The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1916-06-10

lsTI NhN hninc uhlcCts 70 lnsncr-
I1-ll tlons aud Investigations from
- the uproar that has followed
the investigation Of New York
charities. In desperation the
pricstly promoters Of papal charity
graft are nov fighting their own
Roman Catholic mayor; and are
said 10 have come within one vote
Of causing his indictment by the
kings County grand jury.
This is serious matter for the
papal party. Political Romanism
has been 30 prosperous in the me
tropolis that Il has suffered the in
cyitablc break into factions: and
the factions are at war. When
thieves fall out, honest men get
their dues; when plundcr comes
easy, the fight follows over its dis
tribution; and when the looters he
gin TO quarrel over their loot. hon
est and unsuspecting people make
undrcamed Of discoveries.
Mayor Mitchell has found il de-
sirablc to tell much that confirms
the damaging testimony given be-
fore the Strong commission and he
even threatens To tell more. Both
sides are wrought up and the pas
sivc public is getting an insight in
to charity graft and Roman Cath
ollie raScality such as honest citizens
seldom dream Of.
When the "Strong Commission"
began It's sittings Rome made every
conceivable effort to stop the hear
ing; for the managers Of Romish
charity knew how il would likely
expose their iniquity and show how
$4,000 HELPLESS CHILDREN
HAD BEEN NEGLECTED
THOUGH THE CITY HAD
BEEN PAYING FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS \ YEAR FOR THEIR
CARE.
With arrogance Characteristic Of
his profession Priest Farrell organ
lied an opposition that included a
series Of pamphlets attacking the
city administration. When sum-
moned TO appear before the Strong
commission, Farrell ignored the
summons and got out one pamph-
let after another in huge quantities
distributed throughout the city bv
various Roman Catholic organiza-
tions. Mayor Mitchell soon di,coy-
cred that he. and his administra-
tion, were TO Use the slang phrase
about 10 be made the goat.
As usual, the mayor had recourse
TO his trusty police department.
with the result that the telephone
wires of his enemies were tapped
and a hundred conversations trans
fcrrcd to paper so they could be-
used at the oDportunc moment.
When the mayor offered to Introduce
these evidences Of criminal plotting
at the open sessions of the Thomp-
son committee, pandcmonium broke
loose. His enemies wished to 90
into secret session SO the disclosures
might be kept from the public.
But. to shorten the story. Mitchell
succeeded in finally reading between
thirty and forty Of the alleged con-
versations; which, il genuine, SLor
that certain Of these piOuS priests
Terc actually c0RspiriRg 10 defeat
Justice by spiritiRg desired wiiHeSs-
eS ont of the city.
And now their fellow subject Of
the pope is threatened with punish
ments too numerous TO mention ;
but the public is more interested in
the revelations Mitchell has made
than they are in the frenzied OPP
position. Whether Mitchell is right
or wrong, he is certainly on the
right side of this effort to have pr
rate charity graft probed TO the
bottom. There is very little about
the man to commend him; but he
is Just as likely to tell the truth as
the crowd that is fighting him,
Therefore his statements are en-
titled to consideration at least.
Dramatic Scenes
In what the New York Tribune
calls one of the most dramatic
scenes erer WitneSSed in that city
Mayor Mitchell testifying under
oath before the thompson commit
tee on Nav 20, declared that the
priests and their associates had iR-
terfered Tith the city government
had attempted 10 discredit city Off
cidls Vho had blocked their graft
had attempted TO dominate the de-
pdrtment of charities. had eoHsPired
10 perrsrf aAd obStruct justice and
prerent the due administration Of
Rs Iap, had sttemptsd brberE