The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-22
ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY TOWARD MEXICO ATTACKED
 AT CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

New York, Aug. 22-The outstand- ing feature in yesterdays program of tack made upon the Administration of President Wilson by Anthony Ma- tre of Chicago, National Secretary of the American Federation of Catholic Societies, at the opening session of the convention n the Catholic Col- lege, Madison avenue and Fiftieth street.
 In his report, Secretary Matre re- viewed with elaborate detail the ef- forts made by the Federation in be- half of Mexico
 half of Catholics in Mexico and in opposition to recognition of Caranza by this government.
 Read Their Protest to Wilson.
 ''It will be remembered" ran the report, "that at the Baltimore Fed eration Conference it was voted to send a special committee to the Presi- dent of the United States and Secre- tary of State, and present to them the protest of the American Federa- ton of Catholic Societies against the many outrages committed against the Church in Mexico. The committee was composed of the Rev.. Richard H. Terney, s. J., Editor of America; John Whalen, National President, and Henry V. Cunningham, President of the Boston Archdiocese Federation. This committee had an interview with President Wilson and Secretary Bry- an on Sept. 29, 1914, and read to them the protest of the Federation.
 The report recounts each step taken by the Federation since the above ac- ton. It contains verbatim copies of requests addressed to MT. Bryan, then Secretary of State, and later to Secre- tary Lansing, with replies thereto.
 Telegraph a Further Protest.
 MT. Matre also includes telegram addressed to President Wilson. Octo- Der 4, 1915, by representatives of "sev- eral million citizens urging against the recognition in Mexico of any lead- CT of a faction unless absolute assur- ance is guaranteed of religious liberty and 8 complete cessation of further persecution of Catholics or spoliat1on of church property and institutions.
 MT. Mattress comment on the out come of these efforts is: Despite these dignified protests the arch per- secutor of the Church in Mexico re- ceived recognition and the voice Of the 16,0OO,O 900 Catholics was like one crying in the wilderness"
 In. concluding this phase of his re- port the Secretary writes:
 gro this promise of religious free- dom the editor of America, Chairman of the Federation's Special Commit tee on Mexican Affairs, said, in an- swering the letter of MT. Tumulty (who rose in defense of the Admin istrations Mexican policy): This f-romise of Carranza becomes tacti- cal mistake in view of the fact that the spoliation of convents and churches and the persecution of priests and sisters have been merrily going on. Not since the French Rev olution has the world witnessed such an orgy of murder, lust and general defiance of rights human and di- vine.'
 "To those Catholics who have come to the jel1y-fish state of mind that forbids them to say a word in pro- test against the outps ges committed iii Mexico, let them serve notice on our enemies in this country that they may not do the like to us.'
 The great Catholic celebration in augurated by the impressive religious services and the mass meeting of Sunday was in full swing yesterday. All day long, from early morning until late at night, the 25,00o dele gates and the eminent churchmen CO., operating with them were ceaselessly busy.
 The American Federation of Cath olic Colleges opened it's convention in the main hall of Cathedral College, where Secretary Matre read his re- port; the German organizations meet in important session atthe Park Ave nue Hotel, and the Catholic Young Men,s National Union opened its an- nual conference at St. Stephens hail in East Twenty eighth street.
 These were the big features of the day, sandwiched in between religious services hardly less elaborate than those of Sunday, together with ath- letic games at Celtic Park and a sight seeing trip up the Hudson. Two night mass meetings, one under the auspices of the federation and the other directed by the Catholic Wom- ans Union, completed the days pro- gramme.