The menace., 1917-07-21
Troublesome Romanism's
Medd|eSOme Politicians

The never ending and constantly in
creasing demands Of the Roman Cath !
olic church for official recognition
reaches to the makeup of the exemp-
tion boards under the conscription act
for the new National Army. At
Cohoes, N. Y, a manufacturing town
of $4,000 population, nine miles north
of Albany, N. Y, it so ho~~ ~ened that
all three members of the Exemption
Board for Division Number One,
county of Albany; Messrs. Henry A.
Strong, former mayor of the city; DR..
James H. Mitchell, Sr., commissioner
of Public Safety of Cohoes; and Will
liam H. Adey, Office Engineer of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad at
Albany, n. Y; were non-C Catholics, but
representative men appointed without
their knowledge on the presump-
ton that they would gladly serve
the country. This SO incensed
the loyal (?) knights of Colum-
bus who are trying to convince
the nation that they are the very es-
sence of patriotism, that the local
council No. 1872 (after the Catholic
clergy-seven churches and II
priests-had protested against the
board), passed resolution with the
usual string of whereas's calling up
on the mayor to demand the resigna-
ton of two members of the exemp-
tion board and appoint Catholics in
their stead. In so doing they express
ly stated that they did not attack the
personal integrity Of the members of
the board. Their action is based on
the claim that Catholics should have
been appointed. At the same time
there was published in one Of the local
papers letter from one Mgr. Thomas
S. Keveny of st. Bernard's church in
which he states that "In my opinion
some honorable means should be
adopted to right this wrong If those
who are responsible are anxious to rid
our city Of troubles both serious and
lasting" Here we have the demand
for official recognition and the threat
of SERIOUS and lasting trouble" If 1t
is not granted. As a result of this
agitation Messrs. Mitchell and Adey
rendered their designations to Presi-
dent Wilson on the 9th inst, stating
that I'VE declined these appointments
in order that others may be made in
our stead which shall be representa-
, tive and satisfactory to the people.
This, however, does not end the agi-
tation for now the priests demand to
,, know who 1t was that dared to ignore
the church in this manner. The DIS
i, i, patch of Cohoes, saying that "Strenu-
, GUS efforts have been made to place
, the responsibility for the naming OF
,, the board" And Priest Lavigne OF
! st. Joseph (Catholic) church in let
ter to the Dispatch declares that, "tc
wipe out the suspicion and feeling OF
distrust in this unfortunate matter
/. "and also to preclude any further
!, outcropping of a menace Of this sort
it is but proper that the man respon
sible for these recommendations
should declare himself or at leas
! ! should be made known to the public
. = Catholic speakers and writers
: are making great ado abou
y peace, harmony, and unity in support
I ing the government, and then seek
= by way Of demands and threats.
1t is probable that the demands O.
:; the priests have been met and tw'
u foreign-born Catholics placed on tn
{ exemption board in which case tn
Catholics of Cohoes and vicinit.
Qargely foreign born) will be up
: roariousIy patriotic and withou
which as Priest Bernard intimate'
q there would be SERIOUS and lastinl
q trouble" What kind Of patriotism i
u It, which makes demand on the gov
n !, ernment, and threatens to max
x !! trouble if it is disobeyed?
! If anyone knows of non-Catholi
Ie churches meddling with the govern
y ment in this manner please let u
i know and we will give them full pub
10 licity.