Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-12
PRIEST TAKES UP
AN EDITORS FIGHT
"Donate Half My Salary to
Thomas Pendell for Fair
Play" He Says.
FOR POLITICS
Newspaper Man Had Exposed Doinss
of a Clique of Politicians in His
Town, and They Had Nearly
Ruined His Business.

Peekskill, N. Y, Dec. 4.-The Rev
James f. Curran, of the Church of the
Assumption, Peekskill. threw a bono
into the camp of the republican coterie
which dominates hat town. His pur-
pose was the protection Of a young ed
itor who has been bocotted by that
ring" in an effort to drive him out OF
town.
II hereby donate one-half Of my
years salary as pastor Of this church
to Thomas Pendell," Numbered Father
Curran TO q congregation that literally
packed the large edifce. Il do this In
the name of fair play, of ommon de-
cency and OF a common manhood. he
is a Protestant and l am a priest OF the
Roman Catholic church, but we are
brother Americans n I fight at his
side.
Thomas Pendell, as the editor Of a
weekly newspaper, has offended the
low political ringsters of Peekskin and
they have determined to run him out
of town. But they shall not triumph!
Pendell shall stay right here!"
YOUNG Pendells Troubles.
The troubles of young Pendell, editor
of the Peekskill Sunday Review, have
been town talk for several weeks. 1t
wa expected that Father Curran would
publicly declare for the prosecuted ed
itor Sunday, and scores Of Protestants
were among his hearers.
PendelPs troubles began seven weeks
ago. At that time Father Curran's
church inaugurated a fair, in which a
huge American flag was offered to the
local school receiving the most votes,
at l cent a ballot.
A. d. Dunbar, principal of the Oak
side public school, a republican and a
Protestant, frowned upon the flag pro-
49, Ute 1ion1nn ct1ra fnnk the Shanp
of an order to his pupils not to vote
for the flag. Father Curran protested,
and finally denounced Mr.. Dunbar from
the pulpit.
Mr.. Pendell, alone of the six editors
of the six Peekskill newspapers, pub
lished Father Curran's denunciation.
Not a line appeared In any other local
paper. In further evidence Of indie
pendence, Mr.. Pendell next proceeded
to expose the local ring" unmasking
alleged frauds and cartooning the al
legged offenders.
lust what happened to him is best
described in Father Curran's words:
How He Offended.
Mr.. Pendell has offended these low
politicians in two things: He dared to
publish my remarks upon the flag, and
he dared to unmask political corrup-
ton. 1 do not know whether his charges
are lIuS VI ldloCt "a Il NASNS NAASiih
Were they false he would have been in
Jail weeks ago.
His enemies nave gone to his adver-
Users and intimidated them into a
withdrawal Of their patronage.
Now listen to my plan of campaign"
said the venerable priest. / shall read
the Peekskill Sunday Review every
week. l will buy my shoes from the
shoemaker who advertises in its col
umns, and from no one else. 1 shall
buy my bread, my groceries, my
clothes, my books on the same plan.
Now, I cannot command you to do
likewise, but I hope and pray that you
will.
This young man Pendell with his
wife and children shall not be ruined
by these political masters of our town.
He is a true blue American, with a
clean mind and a big, honest heart.
Half of my salary for this year is his.
To it 1 add my whole support.
Lest there be a charge of trickery
brought against me-" said Father Cur
ran i'm conclusion, "let me tell you that
newspapers are here today at my in
vitation. They are my guests. l seek
the fullest publicity for my attitude"
Moved PendeIl to Tears.
Standing in the silent GROVE near the
doors Of the church a tall, broad
| shouldered man, in rather worn clothes,
listened with bent head and eyes that
glistened with tears.
He was Editor Pendel He tried to
slip away unobserved at the close of
the service, but hands were cordially
| extended on every side as the town.
folk pledged him sympathy and sup
| port.
YES" said Pendell TO a World re-
! porter, II had given up the fight a week
| ago, when Father Curran came to my
help. The ring had robbed me of half
my advertisers, and my few friends
were threatened with a boycott that
meant ruin. But, with Father Curran
behind me. I shall fight 1t out and win
Mr.. Pendell has been a Feekskil ed
| itor for three years. He was formerly
a reporter on a New York newspaper
| Father Curran Is widely known. His
| close utilization with the late DR.. Nc
| Glynn led to his transfer from a prom
inent New York church to his present
1 II