Double Page of Special
Double Page of Specia Catholicism No Longer Stakes Future on Backing Capitalism In The New Leader of Aug. 6, we considered an article by Wilfred Parsons, S. /,, editor of "America," a Catholic...
...You may be assured that you can always depend upon the help of my wing of the capitalist system to help keep things as is...
...Out with it, Joe...
...Would Not Wipe Out Exploitation The "middle ground" of Father Parsons would not change the property basis of capitalism...
...The two statements are not exclusive...
...Father Parsons moves Into some mysterious twilight ¦one between a modified capitalism and some future Ideal...
...and it serves as a prop of capitalism...
...Tkt Ington Will | I couldat M self...
...By AUTOLYCUS "t via got a poaer for you, BUI," said Joe aa they entered ™ the union hall waiting for the meeting to open...
...The two together constitute the social labor necessary for modern enterprise to function...
...In any event It appears that one conflict of opinion between us Is removed...
...No, I can't...
...It is only in recent years that the essential social character of all labor has dawned upon many skilled railroad workers, and to the extent that they understand it, to that extent only is labor solidarity possible...
...Where we do not agree is in thinking, as you seem to do, that there is no middle ground between capitalism and Socialism, that there is no other system of private property conceivable except capitalism...
...The locomotive engineer for decades regarded himself as an aristocrat whose life was separate from that of the section 'hand' repairing the roadbed...
...You and I (and Father Blakely) all agree that social Justice is impossible under the present system of administering private property, but the whole point of the teaching of Pope Pius XI, whom Father Blakely and I follow...
...The meeting's called to order," said Joe...
...that is why I published his article...
...It won't , constitutions' influences ti upon their rl Tours fo» the working We Socialist* make no compromise with capitalism and work for It* abolition...
...If your premise is sound," BiU responded, "you should be able to make a fair estimate of the ratio between qualitative and quantitative labor...
...The Colonization Society proposed to colonize Negroes In Liberia the migration to continue till all Negroes in the United States had been shipped out of the country...
...is no piker t tellin' 'em J promise the...
...It condemns capitalism' as we do...
...The locomotive engineer thought of his labor as 'essentially qualitative' and of the section hand's labor as only 'quantitative,.' It did not occur to this engineer that even his life was In the hands of the laborer who repaired the roadbed, or If he thought of it he did not grasp its social significance...
...Is There a Middle Ground...
...If supplemented with Christian charity and teachings, this will not alter the power of the exploiting class or the dependence of the working class nor wipe out the absurd contradictions of capitalism that produce industrial convulsions, unemployment and hunger...
...You have not proved the case for Socialism merely by pointing out the failure of capitalism, as if your system were the only alternative...
...Lets go in...
...You and I agree on this...
...We must be careful, Hoov, or the ragged individualist — you know, the "forgotten guy" I calls him—will get wise, and believe the terrible truth told by those hateful Socialists — that your party and mine are as different as two peas In the same pod...
...The latter contends that capitalism is tyranny and that its net results for the working class are class rule and slavery...
...Their functions are essentially qualitative rather than quantitative," said Joe...
...Do you agree...
...6, we considered an article by Wilfred Parsons, S. /,, editor of "America," a Catholic weekly, in which he reviewed the platforms of the ruling parties and of the Socialist Party...
...Middle grounders are generally ground to pieces in the final stages of conflict between a dying social system and the emergence of a new one...
...Dogma as Prop "It is a dogma of some bourgeois economists," Bill replied...
...This is important for the following reason: for nearly two decades, the Knights of Columbus kept a number of lecturers In the field whose propaganda was not only directed against Socialism but also fully accepted American capitalism, modified by Christian charity...
...But it appears so only because you do not consider the division of labor and its social character in capitalistic production...
...Very well," BiH continued...
...It seemed so simple to me...
...Qualitative...
...Not only Is the quality of the expert's knowledge based upon the labor of workers In various occupations and degrees of skill, but we cannot distinguish his work from' the work of the unskilled laborer in the dam which is constructed...
...Without the miner and the fanner, the shoemaker and the garment worker, the carpenter, mason, plumber and teacher, the education of the experts would be impossible...
...Even among the experts there Is a division of labor, one expert in one field being dependent upon the services of experts In another field...
...Well, you Marxians haven't given due weight to the manager, the engineer and the teermiclan in Industry...
...Many of the experts also subscribe to it, and even in the ranks of labor it is the basis of a labor aristocracy...
...But Herb, pedal a bit...
...Neither Is "More" Necessary "I'm not through, yet," BUI responded...
...inquired BUI...
...In our answer to certain critical statements regarding Socialist aims, we reprinted from the same publication excerpts from an article by Paul L. Blakely, S. ]., who indicted capitalism...
...Seems reasonable to me," said Joe, scratching his head...
...While I'm writing to you, permit me also to express my admiration and offer my congratulations upon your brave and courage...
...What's the poser...
...I have been shown your editorial comments on my article on The Parties' Economic Planks' and I have read them with great Interest...
...This "middle ground" reminds one of the program of some eminent men in the north with some southern allies in the matter of the old slave regime...
...We did not say so in our article, for we are aware of the "middle ground" between capitalism and Socialism which Father Parsons thinks is a solution of the issues raised by capitalism...
...mg out tail attack t hat i unemployed soldiers...
...Dear Hoov: I must express my admiration for your fairness and frankness In giving credit to my gang (the Democrats) for the help given you in authorizing government aid to the big Interests...
...and make 1 exploitation justice...
