Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-10-16

senberger says the whole contention
on both sides is about the Roman
Catholic church in politics. In all
that we have written on the sub.
ject we have said nothing whatevea
in regard to the Roman Catholic
church in politics. The gist of our
criticism on the Billy Parker lecture
was this and nothing else, namely,
that the Catholic people were loyal
to the government, and would ask
Mrs. B., if she replies to this artf-
Gle, not to mix her imaginations
with facts. We want to say very
emphatically that we are not in IA
vor of any church, as church, en-
tering into politics. She says Mr..
Hummel bids us not to worry, "for
the fittest will survive" Mrs. B.
says this statement is the doctrine
of anarchy. We would like to in
form Mrs. .B.-(Oh, we will not
write what we were going to, as the
reply would be too caustic)-but we
will say that the Survival of the
fittest" is entirely the opposite of
what the lady says it is. Further
along in the article she says: "Mr.
Hummel would have. us allay our
nervous apprehension regarding the
political activity of. this church, and
he proves their fairness by telling
us that Father Barry attended a
meeting to plan for the prohibitory
campaign held in the Christian
church," I want to say to Mrs. B.
that in relating the little and unim-
portant incident of Father Barry at
tending these meetings was for the
sole purpose and no other Of inform
ing her that the Catholic people
were not the narrow, clannish peo-
pie that she accuses them of being
in her first article. N
Again, Mrs. B. interrogates us
with this question: "Has the church
of Rome ever brought prohibition?"
The writer says he thinks not, but
will also add with emphasis that no
other church that we can call to
mind has ever performed that feat,
and when Mrs. B. reads this arti.
Gle we want her to particularly,
mark this clause with red ink and
give us the name of the church
which has performed the feat thai
she asks us il the Roman Catholic
church has done. Sister Bossenber-
ger refers to the sacramental wine
as ''booze." l am truly sorry that
the lady made that; application, as
it was certainly crude and un-Chris-
tian, but we realize that in the heat
of argument that one'will sometimes
do themselves an injustice. We
were surely delighted to hear her
speak so highly of Joan of Arc. Mrs.
B. saEsa,u THE lesi' the Catholic
church and her defenders have to
say about Joan of Arc the better"
intimating thereby that we are de-
tending the Catholic church. Now,
if it is possible, we want to impress
upon Mrs. Bossenberger's mind that
we are not defending the Catholic
church, but the loyalty Of the Cath
Ollie people to this government. The
Catholic church needs no defense
from us, as that church is amply
able to defend itself. l want to say
to the readers of the Freeman-Trib-
une that I will not impose upon
them further, and want to say to
Mrs. Bossenberger that, as much as
I might enjoy continuing this dis
cussion, that whatever her reply
may be, I will not try the patience
Of the editors further by asking
them for space to continue this mat
ter and feel sure it is of no interest
to the public.
In closing I want to say to Mrs.
Bossenberger that she has the rep.
utation of being very able writer
and very estimable lady.
With the greatest respect, am,
Yours truly,
H. B. HUMMEL.,