The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-03-13
A SILLY ATTACK
Outrageous sIurs on Cardinal Gibbons
BY a Fanatic Who Injuries the
Cause of Temperance.

The vicious attack on Cardinal Glib.
bons and the Catholic Church which
is made in literature recently sent out
by the national press bureau of the
Prohibition party and which practi,
calIy charges the prelate with hav-
ing been bribed by the liquor interests
of this country, has caused intense in
dignation. The article in question is
couched in the most insulting insinua-
lions regarding the Cardinal and the
church.
Several days ago Cardinal Gibbons
gave out an interview in Baltimore
which favored low licenses for wine
and beer and high licenses for spiritu.
Gus liquors. He also said he did not
favor prohibition. Thereupon the pro-
hibition party through DR.. ]. B. Gran
I'LL, STAFF correspondent of the Asso-
GATED Prohibition Press, with head
quarters at Chicago, sent out state
ment to practically every newspaper
in the country intimating that all
priests and ministers who are not for
prohibition are so as "the result of
monetary consideration"
Among other things. Cranftll refers
slurringly to Cardinal Gibbons as
agreeing with Cardinal" Busch, of
the Anheuser-Busch Brewing asocia.
ton, of st. Louis. and says the "pre-
late of the brewing industry and the
prelate OF the Roman Catholic Church
are in exact agreement" He further
states that he cannot suppress the feel
ing that Cardinal Gibbons attitude Is
the result of monetary considera-
tons" and he fears he has beer
Seen" The statement concludes that
advocacy Of liquor traffic is always
based on either Ignorance, avarIce or
appetite" and winds up with this slur-
ing allusion:
''In the case of men like Gibbons 1t
cannot be ignorance. though 1t may be
appetite instead of avarlce. Indeed,
1t may be both avarice and appetite.
I think we ought to be gentle as the
facts will warrant in dealing with
these beer and whtskey preachers.
''But when man announces such
views as Gibbons enunciatcs, he ought
to exchange his surpIice for a white
apron, his prayer book for an ice
Dick and go to keeping bar"
Following the publication OF the at
tack on Cardinal Gibbons, Chairman
Charles R. Jones, of the national com
mittee of that party gave out n public
statement denying that the party had
charged the Cardinal with bribery and
placing the responsibility on the WRIT
n of the article, who signed his name
hereto. Elmer L. Blake, State chair
man of the Prohibition party of iii.
1ois also issued disclaimer. Bishops
Foley, of Detroit. Mich; Els, OF Mar
1uette, Mich, and Fox, OF Green Bay,
Wis. sharply scored the Prohibition
leader in interviews. Clergymen of all
denominations join with them in de.
Tending Cardinal Gibbons. Archbishop
Messmer in an interview, said:
at is too contemplate. too ridicu.
lous to notice. Cardinal Gibbons is
too big a man to be injured by such
preposterous charges and the right
course to take is to ignore them com.
pletely. It only digniAes those who
have given them utterance by giving
them attention which they do not de-
serve. 1t is the bigoted attack of fan
ntics and is really no more than was
to be expected from those behind this
extreme movement.
"Any one who knows the Cardinal
will resent this abuse. He is the most
temperate Of men and so far as there
being any possibility of his having
been bought in any way, 1t Is thought
not to be entertained for moment.
The evasion by this prohibition fan
attic that such n charge Is not made
against Cardinal Gibbons is not in
keeping with the inference given out
by his other statements. not only by
the one regarding the preachers have
been seen but by the later one in
which he says that in Cardinal Glib
bons' case It can not BIO ignorance.
thought It may be both avarice and ap.
petite. Tho comparison between tina
prelate OF the church and the head
~. a bravuary NTH tho nonParrFno ~