attitude of the methodist episcopal church toward labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

ATTITUDE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TOWARD LABORSource: Monthly Review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vol. 3, No. 2 (AUGUST, 1916),pp. 1-3Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41823058 .

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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE

U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

vol. hi - no. 2 WASHINGTON august, 191«

ATTITUDE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TOWARD LABOR.

One of the most significant matters discussed at the recent quadrennial conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 1 to 29, was the future attitude of the Church toward organized labor and collective bargaining in particular. As the Methodist Church conducts one of the largest book concerns in the United States, employing several thousand workmen in the print- ing and allied trades, the question was one of considerable moment. The discussion arose in connection with the report, on May 12, of the committee on the state of the Church, which, reviewing the nature and methods of collective bargaining as a part of its report on the Church and the community, declared -

It would naturally follow that since the Church is itself a large employer of labor, directly and indirectly, it must itself in some way realize collective bargaining either in one of the two forms which are now developed or in some other yet to be devised. A sound principle to govern the Church as an employer would appear to be that in recognition of the price being paid by organized labor to improve community welfare, a preference should be shown to it, and every possible endeavor [should be] made to work with it, in so far as its methods are just and in so far as the rights of unorganized men are not infringed upon.

This paragraph aroused considerable discussion and was changed the next day by striking out the italicized words and inserting the bracketed words. As changed, therefore, it is, for the moment, the final pronouncement of the Church on its attitude toward organized labor.

The general conference in question, which adopted the report under review, is composed of clergy and laity in equal numbers elected at annual conferences, which are representative gatherings within certain territorial districts recognized in the Church organi- zation. The quadrennial general conferences establish the policies of the Church as an organized body; they are its supreme legisla- tive authority. 1 ? *

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2 MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

The report in question, as presented by the committee on the state of the Church, is also the report of the Methodist Federation for Social Service, and was adopted by the committee. It seems also that the statement of principles contained in it are the result of more or less interdenominational effort and conference. (See Daily Christian Advocate, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 15, 1916, p. 231.) Sections 1 to 4 of the report were adopted by the committee by a vote of 109 to none opposing; section 5, on industrial democracy, by a vote of 105 to 6, with 115 present at the time the vote was taken.

The report discusses in general terms the Church and the community; the community service program; training for service; industrial conditions; and industrial democracy. That portion of it relative to industrial democracy (sec. 5) as printed in the Daily Christian Ad- vocate, Saturday, May 10, 1916 - published at Saratoga Springs, by the Methodist Book Concern - points out in general terms the wide- spread occurrence of strikes in recent years and the growing demand for the extension of the principles of democracy in industry. It de- clares that "the first method of realizing democracy in industry is through collective bargaining. This gives wage earners as a group tho right to determine in conference with their employers the terms and conditions of employment." Therefore "the principle of collective bargaining being generally accepted, the urgent question is what method shall embody it. To recognize the principle without sup- porting some method that will make it effective is but to mock the hopes and struggles of the workers with barren words and to deserve their indignation and contempt."

Section 2 of the report, as a part of the program of the Church in its relation to its immediate community, recommends that during the next four years the Church put stress upon the problems of unemployment, housing, prison reform, and recreation, and it sug- gests that the churches in rural communities not only concern themselves with these problems but also give attention to farm labor, tenancy, and rural cooperation.

After review of the extent of unemployment, immediate measures for its diminution are suggested. "They involve the labor exchange to find work - municipal, State, and Federal; provisions of public work; social insurance against unemployment. These measures have been demonstrated in Europe. The Church must aid in securing them in our cities and States."

In the matter of housing it is stated that -

The churches must demand the enactment of proper building codes and the enforcement of their regulations. But here again, while the churches must not hesitate to take their initiative, the greatest usefulness is in aligning themselves with the agencies

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MONTHLY REVIEW OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. 3

which are already in the field in most communities and are working steadily for adequate laws, thorough inspection of factories and dwellings, and enforcement of existing laws.

The relation between bad housing and both sickness of the body and sickness of the soul is established beyond question by many detailed studies. In dirt and darkness there breed the germs of sin and disease. In city and country, a sanitary dwelling with adequate room for privacy is essential to a sound family life.

Lack of recreation is held to be one of the potent causes of juvenile delinquency. Adequate programs of community recreation " involve the regulation of commercialized recreation; the development of parks, playgrounds, and community centers, with adequate supervi- sion, and the encouragement of private recreational enterprises that are conducted for the public welfare. It is for the Church to lead tho community into such a sense of the value of childhood that it will pay tho cost of adequate community recreation as it now pays for community education."

There is every reason also why churches should make larger use of their buildings for such purposes; making them safe and happy meeting places for the people, and par- ticularly for the children and young people of their neighborhood.

Section 4 of the report discusses at considerable length industrial conditions, including such questions as the living wage, the unequal distribution of wealth, and the effect of overwork on the laborer. On the question of the living wage tho report reiterates the declaration of the conference of 1912 to tho effect that the Church must stand for "a living wago as a minimum in every industry, and for the highest wage that each industry can afford, " and for " the most equitablo division of the product of industry that can ultimately be devised. ' ' Continuing it reviews the results of recent investigations regarding the cost of living and concludes with the declaration that " these facts challenge the Church to action."

The report protests against what it concludes to be the unequal distribution of wealth and urges the members of the Church "as employers, investors, or wage earners, to do everything that lies in their power to promote and initiate measures and movements that make for the realization of our standard of a living wage as already declared."

CONCILIATION WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, JUNE 16 TO JULY 15, 1916.

The organic act of the department gives the Secretary of Labor authority to mediate in labor disputes through the appointment, in his discretion, of commissioners of conciliation. During tho month, Juno 16 to July 15, 1916, tho Secretary exercised his good offices in

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attitude of the methodist episcopal church toward labor

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