The sun., 1916-08-25
CATHOLIC LEADER
CHIDES PARTISANS
American Federation Head As.
sails Attempt to Inject Poll
ties Into Convention.
O'CONNELL REBUKES TOO
Cardinal Says Organization Is
Religious. Patriotic and
Not Political.

John whalen. president OF the .Ameri-
can Federation OF Catholic Societies.
~h,ch ended It's convention on Wednes-
DAY after agitatins the Mexican situa-
ton, had a word OF rebuke yesterday for
,he clement within the organisation
which he believes has been trying to in
,.c, ~poli,ics into the deliberations Of the
delegates.
Speaking OF the Mexican report pre-
sen,ed by Secretary Anthony Matre.
which implied that the Wilson Aiminis-
trat.on has neglected to heed the pro-
tests Of the American Catholics regard
,ne the treatment Of their corcligionists
IN Mexico. Mr.. whalen remarked:
Anything Mr.. Matre said. n
opinion he expressed. was his own. He
had no authority to speax for the fed
Grafton. His functions AS secretary are
merely to report events as they Oc-
cured. The resolutions adopted on
Tuesday, which were non-partisan. ex-
crossed the opinion OF the federation"
Matro Is OF French-Gcrman descent.
but he has linei up with the fatherland.
He Is a knight OF ST. Gregory n his
home Is in Chicago. Another man who
has been criticised by delegates to the
federation convention for his activity In
pushing resolutions calculated to en-
karas the Administration Is Joseph
Frey. one Of the vice-preeidents OF the
organization and for years president OF
the German Roman Catholic Central
verein. which on Wednesday adopted
articles attacking President Wilson.
Fouwht for Auti.WNsou Plank.
Frey was doing his best to insert an
anti. Wilson political plank In the plat
form Of the federation" said a delegate
who took an active part In the meetings
In Cathedral Hail.
The political ,!nge which the fedora
ton convention assumed this year caused
q statement to be issued In behalf OF
Cardinal O'Connell OF Boston.
The federation movement OF Catholic
societies and organizations Of all ma
tlonalities within the fold Of the Catho-
lie Church is desirable for the common
good, and the voicing OF Catholic opin-
ion.' read the statement. at Is partic-
ularly necessary In this era Of combina-
ton and organization for the formation
Of Catholic sentiment and the expression
In no uncertain language through the
platform and the press OF the Catholic
os.s "a ssAsass PssssNshsSS " SOSsSs sss
and social reform.
The federation Is a religious and pa
trio;!c organization. 1t Is not a polit!-
cal movement. The constitution and The
platform OF its civic activities exclude
the discussion Of any action upon mat
tiers involving partisan politics for the
Endorsement OF movement or measures
because OF their partisan natures.
THE federation movement does not
stand for the creation In any sense Of q
Catholic religious party In politics In this
country. In harmony with the spirit Of
the American Constitution, Il maintains
tina: there is no room for nor necessity
OF a Catholic political party in the af-
fairs OF the State or OF the nation.
Religions Liberty Guaranteed.
THE federation maintains that the en-
$oyment of the Constitutional guarantee
OF religious liberty precludes political
parties organized along religious lines.
1t follows logically that the stand OF
the Catholic Federation against the
maintenance OF a Catholic political
party within its own ranks under the
gu!se Of religion and patriotism alb
solutely justifes the contention that
there is no room for the Stars and Stripes
no basis on principle in the Constitution
Tor the existence o!n a
or Protestant political party in this
great Republic OF civil and religious
liberty.
In the opinion Of its founders and
leaders the individual or set OF in.
dividuals who would rise into position
J and power in civil and public life by the
arousins Of religious animosity cannot
guarantee real American liberty. Such
q doctrine has found neither sympathy
nor support In the federation organi'
sstion. During the fifteen years Of its
existence. with a present membership OF
more than 100000 Catholics OF al
hationali,!es and all shades of opinion
on civic matters, tho Federation OF
Catholic Societies a vigorously and
consistently maintained this stand"
The Central Verein yesterday held it,
last service in connection with Catholic
week. the delegates attending high mass
IN the Church of the Most Holy Re.
deemer. in Third street near Avenue
A. The Rev. Joseph Schmidt, rector
was assisted by Fathers Ernest Helm
neA and T.. Schauer.