The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-04-14

coming week As chairman of the
congregation beg of you not to forget
US and to please give us a fair trial
for we are not asking any more than
that.
l beg to state also that we are not
genuine Russian soviet not bolshe-
vik but we are in reality true loyal
Catholics and we are ready to prove
this to you at your disposal.
I must ask your forgiveness for
calling you up yesterday and asking
your secretary that a representative
be sent to Kenosha to check all this
uproar, for which I undertook myself
the responsibility to stop, and thank
in checking it.
Yours respectfully,
Joseph Cardinal, Chairman.
The Archbishop replied on January
14th setting forth that he was still
confined to his home by illness but
that he would probably set date to
hear the committee in the coming week
and would notify them more definite
ly at later date. To this letter the
committee replied:
Kenosha, Wis, Jan. IA, 1921
Archbishop Messmer,
1000 Grand Avenue,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Most Reverend Archbishop:
Your letter of the fourteenth at
hand. Allow us to express our sin
cerest hope that you have completely
recovered from your illness by this
| time.
We are still anxiously- awaiting your
interview as the matter is SO serious
that we must have your hearing at
once. Should you delay this hearing
we are much afraid that it will be to
the detriment of the Catholic religion
should this become public.
We the so-called committee have
done everything within our power to
prevent the scandal to be made public
and we want you to believe US that as
sure as God exists, that we have done
our utmost to the extent of neglect
ing our business and homes for the
sake of the Catholic religion in order
that this might not be made public.
Again I beg to inform you as a
chairman of the congregation that we
are true and loyal Catholics and that
may assure you that we want our
congregation to grow larger and we
want our church for there isn't any
thing in this wide world that we es-
TEEN more than our church. Kindly
read this letter carefully and see if
you cannot read between the lines as
we do not wish to have to write this
letter of scandal to you but give US a
hearing at once. All we ask is a fair
chance for all as this scandal must
be prevented from becoming public if
possible and the only way that we can
see that this can be done is with your
assistance.
Yours respectfully,
Joseph Cardinal, Chairman.
Committee heard from the archbishop
on February the Oath that he would
be ready to see them on the following
Wednesday, This letter was sent in
response to another communication
from the committee, asking for con-
ference. 1t read as follows:
Kenosha, Wis, Feb. 10th, 1921
Archbishop Messmer,
1000 Grand Avenue,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Most Reverend Archbishop:
Received your letter of February
the 9Th and am sorry to hear that you
are now in St. Colletta Institute for
your health. However, | hope that
this will find you in very good health.
We are satisfied of the fact that just
as soon as you get back to Milwaukee
you will give US an interview.
We throw ourselves on your mercy
for fair trial.
Respectfully yours,
Joseph Cardinal, Chairman
In response to this communication
the Archbishop wrote on February
Gath saying that he would be ready to
receive them on the following We'd
nesday at Ward No. at the Episcopal
residence. He said that he only in
tended to admit only a few - not more
than two or three. "There is no need
of the whole troop coming-three OF
four sensible men can say all that is
necessary" wrote the archbishop.
Committee Sees Archbishop.
On the DAY set chairman Cardlnal.
Louis Gentle, Leonard Montemurro
and Santo Serpe, the present secretary
of the congregation, had an interview
with the archbishop and presented him
facts and affidavits. All papers max
ing any accusations against Father
Perardi and afidavits signed by the
accusers were presented to the arch
bishop. At that interview the commit
tee called the attention of the arch
bishop that petition had been left
with his secretary on December the
18th, 1920, with the signatures Of the
members of the congregation who did
not desire the continuance of Father
Perardi as priest of the church. With
it was a list of the members of the
congregation, all in good standing, to
give proof to the archbishop that nine
ty-seven per cent of the membership
of the church had signed the above
mentioned petition.
1t was stated to the archbishop that
the committee had placed before Rev
erend Perardi that for the sake of the
religion, for the sake of the church
for the sake of the Italian nationality
and for the sake of his own honor, he
should resign. This was told him at
the beginning of the trouble between
him and the members of the parish
: