Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-08-23
sides With A. p. A. Soap Box
Orator Against Respected
Citizen.
Aid of Menace Invoked by Bap-
tist Minister Subscription
Solicitor.
EXPLAINS THAT TOWNS DECLINE

Several weeks ago an itineran
A.. P. A. preacher, named Rev. Will
lam Roberts, and travelling under thu
guise of a Salvation Army worker
that is using a uniform as near tha
as possible without being arrested
fol obtaining money under false pre-
lenses, was the center of quite a lit
tie discussion and interest in the
neighborhood Of Hodgenville, New
Haven and other surrounding points.
his advent, as is frequently the case
stirring up much religious hatred
and bigotry. Roberts first appear
aIce was at New Haven, where In a
house to house collection he obtained
a little money from persons VINO
we're under the impression that they
were contributing to the Salvation
Army, his cap appearing the same as
that worn by workers OF that organl-
zation, but on close inspection 1t was
found that it read Independent Re
ligious and Temperance Worker,
which proves conclusively that Rob
erts was a fakir, as there Is no or
ganization of that name and the
only truth In the label was the word
worker" as he worked several un-
suspecting persons and suckers for
the benefit of his own pocket. Tenn
perance workers as a rule are In
cJined to water, but Roberts didn't
seem to favor that plank in the tenn
perance platform, even from a toilet
standpoint, as he appeared sadly In
need of a bath.
From New Haven this tramp A. P.
A. evangelist journeyed to Hodgen-
Vile, where it seems ne discovered
more fertile fields. In other words
there were more easy marks or bigots
In the latter place, and judging from
subsequent events 1t appears as II
there were more bigots. In one Of
his daily soap box harangues. In
which he was denouncing the Cath
olics in general, saying that they
were a disgrace to the American nag
and that everyone of them had
yellow streak up his back, attention
OF ID. e. Riney, a prominent citizen
and Catholic, was called by a Prot
estant gentleman coming into his
place of business and stating that
'"rhere is a fellow in front OF your
door denouncing all Catholics" Mr..
Riney edged into the crowd and after
hearing a few of the derogatory re-
marks and insults, grabbed Roberts
by the back of the neck and, deliver
Ing a few we'll placed kicks, warned
him to leave town. At this juncture
Rev. H. s. Bell, Baptist minister
Of Lebanon, formerly of Buffalo, In
terferred and took sides with Roberts
and later on was instrumental in
having warrants sworn out for Mr..
Riney and Lee Cundy, charging them
with disturbance of public worship,
and in a Police Court trial Riney was
fined $40 and costs and Cundy SIS
and costs, both pleading guilty to the
cnarge. The Larue County Herald,
published at Hodgenville, took sides
with Roberts, the curbstone preacher,
against Mr.. Riney, substantial
business man, the Herald stating that
public sentiment was against Riney
very strong and that there was a
movement in foot to punish the Of
tenders further. The sentiment OF
the Herald seems to be the fayorite
opinion of the majority OF those In
the settlement and 1t is rumored an
attempt Is being made to boycott Mr..
Riney's place of business.
Since the above the Rev. Bell en-
III ted the services Of the Menace. In
letter enclosing the names Of seven
subscribers Bell details the story OF
the Hodgenville episode, and to
prejudice that filthy lying sheet In
favor OF the travelling A. p. A. orator
stated that Riney assaulted Roberts
because of the latter's remarks In
favor of the Menace. Bell also stated
that Riney was a Catholic OF the
b.goted type, which Is amusing,
coming from a man like Bell. who
espouses the cause OF a travelling
takir, whose sermons consist OF
bigotry and are delivered for the
purpose OF separating gullible bigots
from their loose coin.
From this angle II seems as II the
sympathy OF every fair minded citizen
should be with Mr.. Riney, regardless
OF the religious controversy intro
duced, and the fact that bigotry holds
a chief place In the town OF Hodgen-
Vile and that the majority favor
abuse and yillification OF their fell
low citizens and taxpayers explains
"a the public at large why Hodgen-
Vile has decreased in population from
s25 in 1900 to 744 In the census OF