The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-12-19
PAGE FOUR THE JEFF
Mr.. Taft and His Bungling
Catholic Press

tunlty favorable one to establish a
precedent for public support Of sec
tartan schools. AS a result OF this
maneuver by the Hierarchy. Presi-
dent Taft, on the eve Of his appeal
to the people for another term has
become involved in the most difficult
and awkward situation with respect
to religious matters that has ever
confronted a president.
For this perilous situation he has
only to thank the Catholic Hierar-
chy, and there are whispered hints
that he has become convinced that
his political safety and his place in
history, as we'll as his solemn oath
to uphold the constitution, REQUIRE
that he shall retrace his steps and
Tree himself from all JeSuitical en-
Engagements. The president is not
without courage and fEankness, and
final decision on his part to follow
the principles and precedents laid
down by the fathers of the republic
IS not impossible, Notwithstanding
the severe pressure from Catholic
sources that is being brought to bear
on him.
With the campaign for reelection
coming on, the Republican pofti-
clans, reluctant to relinquish their
places at the pie counter, feel that
the question Of the status of these
teacher-nuns should have been care
1ully scrutinized by the president
and his cabinet to ascertain whether
or not it was "IOad8de from n0liti-
cal standpoint. The trapping of the
president in this matter is one of the
most serious Of the several grave
poHtIcaI blunders with which his ad-
mlnlstration is charged, and in GER
tain quarters the Hierarchy is being
vigorously damned for it's part in the
complications which have arisen. IT
Is safe to predict that the next adj
minjstration will examine with a
hIgh-DoWer miscroscope all PROPOSE
tl0ns, OF whatever nature, coming
from O'Conneu, Gibbons, Farley, ct
al. Surely the Jesuit net will be
spread in vain in sight of the Demo-
cratic bird.
On the evening Of May 18TH the
presiden issued g warm denial that
he had sent message of welcome
to the newly appointed Catholic
apostolic delegate. The president
said, in part
"At the instance Of someone IN
known to me it was reported in q
great many very respectable newspa-
p0rs that [ sent q message Of well
come and COngratulatiOn to the new
ly appointed apostolic delegate by
wireless to the incoming steamer
which was bearing him to New York.
No such message was sent by me or
by anyone by my authority. A de-
NAL, Of the published report was is
sued from the White House, but the
denial has obtained no publication.
The dispatch of which the presi-
dent complained makes entertaining
reading, and is given in full:
New York, May "A distin-
guished passenger who arrived here
tonight on the KOrenig Albert from
Naples is Archbishop Giovanni Bon
zano, who has been appointed ap0s-
tolic delegate to the United States
in succession to Cardinal Falconio.
AS the steamer did not reach Quar-
antine until $50 p. N. it was de-
cided to hold her there until tomor-
row morning so that the program
for the reception of the new repre-
sentative oe Pr pc Plus might be fit
tingly carried out.
MonsignOr Bonzano received his
first welcome to America by wireless
while the steamer was at sea today.
1t was from President Taft and ex-
tended the greetings of the president
n a or 81; Il