The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-11
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BY THOMAS }. o'FLAHERTY


BY THOMAS J. o'FLAHERTY
A LBERT F. COYLE, editor of the
"A Locomotive Engineers Journal,
writing for the Federated Press on
the Mexican situation, says: "No one
but an ignorant religious bigot would
condemn the catholic church as such
for the present conflict with the gov
eminent The same difficulties would
have arisen If the baptist church or
the presbyterian had been put in its
place" No doubt in the world. And
nobody but an ignorant fanatic would
blame burglar for stealing the wild
owls mite, because 1t is quite obvious
that any other burglar in the same
position would do exactly the same
thing. If this is not the essence Of
hokum, 1t is something else.
TNHE ratcatcher may not have any
4 particular animus against the ro-
dents he sets out to destroy. The irri-
tated slumberer never had any pre-
vious alteration with the bed louise
that makes his period of repose every
thing but reposeful. Yet both do not
hesitate to slaughter the vermin that
interfere with the general or partic-
ular happiness, in cold blood and
without malice aforethought. If one
adopts Mr. Coyle's attitude nobody is
to blame for anything, therefore the
working class should pay no heed to
those who urge them to struggle
against the capitalists because, for
sooth, the poor capitalists, like the
bedbugs and the catholic church in
Mexico. do what they do because they
can't help it.
MIR. COYLE is not catholic, tho
AtA he seems to be quite spiritual.
Like all spiritualists, he mistakes the
chaff for the wheat. Behind the re-
ligious war In Mexico is the ventrilo-
quist voice of Wall Street. Not that
Rome has not good deal to gain or
lose in the battle. 1t has. What has
taken place is a united front between
Rome and Wall Street for the purpose
Of footing Mexico. This is quite OBJ.
vious in the action of Ambassador
Sheffield handing protest note to
Gales about the Mexican petroleum
laws at the moment when the catholic
church is actually in rebellion against
the government.
A FTER Mr. Coyle clearly and cor
"A rectly states the reasons why the
Mexican government is. compelled TO
tight the church he winds up with the
following twaddle: When the pres.
ent heat cools down, / am confident
that many of the regulations impos-
ing hardship on the church or in
fringing the religious liberty of the
individual citizen will be modified by
The government, especially If the
church secures a few socially minded
religious statesmen like John A. Ryan
of Washington to conduct its negotia-
tons" As if the Rev. John A. Ryan
was not as willing tool of the
church as the most blatant bishop that
ever wore red. The least that might
be expected of well-informed persons
like Coyle is that they keep their
peace on delicate issues they do not
feel at liberty to speak frankly about.
IN this Mexican struggle one must
take either one side or the other
If you are for black reaction, you
VIII support the church. Those who
are in favor of human progress will
support the Mexican government, even
tho the Gales administration has
sinned grievously against the work
ing4 class. But his educational policy
alone entities him TO the support of
every revolutionist Ignorance is the
chief ally of reaction. Gales is blast
ing ignorance out of Mexico, where it
has been entrenched for centuries.
There is good deal at stake in the
present Mexican struggle. 1t is likely
TO be long-drawn-out and bitter
struggle.
II
4 les is the astounding statement
made by professor speaking before
the annual meeting Of the British AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement of
Science. This is good news for the
cosmeticians. Until now a~cake eater
required all his CUTS to powder his
nasal appendage in public, but with
old Tut setting the fashion in lip
sticks the manly art Of collaboration
should become as popular as chew.
ing gum. The drug store cowboy is
coming into his own.
MY organization is simply wonder
A'I full, senator" testified Morris
Eller, Chicago politician, while on
the witness stand at the slush fund
hearings. He was telling it to James
A. Reed, Of Missouri In reply to a