The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-13
CATHOLIC SOCIETY
I ADOPTS PLAIFORM
Urges Workmen Not to Join in
Socialistic Movement, and
Favors New Order for
Young Men.
ELECTION CLOSES SESSION
President Fecney Reelected Without
Opposition, and Pittsburg Is Sc
lcctcd for Next Con-
vcntiOn.
ELECTION CLOSES SESSION

Boston, Aug 12..-The American
Federation Of Catholic Societies finish
ed its seventh annual convention to-
day by re-eecting Edward Feeney, OF
Brooklyn, as president, selecting
Pittsburg for next years meeting ana
completing It's platform. The planks
adopted to-day commend the ency-
clical of the Holy Father against false
religious teachings, urge religious
teaching In the schools, deplore the
disregard Of the observance Of sun
day, reject the main teachings of So
cialism, and endorse the plan for an
association for Catholic young men.
The session to-day was the most
important Of the week. and 1t was not
until afternoon that final adjourn
ment came. Most OF the delegated
will remain In the city for another
days sightseeing
The completed platform was
brought in by the different committees
about noon and was adopted with but
little discussion. the planks meeting
with the approval of all the delegates.
The platform, in part, Is as follows:
On socialism: We reject the main
tenet Of socialism that collective own
ership OF the means of production and
distribution Is necessary for the well
fare of the human race, and we espe-
cially urge all Catholic workingmen
against affiliating themselves with the
socialist movement, which In its liter
allure, It's chief leaders and its funda-
mental theory Of economic determin-
ism Is dominantly materialistic and
athelstic. On the other hand, we ex-
press our sympathy with the wage
earners in their efforts to- amellorate
their condition by united action. in
demanding fair wages, habitable
dwellings and just diminution OF
grinding and oppressive toll We
furthermore recommend the forma-
tion of Catholic workingmen's socle.
ties, wherein our Catholic working.
men may be well grounded In the
Christian principles OF social justice
as set forth by Pope Leo XIII. In his
encycllcal on the conditions Of labor
That on young mems Catholic asso.
Citations is as follows:
'Deplorlng the general lack Of. an6
realizing the urgent necessity for as.
sociations for Catholic young men We
recommend the institution OF such or.
CARNATIONS throughout the country
and urge the formation OF a nationa
organization that will embrace all Of
the Catholic young men % the nation
For The accomplishment Of this end WI
recommend the union Of such local ant
1is,r!ct Young Mems societies as ma,
now exist and commend them for thu
good work they are doing"
The election of Mr. Feeney wa
unanimous. Other officers chosen In
cude six vice president, in order a
follows: J. b. oelkers. Newark. \. j.
Thomas p Flynn, Chicago; G. w
Stenger, st. Paul, Mimi; Henry Wess
ling, Boston; ]. J. Hynes. Buffalo, y
y: Gilbert Harme Toledo o.; Anthem,
Matre, st. Louis, was elected secretary
and Mrs. Elizabeth Rodgers Of Chica
go, treasurer.
The following were chosen to serve
on the national executive board: Mos
Rev s. G. Messmer. Milwaukee. Wis
Ri Rev James A. McFaul, Trenton
n. j.: Nicholas VI. Conner chairman
Dubuque, Iowa Walter George Smith
Philadelphia, Pa; Thomas II. Cannon