The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-07-29
THE PROHIBITION CON-
VENTION.

| O1AApACAVh party, WhIOA oooCIl-
bled In st. Paul last week has pass
ed into history. The net results
OF its deliberations are the adop-
ton OF platform expressive of
it's attitude on questions of cur
rent political interest and the
nomination of j. Frank Hanly of
Indiana for President, and Ira
Landrith of Tennessee, for Vice
President of the United States.
The convention did not make
much of an appeal to the public
at large. At none of the sessions
was there more than a scattering
of visitors and Of these the major
lty seemed to be drawn thither
through curiosity rather than by
any genuine interest in the ques-
tions discussed. 1t was a political
convention pure and simple, and
like all such gatherings the dele
gates lost much valuable time in
useless discussion and obstruction
ist tactics. There was, likewise,
no inconsiderable amount Of rant
ing on the part of most Of the
speakers. Few contributed any
thing of value to the discussion.
There was much tiresome reitera-
ton Of platitudes, meaningless
defamation. and vagueness of
statement. Few, even among the
leaders, displayed any great grasp
OF the problems connected with
the prohibition movement.
The religious issue was brought
into the convention by the pres
ence and activity Of representa-
tives of the American Federation
of Patriotic Societies; but to give
due credit to the delegates, it
must be said that, on the whole,
the convention opposed the efforts
of these anti Catholic bigots. Be
fore the convention was called to
order the 'Fpatriots" distributed
copies Of a campaign sheet boost
ing former Governor Sulzer Of
New York as their candidate for
President and reiterating the
WORKOUT burchardism Of "Rum,
Romanism and Rebellion. Dur
ing the convention the distribu-
ton of anti-Catholic literature on
the floor vast prohibited; and
when the platform was up for
adoption, an attempt to insert an
anti-Catholic plank was voted
down.
Towards the end of the conven-
ton, however, the delegates and
visitors were treated to sample
of southern courtesy and chivalry
when the Rev. l.. Z. Pickett of
Wilmore, KY, made a bitter at
tack on the Catholic Sisterhoods,
.orphanages, etc, and quoted the
alleged statements Of. Abraham
Lincoln warning A Americans
against the encroachment Of the
Catholic Church, He was prompt
ly called to time by two militant
Catholic women, Miss Mary I. |
Cramsie Of St., Paul, and Mrs. |
Moore of Texas, who challenged
his statements and on his refusal |
to substantiateqany of the charges
characterized him as coward"
and a great liar" Many Of the
delegates came to their assistance
and asserted that the statements
made by Pickett were untrue. It |
was unfortunate that the perma-
nent chairman, Mr.. Patton Of ILL
nois, did not interrupt the speaker
until the delegates protested that
his time was up, thus giving the
impression that he, too; was not
entirely out Of sympathy with the
remarks made by the speaker. To
the credit Of the delegates it must
be said that the majority of them
were incensed at the unprovoked
attack which Pickett made on the
Catholic Church and her institu-
lions, and showed it very clearly
by their protest on the floor, as
well as by the. congratulations
which they afterwards heaped
upon Miss Cramsie and Mrs.
Moore for the stand they took in
the matter. All credit is due
these noble Catholic women for
their challenge to the bigots.
During the convention they were
both on the alert all the time and
lost no opportunity to show their
colors and protest both publicly
and in private against any mani
Hesitation that could be construed |
into a reflection on their religion.
1t is unfortunate that the Pro
hibition Convention was marred
by this attack on Catholics. The
chairman should not have allowed
it; the delegates should have
promptly repudiated it. They
should have shown even in a more
forcible manner than they did, |
that they were not in sympathy
with the speakers remarks. If
Catholic delegates cannot attend
a National Prohibition Conven-
ton without having their religious
attacked by. unDrin-