The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-28
WILL ENDORSE
POPE'S ACTION
American Federation of Cath
oic Societies Will Pass
- Resolution to That
; Effect.
ELECTION TOMORROW
Candidate for Secretary Has No Op-
position After Sixteen
Years Service in
Office.

KANSAS CITY. Mo-, Aug. 2s.-The
American Federation Of Catholic So
cieties was scheduled to endorse the
pope's peace proposal today.
Bishop Schrembs Of Toledo, chair
man OF the committee preparing reso-
lutions to that effect, said the resolu-
tions acclaim the vaticans action and
express hope that thu plea for peace
will receive favorable consideration by
the United States and other belligerent
countries.
The official Interpretation of the
pope's original message. given ex-
clusively through the United Press,
was understood to have played an i'm
portant part in the committees delib-
erations.
Officers for the ensuing year were
to be nominated this afternoon and
elected tomorrow. Thomas H. Cam
non, of Chicago, chief ranger of the
Catholic Foresters; Thomas P. Flynn,
also of Chicago, first vice president OF
the federation, and J. ]. Hynes, Of
Buffalo, fourth vice president. are
seeking the presidency. Anthony
Matre Of Chicago, who has been secre-
tary for sixteen years, has no oppo-
sition. Chicago and Philadelphia are
in the race for the next annual con-
Eventfon.
Crime Against Belgium.
NEW YORK, Aug. 2S.-"The crime
against Belgium is one which Catho-
lies and protestants cannot condone,'
declared the Evening World today in
commenting on the statement given
the United Press yesterday by Car
dinal Gibbons and the papal secre-
tary Of states ampIification Of the
papal peace note.
cardinal Gibbons undoubtedly
speaks for the Catholic church in this
country when he declares the restora-
tion of Belgium to be an indespens-
able condition of peace. In the Unit
ed States will be felt special salts
faction that the church is openly and
explicitly committed to the defense
of Belgian rights. Americans can
never forget the voice of brave Car
dinal Mercier crying out for ven
geance upon the brutal invaders Of
his country
Resolution Adopted.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Aug 2S.-
Resolutions which recognized the.
action of the pope in presenting
peace proposals as timely lnterVen-
ton of his holiness and distinct
advance toward defense of humanity
and the preservation of democracy
but which pledged the Catholics of
this country toward the war program
of the administration, were adopted
this afternoon by the American Fed
Grafton of Catholic societies.
The pope's peace proposal was re-
ferred to as follows in the resolu- |
ton:
'Resolved: That we reverently and !
ioyully acclaim the action of our most |
holy father, Benedict XIV, in his pro-
posal of a basis for the negotiation
of peace between the warning ma
tions; and that we mark the accord |
between the articles of agreement
offered by the supreme pontiff and
the tentative suggestions formerly !
made by the president of the United
States.
That acknowledging the timely |
interv vention of his holiness as dis !
tinct advance toward the defense of !
hum anity and the preservation OF de-
mocracy in his inSistence upon the !
of christian charity and |
justice.
1--WE recognize the eminent fitness |
of definite initiative on the part of !
the Prince Of Peace to bring about !
the abolition of all war and perpetu- !
ally to maintain concord between |
christian rulers.
= And that the profound respect
with which the disturbed world has
listened to the voice of Pope Benedict
XIV is undoubted evidence of that
moral influence for good that is ira
ditional in the papacy, as it is a con-
yincing proof of the necessity of
some authoritative tribunal to which
disputes may be sub
mitted."
he loyal provision reads:
'In accordance With the unbroken
tradition of Catholic loyalty from the
foundation of the republic, we solemn
ly affirm our inalienable attachment
to the principles Of American gov