand why the
American Medical Association, and
some reactionaries in the labor move
ment are opposed to Senator Murroy's
bill before the Congress to insure pro
per medical treatment and hospitaliz-
alton for all classes. If enacted, 1T
would silence the perennial complaint
of doctors about bad bills for good work
done. A dear friend Of my youth died
of lockiaw because there was no anti
toxin for it nearer than Salt Lake City
MANY a poor child has died Of diph-
liberia for lack Of antitoXin in rural
happen when the Murray bill becomes
law.
The third demand Of the Bishops is
sixteen year minimum age limit for
vgorhing children We have that IN
Montana. It is not always obeyed
There may be some excuse for not en-
forcing that better during the war.
There will he no reason 70 rnot doing
so when hordes Of our workers will,
on demobilizatiOn, cry in vain for en-
ployment by private industry
To lawyers, who have practiced in
years gone by whe nthe Supreme Court
of the United States classed labor IN
ions as illegal combinations, with no
standing in court at all, who have seen
the courts imprison men for contempt
for poining in strikes against unfair
labor conditions, it is pleasure to near
the Bishops clearly speak for the legal
enforcement of the right Of labor to
organize.
The National War Lgbor Board is
the only tribunal ever created in the
United States that had power to
and employers. It is not always right
but it beats having no court at all
The Bishops wisely wish this continu-
ed after the war. national employ
ment bureau is another wise demand
e,1. III ,,,i11 agree with the Bishops