...It leaves Industry in the hands of the capitalist owners and economic dominion always carries with it dependence and exploitation for the working masses...
...Pathr Parsons in reply sent the letter we print below, to which we append our rejoinder.—Editor...
...Is to advocate a social-economic reconstruction of society which will administer private property with justice, and yet without the terrible and certain risks Involved, when, as you say, 'government will represent all, and all will control government,' if this very desirable end In Itself is to be involved in an Industrial organization of the state, whether it be brought about from the top or the bottom...
...So what appears objectively as qualitative service has its origin In myriad forms of labor without which the experts would not bej experts at all...
...Your idea of qualitative labor," continued BIU, J'has become as substantial as vapor...
...An Industrial chemist in a laboratory studying raw materials would be helpless without the skilled machinists who provide him with his special tools...
...Moreover, I implied this in the sentence immediately following that which you quoted from me, namely: 'This is true (that we would suffer an intolerable tyranny) whether nation* alization is brought about by the Socialists, or as seems inevitable under present circumstances, by the capitalists.' Nobody, I imagine, believes that the state-business tyranny is yet complete, but I did show that completeness is on the way...
...The conflict of opinion between ns now la of what should replace capitalism...
...Hope I'D portunity all case you're I right thing Arthur, thel able buttle...
...Well, in the first place, their contribution is brain work...
...P." Our Reply Father Parson* accepts in full the position of Father Blakely...
...However, your contrast of my article with one I had published three years ago from Father Blakely does not carry the crushing refutation of my opinions that you seem to imagine...
...therefore I am wrong, because Father Blakely is right...
...As "middle ground" it was a complete failure...
...I do not believe, however true it may be theoretically, that all will control government under Socialism, or that government will represent all, any more than under capitalism, or in the Socialist states of Russia Yours very sincerely, WILFRED PARSONS, S. J., Editor of America...
...Can you extract their contribution to its construction, separate it from the contribution of the wage workers, skilled and unskilled, and identify it either qualitatively or quantitatively...
...The qualitative idea of labor in economics Is not sound economic* snd It Is good only for fostering that aristocracy of capitalism which Is the enemy of labor's emancipation...
...8, at the Y. W. C. A. on 188th street, in the evening, and I extend you or a representative a very cordial invitation to attend.—W...
...If one group of workers Is absolutely essential to the other, what Is the sense In saying that one is more essential than the other...
...By Fred Cohen Tweedledee to Twea 4 Letter from One Candidate it on His Acceptance Speed Albany, New York...
...But isn't it a fact that theae experts work with their heads and not with their hands...
...Which Worker is'More'Vital, Preventer or Healer of Disease...
...Now let us consider the product of the experts, let us say, in the building of a great dam...
...Father Parsons' Letter "Editor of The New Leader...
...Not one person in ten consider a garbage man as important as a physician, and yet his labor prevents the spread of disease, and the physician does not appear on the scene till there is sickness...
...Finally, wo are confident that the new "middle, ground" will be undermined in the coming years as the former conservative position has been...
...Tour argument run*, as I understand it, thus: Father Blakely points out that we are living under a tyranny in the present capitalist system, whereas I predict that we would live under one in a Socialist state...
...This position seems to me to be untenable...
...Catholicism no longer stakes Ha future on support of capitalism...
...But, Herby, aren't you overbold in letting the "deer peepul" know that we Democrats stand for the same thing as your Republican gang...
...Slavery would thus be gradually undermined with little friction...
...Your thought is hot essentially qualitative," said Bill, as he took his seat with a sigh...
...A nttie discussion will be a tonic before we consider the strike that is before us...
...Let me I carved a nas as no previa White Hoosi ed...
...How Experts Are Wrought "Objectively it appears so," said Bill...
...Manual labor plays no part in their services Brain work is qualitative and physical labor is quantitative," said Joe...
...You've got me there, BUI," said Joe with a gesture of defeat "That quality has disappeared in thin air...
...Where did this idea of the special Importance of qualitative labor originate...
...Will you allow me to say that this is a fallacy...
...Consider another case, Joe—thei garbage men who gather our refuse each day...
...Can you do it...
...I am In full agreement with Father Blakely...
...In the first place, the experts spent years getting an education and during that period workers of many occupations were feeding, bousing and clothing them...
...The fact Is that all the knowledge of the experts is useless without the workers with their skill and experience, and the experience of the workers would not build the dam without the knowledge of the experts...
...We quoted the article of Father Blakely because Of its sweeping indictment of capitalism and because that Indictment went much farther than Father Parsons' criticism of it He now states, "I am in full agreement with Father Blakely...
...Social labor of all grades, skilled and unskilled, Is congealed In that knowledge possessed by the experts...
...If Father Parsons represents modern Catholic opinion — and "America" is certainly the leading Catholic weekly—then this opinion Is now ranged against the capitalist system...
...Quantitative vs...
...asked Joe...
...This shift from the old conservative position is an important surrender...
...We do not believe that there is such a middle ground, and we assert that the "social-economic reconstruction of society" which he has in mind does not alter the fundamental basis of capitalism...
...The furnace men want to join the union and I'm worried...
...Now it la true that because this high Catholic opinion is ranged against capitalism, it does not imply acceptance of Socialism...
...Why are they essentially qualitative?'' asked Joe...
...I if elected wfll brave officer" of God to hungry, un| ployed work make our gr< for our heirs What a a bums had to if we don't for them...
...S.—I am going to speak on the Papal teachings on the rights of workers at a Negro industrial conference in Harlem on Sept...
Vol. 14 • September 1931 • No. 11
