The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-06
K. OF c. CONVENTION
10000 KNIGHTS; GATHERED THIS
WEEK IN SAN FRANcIsco-AM..
ERICA FIRST, CONVENTION CRY
PLANS FOR TuBERcULAR,
DISABLED AND OTHER VEL
FARE FEATURES.

Calling their thirty-ninth annual
international convention, the America
First convention, on account of the
exclusively American activities which
will be initiated by it, the Knights
of Columbus, 10000 strong, represent
ing 100000 men in the United States,
Canada, Newfoundland, Mexico, Cuba
and u. S. possessions, met in San
Francisco, August 2, 3, 4.
During the past twelve months,
Supreme Secretary William J. Nc
Ginley states the K of G.. have ex-
perienced an unusually prosperous
growth, and they now find themselves
able to launch, without any appeal to
the public for support, a $5,OOO,O0O
educational and disqualification cam
paign of welfare work for disabled
and other former service men in 20
recognized colleges and universities,
128 free K. Of C. night schools and So
military, marine and government con-
tract hospitals. In addition, the K. of
C. will launch a $1,000,0O0 American
history movement in which they will
enlist the services of some of the
ablest American historians to write
a propagandaproof American history
from original sources, which the X
of c. will distribute free in pamphlet
and book form by hundreds of thou
sands Of copies throughout the coun~
try. '''.. @''s ..
Another important movement to be
initiated at the America First conven-
tion in San Francisco is the K. of G.
anti-tuberculosis campaign, IN wfica
the 1900 councils Of the Knights of
Columbus will become centers of
active instruction in the prevention
and cure of tuberculosis, and aligned
with state and federal medical
bodies in rendering discreet material
| aid to the tubercular. K of c. coun-
ellis already maintain innumerable
beds in various sanitoriums, and the
new drive against the white plague
will result in the augmentation Of
this number.
In San Francisco the knights also
have laid plans for The establishment
of the largest correspondence school
| in the United States, to be located in
the K. Of C. building in New Haven,
Conn, and to be thrown open, first to
100000 former service men living In
remote parts of the country where K.
of G. night schools are not easily &C.
cessible to them.
Pope Benedict XIV has requested
the K. of C. to initiate in Italy Ameri
can welfare work. This the X. of C.
convention has considered It is esti
mated that the introduction Of Ameri-
can welfare work will require $1,000
900, and the Knights are expected to
enthusiastically undertake the task.
The Knights have organized in San
Francisco the nucleus Of a national
women's organization, to cooperate
with them in the care of the $4,000
| disabled men in hospitals, to provide
creature comforts, to augment the
supply Of tobacco, candy and minor
Ihygienic materials which the X. of G,
distribute free as they did during the
war. In addition, the K. Of c. America
| First convention witnessed the larg
| est postwar tour of Americans
through the entire United States, as
special trains, steamers and auto
caravans carried the thousands sol
visitors to the Golden Gate city con
lstituting the largest cross continent
movement since the war. The
Knights also launched their America
First monthly Columbia--in San
Francisco, with an initial circulation
! of 10000.