The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1917-08-18

IM though she had not already
WI been enforcing to the last de-
.ERI gree, the boycott and the In
dex Of the Curia on the secu-
lar papers of America, Rome is
pleading through Theo. A. Thoma, a
much-fattered papal scribe, for a
more perfect organization In every
locality to demand "fair treatment"
for the Catholic church.
The Western Catholic Of Quincy,
Illinois, for August 8, reports a lect.
ure given by this ardent believer in
papal boycott before the Highland
Park, Michigan, Council of knights
of Columbus which is composed
largely Of Ford Motor Company en-
ployees. This gentleman who is one
of the organizers for said council Of
Knights of Columbus is also an en-
ployee Of the Ford Company.
The Western Catholic shows how
Mr.. Thoma would increase the eff
cheney of tho Roman boycott and ex-
tend the campaign of intimidation
that has already silenced the secular
press to such an alarming extent.
His lecture before the Knights is
quoted in part, from the Wester7,
Catholic, as follows:
~ do not advocate a declaration
of war on the secular press but ! do
insist that we should proceed in a
sane manner to correct every edi-
torial or news article which contains
a false or misleading statement con-
cerning the Catholic church.
ave have educational institutions
of the highest standing in every
large city, and we have in each q
strong Knights Of Columbus organ
ization. Why do we not join hand;
and establish an information bureau
in each city, manned by the mos
competent Of educators and backeC
by the influence Of our readers so Il
would be possible for our censor Oh
publicity man to sag to an offending
editor: Your article concerning tn,
attitude Of the Catholic church is yer!
misleading and the Knights Of Co
lumbus request q correction
, Recently there was published II
most Of the secular newspapers il
this country a statement that Col
William F. Cody was baptized whil
unconscious just before his death
When read in a Catholic news
paper the statement of the prizes
who baptized Buffalo Bill ] at ono
requested a correction from one o
the big newspapers in which / Say
the false article. My request wa
ignored. Why? Because l repre-
sented nobody, but myself and / di
not count with powerful news
! paper.
"This paper boasts Of a circulatio
! Of 100000 and fully half Of Its sub
scribers are Catholics and still thi
false statement and many more 9
like character 60 unchallenged.
that not humiliating for intelliger
Catholic people? None Of the nor
3 Catholic readers Of that paper eve
are enlightened as to the truth {
! misleading articles about our churcl
3 and that is true also Of the poorl
) instructed Catholics who read
( Catholic papers.
8 eve Catholic men Of this generi
; ton have no more important work
( do than to secure for our church fai
5 treatment from the daily newspaper
; and we can get it If we half try. A
< the newspapers are very reluctant
; be branded as deliberate falsifiel
; and constant complaints and oorre
< tions would bring about the exercil
. Of greater care on the part Of ed
3 tors and their STATS.
3 "Do you think that any newspap'
& would constantly publish articl
3 that were false, or unfair to one
3 its large advertisers? Certainly ne
X And still they do constantly pri
B articles that are unfair to q chur'
@ Of which a large percentage OF the
X advertisers and subscribers are mel
B bers. Does any man question tn
@ statement? Is there any Cathol
x worthy Of the name who is not rea'
3 to Join this movement TO secure ju
e ice?"
x Mr., Thomas ploa for an inform
q ton bureau which will bring all t
q Knights and other communicates
3 tho Roman church into closer relatio
n ship-a bureau that will weld into
f boycotting organization oil the 4
q man subscribers and advertisers =
4 tronising the various papers, thou