The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
MANY CATHOLICS
 MEET IN CHICAGO Bishop McTaui Discusses the
 Friar Question. REPORTS ARE EXAGGERATED Federation of Catholic Societies Is Deeply Interested In Seeing That the Frlars Are Treated Fairly.
 Many caIumnies.
REPORTS ARE EXAGGERATED

Chicago August 5.-The American Federation of Catholic Societies met this afternoon at the Young Mems Christian hall In the afternoon after the address of welcome by Dr. II. s. Taylor on be- half of Mayor Harrison, and M. F. Cir ten, on behalf of the Catholic societies of the city, the convention went Into execu- tive session and organized. Short ad- dresses were made by Bishops Messmer of Green Bay. Wis, McFaul of Trenton, N. J., and by the president of the feder- ation. It was evident from the tenor Of the remarks made in the afternoon that the convention would not regard the manifesto of Archbishop IreIanG. warn ing them against discussion of the ad- ministration's methods Tn the Philip pines
 At the evening session Bishop McFaul was the principal speaker, and directed his attention to the treatment of the friars and the school question in the Philippines. The bishop said in part;
 "The calm, intelligent observer must admit that some of the statements made in the public press regarding the situa-
 
 rect or exaggerated.
 Foundation of Truth.
 There was, nevertheless, a very sub stantial foundation of truth in most of the reports, which amply justified the strictures made upon those accountable for the abuse of power.
 No one is foolish enough to admit that in affairs of so important a nature l ,Io,. ,.i1y when made by interested parties. We had already been warned to be on our guard, but by previous contradictions of reports which were afterwards proved true and found worse than at first sus- pected. When the news arrived that the Catholic churches in the Philippines were desecrated and footed, officers of high rank in the army attempted to refute the charges, yet the dissertation and the loot ing of those sacred edifices are now so certain that claims for damages to ec- clesiastical property will be accepted by the government.
 Reports, too, of the frightful spread of drunkenness and immortality after the occupation of Manila by the American army were vigorously assailed. Is there now anyone who has the audacity to question their truth? Since then we have all heard of the water cure, and the lSSuSu py an AmeT1cdn general. The perpetration of those out rages were not known for time, they were, however, so fragrant that 1t was impossible to keep them from the knowl- edge of the public. The introduction alone of the public school system was just cause for alarm.'
 Interested In Friars.
 The speaker then declared that the fed eration is deeply interested in obtaining just treatment for the friars in the Phil ippines who had suffered, he declared under so many cruel calumnies"
 Bishop McFaul charged that in selecting school teachers for the Philippines dis crimination had been practiced against the Catholics, because of a total of 967 teachers who had been sent to the is- lands but eighteen or nineteen had been Catholics.
 ''The impression has gone abroad" the bishop said, that America is furnishing educational facilities to the Filipnos for the first time and that tKe people were in state of dense ignorance. This was another calumny. For centuries the friars dwelt with the tribes of the Philippines and 1t Is to them that they are indebted Tor whatever they possess of education and religion. They are a chaste and pure people, unaware of many of the vices of civilization until American sold iers occupied their soil"