New-York tribune., 1916-06-11
Monsignor Dunn Accuses
Mitchell of Trying to
Secularize Charities.
GIVES OUT STATEMENT
DENYING CONSPIRACY
Says High Office Alone Prevent
ed Indictment of Chief Exeou-
tive in Wire. Tapping Inquiry.

Monsignor John j. Dunn. ChahCeiIVI
Of the Archdiocese OF New York, named
by Mayor Mitchell in his recent charges
against certain priests OF the Roman
Catholic Church. returned 70 the as
ssult yesterday with statement at
tscking Mayor Mitchell and defending
ii. Catholic charitable institutions.
In the beginning Monsignor Dunn'
statement reads:
"First-Catholic institutions have al
WAYS been in position TO submit TO
the most rigorous investigation.
"Second-There has never been at
an, time. directly or indirectly. opposi-
tion to the administration OF MI
Mitchell on the part Of Catholics.
"Third-Monsignor Dunn never gave
a dollar 70 any one TO evade process
Of the law.
'Fourth-Msyor Mitchell by his ac-
tions proved that ne was in league with
tn. charity trust to take God out OF
the hearts Of the children In private
Institutions BY attempting TO secular
ize sll charities. He used the dis
proved charges contained in the Moree
nsmphlet TO stampede the community
but without success. He knew, or
should have known II he were honest.
that the dreadful accusations against
the child-caring institutions-Cathollc'
Protestant and Jcwish-were without
III. slightest foundation. as was proved
before the Strong commission.
Says Mitchell Showed Animus
"Fifth-Mr. Mitchell showed his ami
mus as early as 1910. when he demand
cd that an examination Of the books OF
the Catholic institutions be made, to
show that the city's money was not
properly expended. The firm OF Patter-
son, Teele e. Dennis was engaged by
the Catholic institutions TO examine
their books, and after months OF pa
tient research these expert accountants
could not find single penny that had
b,en misused or Incorporated. Ihe
Archdiocese OF New York paid this hrm
kbe oOS.e4 and the institutions OF
BROOKLYN paid s29,27s. making total
OF Ss3,ls6.e4. The present Strong IN
vestiration is the second attempt TO
prove that the city's money has not
heen honestly expended by our Sisters,
but Il has failed as the first faiIed
Yet Mr.. Mitchell insists that there is
something wrong, despite the fact tnat
be employed all the machinery or tne
administration to prove his charge and
the Catholic institutions engaged tne
most prominent firm Of expert account
ants to disprovc his malicious asset-
tions. He knows these facts. THIS ls
.n4e;snt 10 demonstrate the hollow
mockery Of reform which he repre-
After . review Of the chief points
Thought out in the Strong investiga-
tion and the Thompson committee
airing OF the affair. Monsignor Dunn
takes up the grand jury's wire-tapplng
inouirv in Brooklyn, which resulted IN
the indictment Of Charities Commls-
sioner Kingsbury and William II.
Hotchkiss, the city's special counsel IN
the Strong investigation. He says;
What Saved Him from Indictment.
at was thought advisable not to
hiring odium on the community by IN
diCUnE the Onltl bAtNNOi'N
Mitchell held any other position than
that OF Mayor, he would now be pll-
loried before the nation as man who
held his high Office and used his power
10 break laws which he had sworn TO
uphold" -
In the last two paragraphs Of his
statement Monsignor Dunn says:
"It has simply come to this: Those
meek and silent Sisters of ours cannot
be shouted at, Knocked and insulted IN
open court, simply for doing their duty.
Their splendid record Of unselfish dc
votion TO the homeless and friendless
must not be stained by the slanderers
and experts Of any corporation,
whose purpose is now too evident, and
whose wishes even so-called Catholics
in It's employ cannot carry out, with
out a vigorous and lasting protest from
those who know and love them for the
work they are doing.
"The Catholic Church has never sub
mitted and will never submit TO any
system masquerading under the guise
Of the higher good, whose only pur-
pose is to take away the faith OF its
little ones. II has always taught that
there is only one place in the wide
world where the unfortunate, the suf-
fering and the helpless orphan Will
find ready and safe refuge, and that
is in the hearts OF those who give glad
ly and freely endless time, money and
effort for their welfare, spiritual and
physical. Where there is faith there IS
real charity"