CATHOLICISM AND THE LABOR ELEMENT
By E. T. Russell
THE attitude of the Catholic Church toward the labor movement is most friendly. This is indicated by its utterances. The late Pope Leo XIII., in his encyclical on labor, espouses the cause of the workingmen's organizations in their struggle against the greed of wealth, in the following:— Most important of all are workmen's associations. We have spoken of them more than once; but it will be well to explain here how much they are needed, to show that they exist by their own right, and to enter into their organization and their work. The experience of his own weakness urges man to call in help from without. Bishop Huntington, of New York, is also an ardent advocate of the rights of the oppressed wage-earners. By some the pope was styled the “Socialist Bishop” because of his apparent friendliness to workingmen. In being friendly to organized labor, he was manifesting a regard for his people, as a large per cent of the trades unionists are communicants of the Catholic Church. Many of the labor leaders of the United States have been and are Catholics, and both in this country, and in Europe, in connection with strikes, its followers have many times taken a leading part. In President Roosevelt's course of action in connection with the great anthracite coal strike in Pennsylvania, in 1902, he recognizes the fact that Catholic influence had much to do with the strike. In appointing the commissioners of arbitration there was added to the number the name of Bishop Spaulding of the Catholic Church “as a concession to the strikers,” as many of the strikers were Catholics. A recorder of the commission was also appointed who had been for many years a teacher in the economic department of the Catholic university at Washington. Two assistant recorders were appointed, one of whom was a professor of political economy in the Catholic university. It is a fact that many of the organizers, leaders, and managers of unions, and of strikes, are Romanists. As the Catholic Church is so well represented in trades unions throughout the world, it is but reasonable to suppose that the eyes of the world would be directed towards the Papacy as a potent power in the solution of the social problems that are confronting all nations. That power that for centuries held sway over nations, directing in all matters, ecclesiastical, political, and social, would be untrue to the claim that Rome never changes if she did not make the most of the present social complications to add to her own glory; for in times past she has, through diplomacy, or otherwise, seized every opportunity to add to her own aggrandizement. This same power will act an important part in the settlement of strikes, and for its successful intervention, will be highly honored by the nations. Pope Leo, in his encyclical on labor, says:— No practical solution of this question will ever be found without the assistance of religion and the Church. As far as regards the Church, its assistance will never be wanting, be the time or the occasion what it may; and it will intervene with the greater effect in proportion as its liberty of action is the more unfettered; let this be carefully noted by those whose office it is to provide for the public welfare. We are confident, “as regards the Church, its assistance will never be wanting, be the time or the occasion what it may; and it will intervene with the greatest effect” when the opportune time comes for it to do so, as she is always willing to do anything that will prove a stepping-stone to her triumph. Speaking of the visit of Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland to the Pope in 1887, in the interest of the Knights of Labor, M. de Vogue wrote:— The American prelates, Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland, arrived in Rome to defend the rights of the Knights of Labor. The ideas they brought astonished and scandalized the venerable dignitaries of the Sacred College; it might be said that the all too bracing air of the Atlantic still clinging to the garments of the travelers made those Italians gasp. The pope alone was unamazed,—he understood this adaptation of Catholicism to a society free and democratic. The Papacy undoubtedly understands how to adapt itself to society for its own advancement as no other organized system on the face of the earth does. In a work by Wm. F. Markoe, published by the Catholic Truth Society, in St. Paul, Minn., entitled “The Catholic Church and the American Republic,” we quote the following:— Again we see the country shaken to its center by9the relentless conflict between capital and labor. Who is to be the peacemaker between these bitter enemies? Is it not a sufficient answer to point to the significant fact that the two most prominent figures in the settlement of labor difficulties in Europe and America have been Cardinal Manning, the head of the Catholic Church in England, and Cardinal Gibbons, the head of the Catholic Church in America? Some Protestant ministers have advocated that no one is so well fitted to settle our labor troubles as the pope. Why are their eyes directed to the Papacy, expecting it to step forward and offer a panacea for our social ills? Why do they not expect some of the great Protestant denominations to bring about peace between the contending parties? Is it not a tacit admission on their part that the membership of the Catholic Church has the most to do in inciting strikes, and, therefore, the Papacy can best settle them? It is only a question of time when labor troubles will be submitted to the pope or dignitaries of the Catholic Church for settlement. As its followers are so many, and they connect with unions, and many union labor leaders are Catholics, when those in authority in the church speak, and say to its members, when engaged in a labor strike, “Boys, stop,” they will stop, and then the church will be lauded and honored because through her voice there has come peace. But why should not peace come at her command, allowing that her followers are under good control, as is a generally recognized fact? We will relate the following to illustrate the part her followers must have acted at the time of the great Pittsburgh riot, which occurred many years ago:— A friend of ours was in the city at the time and stated that the work of destruction went forward for hours almost without any intervention, so that millions of dollars worth of property was looted, and destroyed by the fire. The fire companies were not allowed to work until the flames were driven by the wind toward the Diamond on which was located the Catholic cathedral and book store, and then, in less than fifteen minutes, every fire-engine in the city was at work. Evidently when the property of that church was at stake, those connected with the strike were anxious that the flames should not reach the Diamond. In many ways that power is at work, and out of the strife and anarchy in the world she will, through craft and diplomacy, gain honor and power. Kings and nations will try to out-do each other by catering to her authority. To-day the tendency of the world is Romeward. Kings and statesmen are paying homage to that power, and many of the nations of the earth are giving her servile flattery. To-day she has a controlling influence in this the greatest of nations. By her power and influence she controls our elections. Public sentiment is being rapidly moulded in her favor, and, as a result of our present social conditions, she is almost certain to obtain still greater prestige.