Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-08-03
SCORES ATTEMPT
 DISCREDI1 ROMAN
 CATHOLIC CHURCH
Speaker at K. of c. Conven- tion Deplores Campaign
 of Villiflcation.

Davenport, la, Aug. 3.-Speaking before the Knigh s of Columbus con vention tonight .on American Citi- zenship," Joseph Scott of Los An geles, California. touched sharply up on the problem of religious preju- dices. NIT. Scott is lecturer for the religious prejudice committee of tho supreme council of the Knights of Columbus.
 No mat CT, he said, how loyal tie Americans are in their hearts to the spirit of patriotism. it is necessary to implant the idea of patriotism firm ly in the plastic minds of our chill dren. There never was a. time since Lincoln's presidency when this eOun- try needed more he spirit of har- mony and cooperation from all classes and conditions of people.
 ''The only test of loyalty to this country" said Mr Scott, "is firm belief among it's citizens of the Ameri- can ideal as being superior to aN 7 other ideal now existing on earth"
 Discussing some recent problems MT. Scott said:
 "A great deal is being said now about the hyphenated American. It would be well to put soft pedal upon talk of that kind. Let it be re- membered that the hyphen originally was put upon the immigrant as a badge of exclusion in certain sections of our country. particularly where the Anslo-Saxon. stock predomnated.
 "The Knights of Coumbus has nc limitation on it's membership grow ing out of racial distinction. It may be somewhat helpful, however to em- phasize for the benefit of those who are not Knights of Columbus that mere racial prejudices are not the only difficulties which confront the nation today. more subtle influ- cnce is abroad in the land in the character of an organized campaign to discredit the Catholic church and to brand Americans of that relisious belief as unworthy of the confidence of their fellow oitizcns. Men and even women, have been going through this country on lecture platforms, and through public print with a campaign of villiication of the manhood and womanhood of the Catholic church which would resurrect even the deaC to righteous indignation. We Na'ho- lie men are just like the rest of you with a limit of human patience, Fo, centuries we have been taught te respect our mothers. our wives. oul sisters and our daughters. aud if therefore, the mails are filled will literature unfit to be read by decent people it is hardly to be wondered at if in certain places impulsive mer have resented insults to their womer in manner not warranted by law.
 ''I am surprised to note that 2 great deal of this scandalmongery comes from the South, the land O chivalry and gallantry hardly excellet in history"
 Returning to his subject of citizen ship, ,Mr. Scott said:
 Pope Without Civil Power.
 My observation has led me to be lieve that there is some anxiety evel among some otherwise well-informet people as to the political power o tue pope. Ordinarily that would h' an extensive subject to consider il one nigh, Contemporary history has however, afforded an illustration tha should remove the last lingering sus picion of doubt from such anxiou: citizens.
 We Catholic Americans owe nc political allesiance to the pope. Ht has no civil powers whatever ovel our activities am saying this de liberately, and without equivoca'iol or reservation, and am asking you te accept it with the sincerity witt whiCh if is exDreSSed
 .'So long as religious liberty i' practiced under the spirit of the con stitution the Catholic would he ths veriest ingrate who would not giv' his whole-hAarted allegiance to thi' country. If we only look abrcat