Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-21

| luton of the corporation sole.
The audience frequently interrupt
| ed with applause both at the vigorous
words of Mr.. Dupre and his witness.
Mr.. Gendrou said that he waseone of
| the delegates at the Biddeford conyen-
| ten. That convention approved of the
| action of the committee in bringing the
| bill for the repeal of the Corporation
/ sole before the Legislature and in
structed the members to renew the ef-
| fort at this session. He knew of no or
| gantzation of French Americans or
grouD of them in the State that did not
| favor the repeal of this act
He stated that since the attempt to
have the law changed was begun mem
bers of these organizations were for
hidden from attending the funeral of
members held in the church, because
they were forbidden wearing their re-
galias in the church
Gendrou Cross Examined.
The witness was cross examined by
Mr.. Snow and in answer to the ques-
tons said that the meetings which
they We're forbidden to hold in the
church by the Biddeford priest We're
intended as movements against the
Corporation Sole. They held the meet
| ings in halls. hired for the purpose.
There was one exception to this. This
was a meeting held in the church. It
| was called by the priest for the pur-
pose of warning them against partici-
pating in the movement against the
Corporation Sole.
You say that you have been threat
ened with communication, inquired
Mr.. Snow.
We have,n answered the witness.
Has any one been excommunicat-
ed?"
Only the FIVE members of the com
nittee.'
Have they been communicated"
We'll, no; only threatened"
And You have kept on holding and
attending the meetings.
Yes, sir" tApplause)
Witness admitted that he supposed
he or others of the parish could have
examined the books of the parish, had
they asked the priest to permit them to
do so,
Again being questioned by Mr.. Du-
pre-. witness declared that the members
of the parish at Biddeford had no voice
ia the management of the parochial
schools there nor in the auditing of
the accounts of the parish Both
statements We're vigorously applauded.
Does the priest ask you when he
wants to make a change in the church
or any of the arrangements Of the
schools" asked Mr.. Dupre.
No, sir
What does he ask YOU for2'
He tells us that he wants money"
(Appiause)
AS the applause died down Senator
Stearns, chairman of the committee,
addressed the audience. II would call
the attention of those present" said
he, ito the fact that the applause de-
ducts from the time and that the
amount of noise will have no influence
upon the committee
Smith of Pressure Isle, a member of
the committee then inquired Of Mr..
Dupre if there had been any person
communicated from the church be-
cause of this movement and was told
that here had not. He then inquired if
anything had been done to any of
those who had taken part in the move
ment.
Some Of us have been interdicted,"
was the reply, "it is practically the
same.
You are one of those who have been
interdicted?''
Yes, sir I have that distinction"
Rumford Church Not Prosperous.
DIR. S. O. Lesreui of Rumford Falls
was next called He mad lived there
for the past 10 years and the French
Americans of his town all favored
the repeal of the corporation
sole law. 1t was his judg-
ment that the management of
the corporation sole was not, at this
time. good as business proposition.
The report which the parish Priest
made TO the parish showed that last
year there was sent to the Bishop
S1619 Last July, he stated, the par
ish raised 1920 to guarantee payment
of teachers in the Parochial school,
but each child which attended the>
school now had to pay 10 cents
week. At the time this money was
raised the priest told them it was to
procure an assistant teacher from
Waterville: that if the assistant was
not secured the money would be paid
back. No assistant had been secured
and the money had not been paid
back. The priest still had it.
The school house cost $21, 600, but
last July they were told that $4,000
We're needed to pay on it. This was
raised by a mortgage, as he under
stood it. He further understood that
but $4,000 of this money was ever
paid on the school building. So far
as he knew the remainder was in
the possion of the priest.
On characterization the Doctor
said that the church at Rumford
was in prosperous condition SO far
as religion was concerned, but not
prosperous from a financial. stand
point.
Did YOU know that the corpora
| ton sole borrowed $4,000 for the
benefit of your church," asked Mr..
| Snow.
mo, 1 didn't know anything about
it,"
Joseph croteau.
| Joseph Croteau of Augusta, was called
( as the next witness. He testified that the
| sentiment in his city was strongly in. IA
] of Of