The menace., 1917-12-29
BOSTON ELECTION
like LOUISVILLE'S
Andrew Peters, Protestant, Defeats
Irish Papists CurIey and GaIlivan
in Hotly Contested Battle

oOst0n mas 1olloWeQ the example OF
Louisville, Kentucky, in repudiating
political domination by Irish Roman
Catholics who have literally water
logged the city pay roll with faith
ful sons of the Roman church. In
this notable election four candidates
all of whom were either congress
men or former congressman, con-
Quoted the most hotly contested
mayoralty campaign which Boston
has witnessed in many years.
Mayor Curley had behind him the
political machine and various other
potent influences which usually exert
great power in city election. More
over he had proved himself one of
those Romanists styled by Leo XIII
as deserving well of the church. He
had also admirably represented the
intolerance Of Rome when at meet
ing Of the Fourth Degree Knights of
Columbus he had boldly declared that
such organizations as the Guardians
Of Liberty and the Socialist party
ought not to be allowed under our
flag.
Congressman Gallivan has, as our
readers know, made himself notori-
Gus by attempting to secure un-
American legislation which would
have abridged freedom of religious
discussion and thus sought to fly in
the face of our Federal Constitution.
He has been one Of the most bitter
enemies Of The MENACE, although
with characteristic Irish Roman
Catholic inconsistency he, was report
ed to have, said in a comparatively re-
cent speech, delivered in Baltimore,
that every time The MENACE spoke
against him it made him a thousand
votes. Gallivan therefore occupies a
unique position in politics as a per-
petual Office seeker who has in every
way possible sought to destroy an
opinion-forming organ which he de-
clared made him a thousand votes
whenever it attacked him. Last week
we took occasion to expose Gallivan's
un-Americanism, urge his defeat
and advise the electorate to support
Mr.. Peters. In the election held ON
the 18th Mr.. Peters received over
nine thousand more votes than his
nearest competitor, Mayor Curley,
while Gallivap came limping in as
third in the race.
In the election Of Mr.. Peters the
citizens Of Boston, we believe, have
chief magistrate who will represent
the fundamental principles of Lib
eral Democracy or true Americanism
and will not seek to serve the ipter-
ests Of any church or sect or water
log the city pay roll with the men,
bers Of any particular church. .
Nothing has occurred in America
since we entered the world war, so
encouraging or inspiring as the gen.
eral awakening of the electorate in
cities and in commonwealths, to the
Importance of looking to the funda-
mental democratic ideals at home, as
well as abroad. The recent munici-
pal victories in overthrowing Roman
Catholic rule beginning with Detroit
and including Louisville, Kentucky;
Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham
Alabama; Buffalo, New York, and
now Boston, indicates an awakening
of the true civic spirit and a deter
mination on the part of the inhabi-
tants of our great cities to ever
throw the un-American Roman Cath
olic regime that has on too many oc-
casions sought to serve the interest
Of the Roman church, rather than
represent the noble civic idealism of
our liberal democratic government.
The great victory won so recently
In Massachusetts by the overwhelm-
ing defeat of Cardinal O'Connell and
the Catholic Federation of the Arch
diocese Of Boston in their campaign
against the Anti-Sectarian amend
ment, has now been splendidly COM
plimented by the municipal victory
Of true Americanism in Boston.