The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-06
OPPOSE PROHIBITION
State Federation of Catholics in
Session Declare That Prohi-
bition is Not Practical
CLAIM NATURAL RIGHTS HIT

AT the Wisconsin State Federation Of
Catholic societies in convention at
Manitowoc this week resolutions were
adopted condemning principles of in
ternational socialism as 'atheistic and
materialistic The Catholic members
of union labor organizations are urged
to use their utmost influence to pre-
vent these organizations from being
used by unprincipled demagogues and
instruments Of social and political revo-
luton and violence or wrong to the
rights of others.
The association declared itself as
follows:
The American Federation Of Catholic
societies is an organization of Catholics
in the United States for the purpose
Of advancing their civil, social and reli-
gious interests. 1t is not political
organization and does not control the
political affiiation of it's members; it
asks no favors or privileges, but openly
p1oclaims what is just and fair.
It aims at the creation Of sound
pubic opinion on all important topics of
the day; it stands for the Christion life
Of the nation itself, Tor the proper OBJ
servance of Sunday, for the Christian
education, for the sanctity and per-
petuity of Christian marriage, for the
safeguarding Of the Christian home.
It asserts the necessity of Christian
principles in social and public life in
the state, in business, in all financial
and industrial relations.
First-That it is the firm conviction
of this federation that the grave prob
lens confronting modern society in the
domain of economy and industry can
not be solved except by the applica-
ton of the fundamental Christian prin-
ciples of social justice laid down in
the encyclical letters Of Pope Leo XIII.
We admit that some of the practical
demands advocated by the Socialists
for the betterment of the workingman
are reasonable and just. It should how
ever, be remembered distinctly that
these reforms and demands have for
years been championed by Christian
economists and are by no means the
distinctive program Of Socialists
We emphatically condemn those prin-
ciples of international socialism as
atheistic and materialistic; they destroy
the Christian ideal of society and doom
the individual to the curse of a God
less life.
We are in sincere accord and sym
pathy with and will encourage all
reasonable endeavors of workingmen
by organized efforts to promote their
moral and material well being. We
also heartily support any legislation
benefcially regulating labor hours,
factory conditions, etc. On the other
hand, we urge upon Catholic work
ingmen who belong to labor unions
to use their utmost influence to pre-
vent these organizations from being
used by unprincipled demagogues and
instruments of social and political
revolution and violence or wrongs to
the rights Of others.
We recommend that Catholic work
ingmen conform themselves to- the
Christian principles of social Justice
as embodied in the encycEcal of Leo
XIII on "Conditions Of Labor to the
end that they may influence their res
pective labor organizations to right
ideals
In the application of remedies to
social evils that which is in itself
right should not be COMPOUNDED with
the abuse of social right, and while
we sincerely urge the enforcement and
enactment of laws calculated to abolish
the evils incident to the sale of in.
. toxicating liquor, we declare prohibit
ton as impractical, extreme and con,
t1ary to natural rights.
The platform reaffirms the declaration
OF the fifth annual national convention
on the subject of divorce and urges
highest possible efficiency in parochial
!. schools; condemns immoral show pict
!. ures and cheap shows and urges theil
suppression; and urges support of the
7 Catholic chapel established for Catholic
4 students of the state university.