The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-11-02
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
October 20, 1918.
To the Editor:

May / ask for little space in The
Catholic Bulletin in order to appeal to
my friends and fellow Catholics at
this critical time. Here in Mime
apoliS we are confronted with the
serious menace Of dominant socialism.
Some of our good Catholics do not
seem to realize the seriousness Of the
situation. Their attention is diverted
from the real issues, by malicious
reports circulated against one of the
candidates for the Office of Mayor.
Apaism is so dastardly, so unpatriotic,
so much at variance with true Ameri-
canism, that our Catholic people, in
common with all good Americans,
detest and loathe it. The friends Of
Socialism do not seem to dare to de-
fend the attitude of their party, in
order to support their candidate for
Mayor, but they resort to the coward
ly trick of accusing the candidate of
the loyal people of the city Of being
a member of the un-American A. P.
A. organization. can assure our
people on very good authority that this
accusation is not true. Even were it
true, he would be a more reliable man
for the office of Mayor than any candi-
date of the Socialist party, no matter
how amiable an individual the candi-
date himself might be.
Socialism aims at the destruction
of all government as organized today
If Socialism had the power it would
overturn our democracy, in the de-
tense of which we have sent our best
and our brightest boys overseas to
offer their precious lives. All the
American people have undergone
sacrifice, suffering, anguish and priva-
ton that democracy might be safe
the world over Socialism is hostile
to all the American people hold dear.
A candidate of the Socialist party for
office is not independent or free to
act according to his best judgment,
he is the servant of the party, and
must obey its. mandates. No true,
patriotic American citizen can, with a
good conscience, cast his vote for the
support of Socialism. -
Minnesota is called upon to vote at
the coming election on the DRY"
amendment. l want to appeal to our
Catholic people to support the dry
movement. Vote Eyes" on the pink
ballot on the 9Th of November. If we
do not vote yes, our votes will be
counted in favor of the saloon. The
situation is unfair. 1t was evidently
arranged by the liquor forces to
strengthen their cause. Again, false
alarm has been raised. Parties who
care nothing about the holy sacrifice
of the Mass, who know little or moth
ing about it, have been active in try
ing to make our people fear that with
Minnesota dry, there would be danger
about securing wine for the holy
sacrifice of the Mass. Our Catholic
people can rest assured that this is a
false and hypocritical alarm. There
is no reason to fear that the Mass is
in danger. 1t is not true that the dry
movement has been inspired by hos
tility to the Catholic religion, or the
holy sacrifice of the Mass. The sa-
loon is the enemy of religion, as So
cialism is the enemy of the state. Let
us vote against both at the coming
election, and feel thankful that we
have an opportunity of multiplying the
influence of both. RI
(Rev.) J. M. CLEARY,
Pastor of the Church of the Incarna-
ton, Minneapolis, MINI.