Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-12-13
Misrepresented Bishop Carroll
at American Federation of
Labor.
Hopes There Will Never Come a
Division of LabOr's
Ranks.
HIS WORDS LOUDLY APPLAUDED

The New York Call, the well
known Socialist daily, contained a
report of the American Federation
of Labor convention at Seattle by its
special correspondent, 1. l.. Engdahl,
in which it was charged that Bishop
Carroll, of Helena, in his address be-
fore that body, and Rev. Peter e.
Dietz, In his report as fraternal
delegate, had served notice on the
convention that the church would
form rival unions in this country IL
it were not permitted ito control the
organized labor movement Of the
nation" and on the following day
ran a leading editorial on the same
subject, entitled ''The Church's
Ultimatum to Trade Unionism." !"
Broader and ever broader" declares
this editorial, "have become the
hints from the Catholic church to
the trade union bodies of the coun-
try that the former will not stand
idly by without taking practical
action while Socialism continually
increases within the ranks of or
ganized labor. Until at last two
ecclesiastics of that church have on
the floor of the convention hall Of
the A. F. of L. practically declared
that If the spread of Socialism is
not checked the church will take a
hand and establish unions of her
own, under her control or guidance,
as in Germany and other European
countries"
AS a matter of fact this is an abb
solute falsehood. At no point did
either Bishop Carroll or Father Dietz
make any such statement. The
Bishop did point warningly to the
dangers of Socialistic activity within
the labor organizations, but said not
a word about the foundation of
Christian unions here. On the con-
trary, he went so far as to say: "I
hope the day will never come when
it will be necessary to divide the
ranks of labor in the United States.
1t would be un-American to attempt
to do It, as well as anti-religious."
The circumstances under which
this statement was made, according
to a report in the Seattle Times
(and from which information re-
ceived from Bishop Carroll is cor
rect) were as follows:
During his address before the
American Federation OF Labor last
Wednesday afternoon Bishop Carroll,
of Helena, Montana, quoted from the
report of George w. Perkins, fra
ternal delegate to the International
Secretariat, made to the convention
the previous day. Speaking of con-
ditions in Germany and some other
European countries, Mr.. Perkins
had said: Without in any way dis
cussing or being understood by in
ference as favoring the dual organi-
cations of the so-called Christian
unions, the fact that the regular or
free unions were and are today to
some extent committed to Socialism
and against the church, gives the
Christian unions and unionists an
excuse to organize as SUCH
mo sooner had the Bishop uttered
the words: The free unions are COM
mitted to Socialism and against the
church. when some visitors, pre-
sumably Socialists, at the left side
of the hall applauded. President
Gompers restored order with the
remark that Visitors are expected to
give no signs OF approval or disap-
proval to the sentiments of the
speakers. This is the exclusive priv
ilege of the delegates to the conven-
tion.'
"The Bishop then repeated the
whole quotation, and added: so that
we have in those countries accord
ing TO the report of Mr.. Perkins, the
free unions, the Christian unions and
the Catholic unions. ! hope that the
day will never come when II will be
necessary to divide the ranks of
labor in the United States So to do
would weaken the cause of labor.
Our Government guarantees the
fullest liberty TO religion. America
welcomes religion and wishes that
religious principles permeate the
minds and hearts of her people.
Why then should unionism do any
thing which would suggest antagon-
ism to religion? Such thing would
be un-American' and should be con-
demned by the American Federation
of Labor
"These words drew tremendous
applause from the delegates, the note
of protest to the previous demonstra-
tion being very evident"
OF course no delegate resented the
ultimatum because there was no
ultimatum TO resent. The Call seems
to forget that there were quite a
few Socialist delegates at this con-
vention, not at all timid about MAX
ing themselves heard. Why did not
the representatives OF the Socialists
within the ranks OF organized labor
speak for themselves and their con-
stituents7 Their very silence shows
that no ultimatum was delivered.
that no gauntlet was thrown down.
II Is the Socialists who are striving
In every way possible TO disrupt the
unions. For years they have as
saulted them from without, endeay-
'oring to form rival organizations, as