Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-27
BLAMED FOR EVILS
Catholic Conference Speaker
Attacks Industrial Forces.
DISCUSSION is STARTED
Father 0'Callaghan Thinks Intem-
perance Chief Cause of Suffering.
COOPERATION Is FAVORED
Plan of Aiding Organizations OF
Other Denominations to Check
Poverty Urged.

| Branding the great industrial forces of
! the present day as the most potent fac
| tors for evil. Robert Biggs of Baltimore
closed an address that served as the main
topic for discussion at today's session of
the National Conference of Catholic Chari-
| ties. assembled at the Catholic University.
LAS result of this system of greed and
gain in the United States thousands OF
men fall in the struggle for existence,
| their widows toll in the sweatshops and
dark, unhealthy tenements, while their
children are deprived of the playtime of
life and are harried and exploited at
the thresholds of our charitable institu-
tions.' said the speaker.
While all these forces are dragging
their victims down to dependency, what
are Catholics doing about it? We Catho-
lies think too much in the past tense. we
| are too prone to preach patience and en-
durance when we should be preaching
study, and thought, and righteous anger"
Several of the speakers who followed
Mr.. Biggs. while agreeing in the main
| with the remedial suggestions contained
| In his paper. disagreed with him as to
the principal causes of poverty Rev.
Peter ]. O'Callaghan of Chicago national
president of the Catholic Total Abstinence
Union OF America, declared that the chief
cause for delinquency and suffering
| among the poor was intemperance.
Intemperance Is Blamed.
'1f the Catholic Church would do its
full duty on the question Of intemper-
ance." said he, this problem of poverty
would be cut in half. We all know the
remedy for the evil. but few there are
who dare to say it. Ninety per cent
of the wrongs of society are caused by
intemperance. and yet there are within
our ranks men and women who scof at
those who are fighting against the drink
evil. 1t is only by setting the example
Of sobriety that so-called uplifters can
do any good for the unfortunate"
Mcmahon Hall again was filled this
called to order by Mgr. Shahan. who
introduced Thomas NJ. Mulry of New
York as the chairman. Before the
transaction of business d. Antonio
Gil. was introduced to the convention
and given a seat on the stage. Bishop
Collins of Jamaica was later intro
Fduced to the assemblage.
Many new delegates have arrived and
each sectional meeting devoted to some
special branch OF charity is being at
tended with a full quota OF state rep
resentatives
The prevailing note of the confer
ence as expressed by various speakers,
ganizations and state authorities In
checking the onrush of poverty.
The address Of Mr.. Briggs. THE Prob
lens of the Dependent Family was the
feature Of this mornings meeting. He is
president of the Particular Council, st.
Vincent de Paul Society Of Baltimore,
and his recommendations for the relief
of the poor were greeted with applause.
He said, in part:
I'm beginning my discourse I do not
hesitate to say that the man or woman
who has no other conception of charity
work than the mere giving of material
relief should stay out Of the work or
learn new methods. Time and thought,
and not almsgiving, are the real factors
that should inspire every worker.
Question of Poverty.
VERY few of us ever think of the
question of poverty as 1t is affected by
the modern industrial conditions, by the
growth Of cities. and complex character
OF the problems in these congested CEN
ters as compared with the rural or semi
rural conditions Of 100 years ago. Now
We have great factories, with their dam
gerous machinery unguarded, furnishing
aN army of derelicts.
I'VE have the night messenger serv-
ice. that blind alley industry; we have
the tenement houses and the slums, with
their attendant vices; we have obscene
moving picture shows. demoralizing the
young; we have milkmen poisoning and
the deaths of thousands of infants, and
We know of the frauds committed by
dealers who victimize the poor with
short weight and false measures.
appeal to you to organize a ma
tiona charity society, which shall be
broad, which shall be Catholic. but. above
all, which shall be practical to the de-
pendent Let us not only be brothers
to the poor in faith, but brothers in love
and human sympathy, never forgetting
the right of the poor in their own home,
their right, even, to be wrong. Look
the evil in the face. because we who
have undertaken to uplift the poverty
stricken have undertaken a sacred duty
John Rea of Philadelphia followed with
q few remarks on the efficiency of con-
certed action by the state and church in
dealing with the needy. James A. Nc
Murry of Dorchester, Mass, urged the
delegates In this new movement to set
aside that prejudice against nom n-Catholics
and work for q common cause.
Father OCallaghan was then intro
duced. and. after showing the ravages of
intemperance among the poor. suggested
that an army of Catholic youths be form
ed to aid the church in checking the drink
habit. His remarks were we'll received.
Bishop Collins told Of the work Of char
ity societies in Jamaica, and paid a trib-
ute to the st. Vincent de Paul Society
voiced an appeal to the women of the
Catholic Church in America to band to-
gether and emulate the efforts Of the Vim
centians in uplifting the unfortunate
poor.
Mgr MacMahon of New York was an
other speaker to urge the conference to
keep in touch with Protestant societies
for the benefit Of destitute children
How little suffering there would be in
the world II there was justice between
capital and la abor," said he in conclusion
Il am in hearty accord with the proposed
plan to have a national committee study
this question and work to obtain q better
understanding between the employer and
the employee
"Co-operation' was the theme of Mrs
John Mcmahon of Chicago. Mrs Simp-
son of this city explained the scope of
the Christ Child Society. and suggested
that this form of charity be extended
to other cities.
When adjournment was taken at noon
She delegates went in groups to the
sectional meetings. and at 1 80 o'clock
they went to Mount Vernon as the
guests of the Washington committee
This evening at o'clock the reform
problems which the church should meet
will be the topic for consideration, and
tomorrow morning Delinquency" will
be the subject for discussion. In the
afternoon q permanent organization
will be perfected and officers elected
before adjournment.
pras;dent Taft will raceiyo the Inla