The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-03-20
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
Open Letter To MIR. Peavey

Washburn Wis. March II, 1918.
Mr.. H. FL. Peavey,
Madison Wis.
Dear Mr.. Peavey
Information of we'll authenti-
Gated nature has reached me that
several bills have been introduced
10 the legislature at Madison that
threaten Catholic interests, or are
otherwise Objectionable. Some OF
shese measures bear their anti
Catholics animus Oh their very face,
other measures pursue the same
purpose covertly, and are hence
more dangerous. Reference is made
to the following:
/. To have parochial sch ools ex-
amined by the State, and IL they do
not come up to the public school
standard, to have children forbidden
to attend those schools.
2. To apply the inheritance tax
to all charitable requests.
3. To teach morality in the pub
lie schools. in order to lessen wrong
doing and crime. The superstition
is that eugenics and sex life will be
included.
4. To compel hospital manage
ments to allow any pa tent to bring
in his or her nurse, man or woman.
5. A bill providing for a charge
in Catholic corporation law, demand.
ing four laymen elected by the
parish to be on the board of direct
ors, instead of two as at present.
Concerning number one in behalf
of the Catholics of Washburn | pro-
test against this Ubiquitous measure,
and ask you as fair minded as
semblyman to oppose this un-Ameri-
can bill. 1t seems so prepos ferrous,
SO MUST, ard so ridiculous on it's
very face that l doubt very much it's
constitutionality. 1t is evident that
we Catholics of Wisconsin detest
measure whereby our private
schools are to be interferred with,
when not one cent of help is given
us by the state. The very idea of
some wise acre introducing such a
bill contains an implicit Insult to
quo, 900 Catholics of this state. The
80, 600 Catholic, and the $4,000
Lutheran children In parochial
schools are well looked after, so that
freak legislation concerning them
may we'll be postponed indefinitely.
Number two does not concern us
so vitality. but is not only too just
that charitable requests made
to orphanages. hospitals, struggling
parishes etc. be exempt?
Regarding number three we are
to this bill because morali.
ty and religion 60 hand in hand, and
the one cannot be taught without
bringing in the other; thus the
public school ceases to be non-sec-
tartan. Thousands of Catholic
children attend the public schools
in this State. hence they would be
compelled to attend sectarian in
struction; to this we are opposed in
The teaching of eugenics
we are convinced, would not lessen
crime but tend to increase immoral
ity.
Number five. This bill is blow
aimed at the Church, by VIII ich, in
certain cases, disobedient and re
bellious parish could without just
grounds, over-rule the decisions of
ecclesias tical authorities. Under
the present law the FIVE directors of
the Catholic church corporations
are the bishop, who is president.
the vicar-general, the rector, who
is vice president, and the two lay
directors. who are secretary and
treasurer respectively. If there
were four lay directors they would
majority,if they voted
en- bloc; this would not matter in
ordinary affairs, but should there a
rise a difficulty involving the pro-
perty of the church corporation it
becomes evident that the bishop
must have the final word to say,
I have not developed these OBJ
jections at very great length, be-
cause I think that the opposition of
your Catholic consti tuents to these
is sufficiently weil.fouudad
and emphatic to merit your anita
gonizing these bills should they
really come to the vote of the as
sembly.
Thankfully and sincerely yours.
w. A. Beaudette.