The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-19
THAT UNION OATH.
Objections of Catholics Discuss
ed in Topeka.

Considerable discussion has been
aroused throughout the country by the
agitation recently started by members
of the Catholic clergy against the pledge
taken by members of the International
TypOgra phical union. Members of the
Topeka union have taken an active in
terest in the controversy, and the Labor
Champion this week devotes Its entire
first page and part of another to the
matter
The agitation was started by a Cath
olic priest in Wisconsin, who declared
that the oath of the Typographical
union interferes with the religious duties
of members of the Catholic church VINO
subscribe to it. This the members OF
the union deny, but some are favorable
to making a change in the pledge if it
is deemed necessary. The Objectionable
feature of the pledge is as follows:
My fidelity to the union, and my
duty to the members thereof shall in no
sense be interfered with by any ale
glance that may now or hereafter owe
to any other organization, political or
religious, secret or otherwise"
Rev Father T. F. Lillis, pastor of St.
Patrick's church in Kansas City, Mo-.
takes issue with the pledge in very de-
cided terms. He recently said:
THE Catholic presenting himself for
absolution, having taken that oath, has
already denied to himself the right to
the sacraments of the church He has
promised under oath not TO allow any
interference with his union, even
might be opposed to the principles of
the church. In other words, he has
placed his union above his religion.
and this the Catholic church does not
permit. Unless the printers union eX-
punges that part of the oath. no good
Catholic can be a member of it.
"The man or body of men that form
ulated that oath stified the consciences
of Catholics who became members of
it. because the very words of that oath
are contrary to the principles held
sacred by the Catholic church. The
church deals directly with a mans con-
science. The church cannot approve
the act of a man who binds himself by
oath to some secret organiza ton where
his conscience cannot act freely. The
organization may not, at the time he
joins it, be engaged in any act against
the church, but there might come
time when the organization would be
controlled by men antagonistic to the
church. who would use it to fight the
chureh
K. U. Whitted, of Topeka, a former
president of the local typographical
union. says that the Objectionable
pledge was adopted to protect all mem
bers from inside rings, cliques and or
ganizations similar in principle
organized especially to fight the
Catholics. This same obiectiona BILE
clause was the one under which Cath
olic members were protected from dis
elimination against them by members
of the A p. A. Mr.. Whitted says:
'In defense of the 'iron-clad' obliga-
tion Gas it was termed at the time of
its adoption fifteen or sixteen years
ago., L Will say it was adopted to
meet exigency. Certain persons
sought to control the political as well
as the industrial influence of the union
and so-called brotherhoods sprung up
throughout the country, until at one
time membership in the union counted
for little unless accompanied by some
high sign This spirit of so-called
brotherhood was against the principles
of the l. T. u, yet il grew until the
influence of every secret society known
was charged as being used against
members of the union. In many in
stances these charges were perhaps
only imaginary. while in others they
were apparently too true. There were
several instances during the A p A.
movement where charges were preferred
by Catholic members against members
of the union who had Joined that or
ganization and the I. T. L. expelled
them, which in my opinion was right
as one who takes an obligation to dis
criminate against another on account of
his religious or political opinions makes
a poor citizen of a free government and
union that would tolerate such mem
bership would be of short life. Such
HltIlUeIS COulu be puIllS0eu without the
sentence these clergymen object to, how
ever. / will not wrong a fellow member
or see him or her wronged, if in my
power to prevent Doesn't that cover
the subject? I will belong to no or
ganization composed wholly or partially
of printers with intent or purpose to in
fiuence or control the legislation of this
union Isn't that sufficient to stop the
cliques or brotherhoods within our
ranks?"
H. M. Ives, another former president
of the local union, denies that the typo
graphical union is a secret organization
in the usual acceptance of the term. He
says:
Father Lillis seems. to think that the
union is a secret and oath bound or
ganiza tion; it is neither Our pledge is
not taken in the name of God; it is
simply a solemn promise; and any
Catholic priest or anyone else, who from
proper motives desired to investigate
the workings of the union, would no
doubt, by a vote of the union, be cheer
fully permitted to be present during the
entire proceedings of one or as many
union meetings as he desired to attend
Our meetings are only secret in the sense
that people who come together to con-
slider private business matters in which
they have a common interest do not
usually consider it prudent to invite the