The Fascist Labor Legislation
Wood, L. J. S.
June 16, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 149 THE FASCIST LABOR...
...On this urgent social exist, but no non-national organization, secret society, problem there is need of, and the whole world would revolutionary syndicate, or similar body is allowed surely welcome, the authoritative enunciation of a big legal existence...
...be completely impartial...
...the constitution of a new ministry of corporations in means in this instance, social peace...
...But it is a big idea...
...The point is the liberty has passed on to the next murder or other striking of every individual worker to unite, in the way and headline...
...terests...
...the Leo Encyclicals, the best known of which is the On this consideration basis, replacing that of desire Rerum Novarum, but the conditions of the workers only of personal gain, the nation will be prosperous...
...Second, the Church, the state, representing the nation, to see to it that every that is the Pope, does not come out with such an worker, whatever form his contribution may take, gets enunciation except in response to expressed and evidue return for due contribution...
...porations of employers and employed and a small Two things, however, must be noted: first, that number of independent experts selected by the govern- such enunciation of principle, coupled, perhaps, with ment, all these to be approved and nominated by the suggestions for action, would not be in the least "inCrown...
...There is, too, the further point that the nation Differences between employers and employed are to is not the supreme thing...
...tive society, or other organization which finds place Catholic principle, however, remains...
...Any existing syndicate, association, coopera- take advantage of the new scheme...
...Capital is not working such problems, in relation to the varying circumstances primarily for the highest possible dividend nor labor of the times, for a considerably longer period than for the biggest possible wage...
...Not enough attention has been ordinate the work of all citizens for the common good, paid to the Italian government's comprehensive capital- we regret that, while in these days laws are being labor proposal by the world in general which, avid of framed in what are called economic and social matters, sensation, has regarded it as just another item in it has not been thought possible to take full and due ac"Mussolini eccentricity" and, instead of studying it, count of Catholic teaching...
...And it may surely supreme organizing control...
...fallible," it would be nothing more than an exposition The Fascist idea is that everyone who contributes of the teaching of the Catholic Church of what is to industry-in which is included Italy's main industry, right and just on a certain social problem...
...The Reform of the be taken for granted that all good religious men and Senate will introduce into that body a technical ele- bodies, having the same end in view, would unite themment, an equal number of experts selected by the cor- selves with him...
...In practice, also, the new legislation may lessen constitutionally appointed labor judiciary...
...The first is toward rights as well as duties, of employer and employed...
...He has no ends to serve save his of industry, the "globality" finding expression in thg one and only ultimate aim, the salvation of souls...
...Roughly, Fascism dent desire...
...And here we within the constitution of the state can continue to come back to the first point...
...Existing labor syndicates will affiliate guiding principle or principles...
...There ideal is one "global" corporation but, this being found is but one such authority, the Pope, the mouthpiece of impracticable, there is a corporation for each branch the Catholic Church...
...In the Consistorial Allocution of date...
...And the agriculture-either capital or brain or manual labor, biggest thinkers of the Church have been studying is working for the nation...
...But the authoritative guidance now side, the "corporation" of employer and that of em- issued instructs such organizations to enter into and ployed...
...June 16, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 149 THE FASCIST LABOR LEGISLATION By L. J. S. WOOD T HE general strike in England should make the sees itself as putting into practice in the purely civil world think, and there are two directions in sphere Pope Leo's principle of duties as well as rights, which its thoughts may turn...
...above the nation is the Kingbe settled by consultation between representatives of dom of God, "Christ King," the Social Reign of the two bodies, failing that by the arbitration of a Christ...
...That enunciation must themselves and entrust the safeguarding of their mate- proceed from an authority which, first, is recognized to rial interests to the single representative corporation...
...The second is toward the Fascist labor legis- of December 14, 1925, Pope Pius XI said: "While aplation, the one big attempt that is being made to sys- preciating in fullest measure everything which tends to tematize constitutionally the relations between em- prevent or even attenuate class warfare and to coployer and employed...
...measure that seem best to him, in defense of his inIts first object is to eliminate strikes and lockouts...
...have so changed since 1891 that, while Pope Leo's In matter of Catholic principle the proposed legisprinciples remain, their practical application is out lation is not perfect...
...The Fascist of letting its voice be heard by the whole world...
...It is the business of anyone else has been able to do...
...There can the individual rights and effectiveness of existing Cathoonly be one single collective representative on each lic organizations...
...and second, has the means The same on the side of the employer...
...What happens is that it becomes evident...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 6
