The Irish standard., 1918-06-15

isterial approval, While the negro, trail
ing behind. is proud to be permitted
to touch the hem OF the garments of
his bosom companions. These three
men, OF inhnitesimal minds, and of
even less influence, fondly imagine
! that they hold in the hollow of their
hands the fate OF the Catholic schools
OF the great State OF Michigan.
These patriots ushered in May
Day by bringing Sidney ]. Cats, Gov
ernor OF Florida. to lecture through
out Michigan on "Americanism." I'm
der that deceivins title the Florida
Governor explained how and why the
Catholic schools should be legislated
out OF existence. via the constitutional
amendment route. that darling of the
bisots. He punctuated his address
with vitriolic attacks upon the Pope,
| the Church, the priest. the nun; in
| deed. on everything Catholic. In De-
troit he held two meetings in the De-
trolt Armory. from which thousands
| OF Detroit Catholic boys so lately
marched away to France. to fight, and
| If need be, TO die, that liberty might
live. To the credit of Detroit, how
| ever, let it be said that not a corpor-
ais guard turned out to listen. The
! newspapers ignored the meetings, and
though 10000 Invitations were sent out
through the mails and in other ways
to the members of the Methodist and
I Baptist churches, the elect were afraid
to come out in the open. Among the
two or three hundred people gathered
\ in the Armory to hear the lecturer,
not one was of sufficient Importance
to be taken seriously.
The men who financed the affair
kept we'll in the background. Men who
hobnobbed with Cats in Washington
last December during the Anti-Saloon
League convention, knew him not in
Detroit. He came into the city un.
heralded and went out unsung. He
dined alone. He was kept aloof by
his keepers. During his lecture the
Governor let the cat out of the bag,
for he called the Methodist Church
the mother of the anti-Catholic move.
ment, even though he did so uncon.
sciously. The men who spoke for q
liberal collection adroitly referred to
the fact that every patriot" should be
represented when the cash was count
ed. The envelopes passed around
were labeled Patriotic Fund" and for
patriotic purposes"
At the first meeting man from out
in the State was pressed into service
as chairman. The second evening the
minister presided and was introduced
as one Detroit citizen who "had the
courage to sit on the platform"-with
Florida's Governor. This follower of
the gentle Nazarene took pride in in
PRODUCING the speaker as a man who
had made his campaign for Governor
of Florida
ION this issue we are presenting to-
night. He was elected Governor
against almost insuperable odds, with
a combination of forces against him.
The liquor traffic was against him, the
hirelings of the Church of Rome were
against him-all the weight of that
sinister body was hurled against him.
But, with the great propaganda which
he spread amongst the people, to the
great chagrin and the great surprise
of the politicians, all who controlled
the votes Of the Church of Rome, and
the liquor interests, this man was
elected. So now, Baptist preacher
sits in the Mansion House, Governor
of Florida"
To add a touch of Baptist culture
to his introduction, the minister added !:
Zone Of the incest things about his
campaign was, think, his stand that
nothing but the American flag should
decorate a platform from which he
spoke, and that no flag should ever
|
ida" Cats was plainly annoyed be-
cause he was FUSED to talking to acres
of people In Florida" and he bemoaned
the fact that the almost empty Armory
gave mute testimony to the cowardice
Of his financial hackers. For he said:
"Hear me talking. There's nothing
to be afraid about in this amendment.
1t simply means that all residents of
the State Of Michigan, between the
ages Of five and sixteen years, shall
!, be compelled to attend the public
schools, and that the Legislature shall
enact appropriate legislation to en-
force the law. We have this same
amendment in Florida, only we don't
bother calling it an amendment to any.
thing. We simply call it compulsory
public education. You have It exactly