The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-08-29

wouldn't he be right? Is it not the
truth?
Some afYirm that federation is a
political organization, and therefore
dangerous to the welfare Of Catholics
and Cathoicity. Now, defy any one
to read the literature of this moves
ment and establish that proposition.
1t is only the selfish, schening politi.
sanization a bad name. and to retard
Its progress. The statesman. like
Grant, will tell you: Get your people
together. send in petitions. and you
will succeed Often our representative
IN the state legislature. or in congress,
cannot give us the Justice he desires,
age him. On the one side, he has the
petitions of all the bigots, and none
from us. II We manifest our strength,
not as Catholics, but as American citi-
IONS. he could say to hts opponents:
Gentlemen. here are your petitions,
and over there. do you see the thou
sands? How can afford to ignore
the claims of those Cathoics?'
'"rhere are others who say: If there
are no politics in 1t. what's the use
"f it?' There are two kinds Of poll
ties. In one we are engaged: in the
other we are not. Federation cannot
engage in partisan politics. It has
within its ranks democrats. republi-
cans, etc. and to engage in that kind
Of politics. It, is evident, would simply
he suicidal and destructive of the or-
ganization.
What kind of politics is there in it2
Let me illustrate by example. A few
years ago a. bill was introduced into
the New Jersey legislature the word.
ing Of which was ambiguous, and
might have subjected our parochial
schools to taxation. requested some
influential Catholics to suggest the
propriety of changing the phraseology
~ 'HV LIc iCpIy "des "0
don't want to tax your schools: that
bill was drawn up by a. learned con-
stitutional lawyer of Newark, and it
will have to stand. Immediately I
summoned the executive board Of this
state branch Of federation. A COM
mittee was appointed Of Trish-Ameri-
rops uor,o da~ocro&c othore ror,hn.
cans. They called upon the majority
leader Of the house and said to him:
We represent the federated Catholic
societies of the state. We are opposed
to the phraseology Of that tax bill; we
ask that 1t be changed, otherwise We
will go back and report to our So
tlemen, for heavens sake don't stir up
g. hornets nest on this question. What
changes do you want? We will be
very glad to make Them That's the
sort Of politics there is in federation.
And 1t is certainly high time that we
tegan to know how to employ the pre-
negatives of American citizenship.
1.-THE American Federation of Cath
olic Societies is an Organization Of
subordinate societies for the advance
ment Of the civil. religious and social
interests of Catholics in the United
States and It's dependencies. It will
not interfere with the aims Of auto.
nomy or organizations Joining it. Such
union is desirable for the formation
Of an instrument which will always
be ready to voice Catholic sentiment
In the state and In the nation. We
may seldom need 1t, but when we do.
we need 1t badly, and it must. there
fore. be in such shape, that we can
Immediately put our hand upon 1t.
knowing that it is powerful enough to
produce the required result.
Federation desires no privileges: 1t
claims for Catholics only what is just
and fair. 1t endeavors to create sound
public opinion on tho problems Of the