The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-03-21
INFAMOUS ATTACK On
=. CARDINAL G|DB0Ns
National Press Bureau Of tho Pro
hibition Party Is Simply Dis
y graoing Itself Z.
BY It's Shameless and Contemp-
tible Attacks Upon an Hon =,
ored Prelate.

there probably, never was time III
the history Of our country, when the
temperance sentiment Of our people
was as pronounced as it is today; and
no one man contributed more in
wise, judic1ous, and Chr1st1anlike way,
to the movement than has Cardinal
Gibbons.
But, the fanatical aggregation OF
small politicians, calling itself the
National press bureau Of the Prohi-
bition party" has recently made a
vicious attack upon the honored pre-
late, which practically charges him
with having been bribed by the liquor
interests because he declines to sub
scribe to all the fanatictsn1' and. intem-
perance Of prohibition leaders.
+. The Cardinal Sentiments.
Several days ago Cardinal Gibbons
gave out an interview in Baltimore, in
which he favored low licenses for wine
and beer and high licenses for spirit
uous liquors. He also said he did not
favor prohibition. Thereupon the Pro-
hibition party, sent out a statement to
practically every newspaper in the
country intinating that all priests and
ministers who are not for prohibition
are so as 'the result of monetary con-
sideration.'
Prohibitionist's Attack.
The following is a part of the article
containing the attack:
"Chicago, Ill.-Cardinal Gibbons, Of
the Roman Catholic church, has been
heard from. He seems to agree per-
fectly with Cardinal Adolphus Busch,
of the Anheuser Busch Brewing asso-
citation, Of st. Louis. Cardinal Busch
gave out an interview in Kansas City,
in which he announced his conversion
to local option. He still holds, with
some timidity, however, it seems to
the doctrine OF high license in the
larger cities. Cardinal Gibbons an
nounces the same views exactly, and
so the prelate Of the brewing industry
and the prelate Of the Roman Catholic
church are in exact agreement I
never desire to he harsh or unkind in
anything I say, think or do, but every
time any preacher or any church, high
or low, Catholic or Protestant, an
nounces his alignment with the liquor
traffic, and speaks in the language Of
Ashdod, cannot repress> a, feeling that
his utterance is the result of none
tary consideration. Mind you, I do not
| charge that this is true in the case Of
Cardinal Gibbons, nor do I make a
| specific charge in any case, but I am
always forced to fear that in these
| cases the preachers have been "seen."
When. a: man announces such views
as Gibbons enunciates, he ought to
exchange his surpice for white
onrnn r,rovor 1O01x for an loo mich
and go to keeping bar"
The cardinal has treated the attack
with the contempt that it deserves;
but Archbishop S. G. Messmer, in re-
plying to the attack said today: 1T is
too contemplate, too ridiculous to no
tice Cardinal Gibbons is too big a
man to he injured by such preposter-
Gus charges, and the right course to
take is to ignore them completely. It
only dignt1es those who have given
them utterance by giving them atten-
ton which they do not deserve.
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, it is
thought not to be entertained for a
moment.
$50 far as Cardinal Gibbons or any
Of the clergymen being bought is con-
cerned, the thought is ridiculous. /
have not read Cardinal Gibbons inter-
; view, but ! have heard it discussed,
; and I imagine his views are much the
same as mine. All my life I have pro-
tested against the use Of the word tenn
ho 1o,1co nF
meaning total abstinence. I object to
, the sentiment which assumes that a
i man who drinks an occasional glass
| Of wine or beer is not a temperate
! man. Temperance does not mean to-
D.: tai abstinence. It means the moderate
use. I protest also against any move
/ nent to pass laws which in any way
! interfere with the personal liberty Of
! the individual unless such Interference
! is necessary for the good and the pro-
! lection Of the community That pro-
hibition is such necessity is thing
! which it's advocates have failed to
; prove.
+! II believe in the restriction Of the
i liquor traffic and in strict control OF
the abuses which are responsible for
drunkenness and misery. I think the
prohibition movement has done this
good, that it has awakened men inter-
ested in the liquor movement to the
necessity for this control. They have
come to realize that unless they bring
abut sane reform in the business,
public sentiment will become so
/ aroused that prohibition will be the
result.
a II can understand how some people
are earnest, honest advocates Of pro-
| hibition and honestly believe that it
would be a good thing to arrange It
so that no one could get intoxicants.
!. have seen great deal of misery and
Epoverty caused through excessive
drinking. and I sympathize deeply
with those who have suffered. But
after all, they look at it from their
personal viewpoint, only, and see only
a small part of the great subject
They cannot see It in Its general rela-