The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1918-09-21

made contracts that left a mighty
small margin for the K. G. fund ;
at least it is apparent that Coney
Islanders profted or intended to
profit on the patriotic ardor that
could be worked up over the drive
and that they planned so early as
last May, to give only such por-
tion Of the money to the Knights
as was absolutely necessary to hold
their name in connection with the
affair.
District Attorney Harry Z. Lew
is has been investigating the case
and New York papers have been
airing the scandal. The affair has
taken on such an aspect as to in
spire the knights to start an in
vestigation of their own, and pub
lished statement says they will en-
deavor to place the blame where it
belongs.
There was more than one branch
of the drive. There were "block
parties" working the residence dis
trict and soliciting funds, and there
was the Coney Island Amusement
branch. Maurice Breen was chair
man Of the executive committee of
the Long Island chapters war ac-
tivities while Thomas J. Evers was
chairman of a subcommittee hav-
ing the Knights Coney Island
week in charge.
Evers made contract, in May,
with one Edward B. Goate, a press
agent who, it seems, was to put the
Coney Island deal over. His con-
tract provided for a salary of fifty
dollars per week and 1919 of the
profit exceeding $4,000. This con-
tract was made and signed by
Evers. In addition to this burden
the money the public paid for
Coney Island tickets was further
encroached upon. For, in any
event, twenty-five cents from the
proceeds for each ticket presented at
the gate must 60. to the Coney
Island promoters. There were
other contracts with various amuse-
ment resorts in Steeplechase
park which gave them a liberal per-
centage of all tickets presented at
their various places of business.
The Daily Standard Union for
August 30th says:
The Knights of Columbus muddle
which has caused no end of embar-
rassment among the members of the
organization, now proves to be of
far more import than when the Sc
cret contracts were first disclosed.
Facts gathered today show that
Maurice Breen, chairman of the War
Activities of the Long Island Chap
ter, knowing that Long Island was
short In its quota, solicited the aid of
Bishop Charles E. Mcdonnell in
raising funds for the Knights.
Bishop Mcdonnell gave his consent
and promised Breen each parish in
the diocese would be assessed q GER
tain amount of money, as was done in
the New York archdiocese. Bishop
Mcdonnell appointed Mgr. Edward
w. McCarty as his representative.
Breen, In an interview with Mgr.
McCarty, was asked by Mgr. Nc
Carly not to do anything that would
interfere with his work and would do
nothing without his approval. Breen
then told the monsignor the only
thing the Knights of Columbus would
like to handle themselves was the
Coney Island Week drive, which
meant simply the selling Of tickets.
The proceeds of the sale Of the
tickets were to be turned into the
War Activities Fund and would not
be considered in any way as part
of the drive to which the Bishop had
consented.
Breen then went on his vacation.
On his return early this month he
discovered that the men in charge Of
the Coney Island Week drive, Evers
and Goate, had engaged a score Of
young women to collect funds in
public buildings, in the streets and
in front Of Catholic churches
throughout the borough.
BREEN DIsAPPRovED
Realizing that his promise to Mgr.
McCarty had been violated during
his absence at regular meeting Of
the Coney Island War Committee of
the order, at which Evers presided.
Breen expressed his disapproval Of
the collections.
1t was then explained by Grand
knight that Goate, the Coney Island