Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-06
An Appeal to the Catholics
.. of Nebraska

The A. T. A. was at one time potent factor IN
Nebraska. Thanks to the intelligent Non-Catholics
Of the State, it has practically ceased to exist. Its
declnation and disappearance was due primarily to
intelligent Catholics proving by their daily lives and
by their civic action, to the NonCatholic neighbors
that the charges brought against the Catholics of
disloyalty was absolutely unjust
Now, the greatest enemy OF the Catholic Religion
is member who so conducts himself, or his political
activities that Nom Catholic citizens come to believe
untruths about Catholics and their Church. He is es
pecially dangerous and reprehensbe when he repre-
sents that the Church or high officers Of the Church
sanction his dsreputable political work.
case in point has just arisen in this campaign and
beieve the men responsible for it should be exposed
and denounced so that all men, both Catholics and
Non-C Catholics, may in the future reegate them to
place, politically, where they can do no HARM
An alleged attorney of Omaha, giving his name
as Geo. Merton, came into Humphrey, Friday, Novem
Der 3, and called on prominent Catholic who is an
officer of the local Knights of Columbus Council here
He said in substance he sent to Humphrey to see
the Catholics and appeal to their religious prejudice
in this election giving as his reason that the other side
were doing the same thing. N"r
He produced purported copy of a letter written
to the Nebraska Prosperity League by woman living
at Creighton, Nebraska in which pported letter, or
copy, the Knights of Columbus and other Catholic Or
CARNATIONS were slandered he said he sent out
by Arthur Mullen and John G. Byrnes The prominent
Catholic appealed'to brought this man to my bank
being Catholic and he repeated the above charges
and statements to me and asked me to call up j. G.
Byrnes who would vouch for him. l called John C.
Byrnes who was in Omaha, and had two others the
line to confirm what Mr.. Bynes said. Mr.. Bynes
not only approved the method but vouched for this
man Merton and said could depend on anything he
told me. The same method, understand is being
employed in other parts of the State.
A copy of this letter was left at local saloon in
Humphrey and I received printed copy this morning.
The local Catholics and Knights of Columbus with whom
have talked repudiated absolutely this method of
pagnng They resent with emphasis the bringing of their
religion into this campaign and they state emphacally
that this action is contrary to their sentiment and prn
cples of their religion.
There would seem to be only object in this bgoted
appeal to the Catholics and that would be to
gious rancor and thereby help the wet cause.
The men who responsible for that deserve the
phac condemnation of every citizen of Nebraska, Cath
olic or Non-Catholic.
l. as Catholic, wish to denounce this method of
pagning which violates the sentiment of tremendous
majority of the Catholics of Nebraska and the principles
of their church and ask them to join this condem
nation
Merton claims he sent by Arthur Mullen and ]. c.
Byrnes and Byrnes confirms this appeal to the Catholics
of Nebraska to be true to the principles of their Religion
and repudiate the action of these in effective
H''lH'f N. M. CONDOR.