St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-06
Rt. Rev. Watterson'S Great
Fight Against Catholic
Drinking.
HISTORY OF THE CONTEST
With One Of the Prominent
Societies of His Own
Diocese.
BISHOP LAYS DOWN THE LAW
Insists That Saloonkeepers
Shall Not Be Admitted to
Catholic Unions.

COLUMBUS. o., Aug. 5.-Today an
agent OF the Associated Press saw Bishop
Watterson, who gave some interesting
Inside history of his recent euactmentS
and the causes which led to them. A
week before Thanksgiving day last year
a member of one of the Columbus socie-
ties belonging to the Knights OF st.
Johns union told the bishop that the
military branch of the division, to which
the informant belonged, had, during the
preceding year. given three entertain
ments, two of them under the assumed
name of the Evening Star club, at
which beer was sold ana other things
were done contrary to the statutes
OF this diocese. and the provincial coun-
Gil of Cincinnati, and the third plenary
council of Baltimore; and that this same
branch intended to give, under the dis
guise of a prize drill, similar enter
tainment the night before Thanksgiving
day, with beer selling and beer drink
ing and promiscuouS dancing. Inc
bishop went Immediately to the hall
where the society was holding prepar-
atory meeting, and told the members
what he had heard, all of which they
acknowledged to be true. After re-
proving them for their persistent viola
tions of the laws binding them in these
matters, he received promise from
them not to hold their
Thanksgiving Entertainment
In the intended manner; but within
couple of days thereafter two delega-
lions from this commandery waited on
him, and, as about $50 dollars of eX-
penses had been incurred in preparing
or the entertainment, they solemnly
proposed to him to allow them to hold
their prize drill, which would occupy
about fifteen minutes, and theu turn
over the affair to others who should
conduct it according to the prearranged
programme, the society itself to be the
beneficiary of the proceeds. He ex-
pressed his establishment at such a
proposition, coming from men who
called themselves Catholic knights. and
told them he could not connive at such
"beating of the devil round the
stump" They had walked into the
difficulty with their eyes open, and they
should walk out of it as honorable men
and dutiful Catholics. AS they were
workingmen. the bishop offered to con-
tribute generously TO their expenses. if
they would do right. They, however,
held the entertainment rs they had
originally arranged, and many of the
general division and of other societies
assisted at it. The bishop hearing OF it
a few days afterwards, sent word that
he
Would no Longer
recognize them as a Catholic organiza-
ton, In December an election was
held for president Of the general divi-
ion and also of the military branch.
Saloonkeepers, regardless of the bishops
we'll known wishes, were chosen for
both of these offices. Thereupon he in
formed the officers of the division that
if they should install the newly elected
president, he would deprive their whole
division of its rank and privilege as
Catholic society, as he had already
done in the case of the military
branch, and that they must
either respect his injunctiens or
appeal to higher authority: and, if the
decision went against him, he would set
them an example of ecclesiastical
obedience. They reported this decision
to their society, which thereupon re-
solved to consult the supreme president
of their union, whose residence is in
Cleveland. The supreme president, as
far as the bishop knows, was not ap-
prised of the facts and circumstances
of the case, nor did he ask the bishop
for information, but gave the society
some good advice, telling them it was
not polite to get into a contest with
episcopal authority, and counseIing the
neWly-elected president to resign. and
thus save disagreeable complication.
All this, however, the bishop knew only
after the appeal was made, nor was he
informed by the society of its intention
TO appeal. He heard a vague rumor
that such was its purpose, and during a
visit to Mgr. Satolli OH other business
in the beginning of February he asked
if such
had been received. 1t had, however
not yet been made. The bishop thel
related to the delegate what has been
stated above, together with severa
other things concerning this and similar
cases, and waited yet another month
Some years ago, wishing to promote the
honor and usefulness of societies in hi
diocese. he decided not 10 approve o
new societies or new branches of old So
cieties, save on condition that manu-
facturerS and vendors OF intoXlcatin.
liquors would not be admitted 10 mem
bership. He saw what many other
have seen. how men in the business o
intoxicating liquors have tried to dom
mate these societies, and in too NJ IN.
cases have succeeded in usInk thei
membership for t';eir owl selfish ellis
and often to lie injury of o;hs.
members and their families ana II
dIShonOr OF themselves al . .ii.iou
He knew the comuou dis.'-..r! ., stat
and municipal a "a ec,.'.'.i .-',... ::y
by men in this traffic. Il :, - - IN
more could be dam" IL ia, .i>n l..
evils of iEiemperdIcc !. l.s >,,c, il
s@.------------------------