Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-08-07
ITALIANS PLAN
FOR RED CROSS
Activities of Rev. CoIombino
Galassi in Ali Civic and Patri-
otto Work Continues

A meeting of the members of the
italian r.. c. church of Our Lady OF
the Holy Rosary was held last night
for the purpose OF making arrange
ments for the coming Liberty Loan
, campaign md also for organising q
branch to the Perth Amboy Chapter
of the American Red Cross. Rev.
J Colombino Galassi presided. Prelim-
mary plans were made for the part
which the members OF that parish will
take In the fourth big drive for funds.
Efforts are being made amons
large membership for the Red Cross
in order that an auxiliary might be
formed. Another meeting for this pur-
pose will be held next Tuesday night.
Last nights meeting vas well attend
ed in spite of the heat.
Father Galassi has been a worker
in all civic and patriotic movements
in this city ever since he came here.
He has united the italians of the city
and built up a i~ourishing parish here
as well as in Port Reading.
Although there was q strong UNI
der-current of opposition against him
on the part of certain italian fac
lions when he arrived, he refused to
be frightened, and by continually
working for the good of hts country
men in this city he won over these
~ WAO
their tendacies.
After having been here for five
years and greatly increased the MEM
bership of the parish of h Church
of Our Lady of the Most Holy Ro-
sary, Rev. Father Galassi began an
investigation of conditions among
the Italians at Port Reading. 1t was
due to his action that the padrone sys-
tenn, which wa found to be In vogue
there among the italian laborers, was
abolished and hat later a separate
mission was founded for h Italians
of Port Reading.
In his fight on behalf of the labor
ers, Father Galassi charged that the
men, in order to secure work on the
PHILADELPHIA and Reading railroad
had to a a certain sum to pad
rones and that they were obliged to
purchase all of their supplies from
stores owned by these padrones. The
railroad refused to employ Italians
who were not recommended by the
padrones and so much did the latter
charge the italian laborers that on
pay day many had to turn owe all or
nearly all Of their salaries in order
to a the bills charged them by n
padrones. The conditions of the
houses in which the Italians had to
live were reported by the local priest
to the State Department Of Health.
n an investigation made which re-
suited in action being taken fayoring
the workmen. The padrone system
was done away with, marking another
victory for Father Galassi.
In June, of 1914. the cornerstone
of the First Catholic church was laid
in Port Reading and in a short time
the new ediice had been completed.
Father Galassi has been in charge
of this church, in addition to the Bar
clay street church here.
Father Galassi was born in the
province of Compoiasso, Italy in
1878. When but thirteen years old he
entered the seminary. After that
he spent two years In the italian army
and then returned to the seminary to
his study. When he began
duties as a priest he was under
the bishop of Baiano. Father Galassi
came TO this country in 1904. which
was three months after he had been
ordained in Italy. He spent W.
months in Newark and then went to
the Pittsburgh diocese. After spend
ing three years at New Kingston. Pa.
he came to this city. /