◆ SpookStack

“art TTY, “What can Tehan 1 GOOT *ontr ibute ee ee ee a ee of a southern child {fs only one-hrif of the average for the nation; for a Negro child it is only one-ninth. Be- cause of the poll tax politice] democracy is denied to two-thirds of the population. Economic democracy (¢oll- ective bargaining) is restricted even more stringently. 6. The world that "ought to be"-These conditions must be examined in the light of government research as to poten- tial living standards if all the idle capital, plants and Man-power were put to work. Conservative estimates place the potential income at $4,500 for every family in the United States. ‘Ye may now be sure of one disturbing fact- poverty is now entirely voluntary. This fact should haunt every Christian concerned with establishing a just society, every citizen interested in a rational society, and all of us seeking to safeguard democracy. Democracy means free- dom , and we are not free until we liberate all of the potentinl material and spiritual resources of our nation. 7. The labor movement, with its lebor press, nine million members of unions, and co-operatives, end affiliated bodies is the backbone of the progressive movement secking to change the present order and to establish a more just and ethical society. Organized lebor brings immedizete practi- ¢cl]_geins to those who need it most. These benefits may be summerized: n. By raising wages and living stendrc-ds. b. Initiesting and enforcing social legislation. ¢. Giving dignity to workers; ne longer regarded as mere "hands". d. Makes democracy work in the economic field through collective barguining. e. Bringing educational and cultural services to workers. f. Giving concrete expression to the religious ideals of service and brotherhood which otherwise find but little practical outlet in the hurly-burly competitive world. Thus for rational as well as ethical reasons religion needs labor. And a vital concern by religion for the interests of labor would be the best safeguard against a complacent, com- fortable middle class dissipating its ethical interests in mere generulities, We need to nprliy the Social Creed to the Churches, 7 . wee cet Tt, pe en ‘ wats Setter tial Te Tn aed