St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-28
THE GERMAN CATHOLICS.
They Pass Resolutions Opposing
the Bennett Fair.

the Bennett FAR.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, May 27.-The
convention of German Catholic socie-
ties was tardy in assembling this morn
ing. owing to the fact that most of the
delegates were being entertained at st.
Mary's church with sermon from Rev.
Father Buehler, of st. Francis semi
nary. High mass was celebrated at the
same church at an early hour by
Bishop Flasch. Father Buehler said
the Catholic faith in this country must
be taught by church schools and no
interference with the schools should be
allowed. The convention did not come
to order until about II o'clock, when
speeches were made by William Casper,
Of Milwaukee, and j. Spannhorst. of
st. Louis; Rev. Father Feldmann, of
Chicago, and others. Mr.. Spannhorst
said the Bennett law presented
political question that Catholics
could not ignore, because it directed the
welfare of their institution. While Rev.
Feldmann was speaking a committee eS-
corted Bishops FlaSch and KatZer and
Administrator Zeininger to the stage.
The audience arose as the bishops came
in, and remained standing till the dig
nitaries were seated. After nearly all
members of the committee on the stage
had saluted each of the bishops
by bending their knee and kiss
ing the extended hand, Chairman
Kaiser called upon Bishop Flasch to
make an address. Bishop Flasch re-
ferred to the Bennett law in his adj
dress and upheld the right of the church
to go into politics when its interests
were attacked. He was followed by
Bishop Katzer, of Green Bay, who took
off his coat as if to emphasize his ear
nestness, and proceeded to attack
the Bennett law in the. bitterest
practically denied the right
of the child to obey its parents by put
ting its claims before those of the pa
rents. '''Ehe friends of the law" he
said, "tell us that the child has rights
which the state must see is accorded to
it. But the parents have more interest
in the child than the state. The gov
ernor and his little German boy will
be well taken care of by their
parents if the state will let them
alone" AS the bishop proceeded
he warmed to his subject and
fairly brought his hearers to their feet
by the intensity of his manner. He be-
came angry. pathetic and sarcastic by
turns. The matter Of teaching Eng
lish they tell us is what we are fight
ing" he exclaimed. but this is not
so. English is now taught in our
schools. But if the state has right to
tell US we must teach English. it will
soon be telling us what we must
eat and what shall go on the
table for the family dinner. They are
all of class, these laws. wrether IN
W1cnnncia TIiinniC
They attempt to interfere with personal
and parental rights and, carried out to
their logical conclusion, would be very
dangerous to the church and to society.
'This Bennett law" the bishop con-
tinued, twas conceived in the minds of
free-thinkers and those opposed to the
Catholic church and her schools" He
was told recently, he said, by
Mason, that the Bennett law
was first suggested by the Masons. The
man said: Il could prove it to you, if
| did not put so high value on my
head, that the Bennett law was first agi-
tated in the grand lodge of Masons of
the state of Wisconsin," The applause
which followed this statement was deaf
ening, and the bishop had to stand fully
half minute before he could continue.
LII closing he urged his hearers to OBJ
pose all measures like the Bennett
law to the best of their ability
and stand firmly by the church. Rev.
Zeininger, the administrator of the Mil
waukee diocese, then spoke briefly, and
at the close of his address the commit
tee on credentials reported, aud the
convention adjourned until 1 80. At the
afternoon session officers were elected
and committees appointed. Resolutions
were read and referred providing for
the establishment of central commit
tee, with headquarters in Milwaukee,
authorized to act in cases of emer-
gency; providing for the establish
ment of high school in Milwaukee. to
be supported by the societies and in
which children of members shall be in
structed free of charge. Resolutions
were adopted on the Bennett law, up
holding the rights of parents to select
the schools for their children. They
favor compulsory school laws, under GER
tain restrictions: admit the necessity of
public schools and the right to support
them by general taxation. They make
no claim upon the public school fund
for the maintenance of parochial
or private schools, but reserve
for themselves the right to guard against
the misuse or the squandering of school
funds.