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The Commoner.
6
VOLUME 10, NUMBER
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A HUMAN Interest Htory is told by the Asso
ciated Press In this dispatch: "Minneapolis,
Minn., December 2). Prisoner 'No. 2085' at
tho state penitentiary at Stillwater, Minn., who
is said to bo a relative of an English nobleman,
today sent to tho pollco department hero a
unlqito letter. He said: 'I shall be released
from prison on February 1G and would like you
to find mo a position. If you know anyone who
is willing to give a man with six prison terms
behind him a chance, let me know. I have been
twolvo years and ton months behind prison bars.
I wish I had tho silver-tongued eloquence of
Demosthenes, the orator of ancient Athens, that
I might go out into the world and persuado
young mon to avoid the pitfalls of sin.' A Min
neapolis detective holds tho writer's name."
WHAT THE Associated Press calls "an un
happy incident," occurred on tho occasion
recently of ex-VIco President Fairbanks' visit
to Homo. An Associated Press cablegram from
Romo says: "Mr. Fairbanks had expressed a
wish to pay his respects to tho pope and It had
been announced that an audience would bo
granted tho distinguished Amorican. Subse
quently It was learned that he had promised to
address the local society of tho American Metho
dist Episcopal church, and following the receipt
of this information at tho Vatican it was an
nounced that Mr. Fairbanks would not bo re
ceived by tho pontiff unless his purpose to ad
dress tho church society was abandoned. Mr.
Fairbanks elected to kcop his engagement with
tho Methodists. Today Protestants generally
warmly congratulated tho former vice president
on what they termed his dignified attitude in
tho mattor. Tho Catholics on tho other hand,
oxprcss regret that what was intended to bo in
tho nature of homage to tho pontiff should havo
given rlso to a causo for friction. Each party
accuses tho other of having assumed an Irro
concllablo attitude. Tho Catholics placo the re
sponsibility for tho unpleasantness upon what
tlioy describo as tho offensive Methodist pro
paganda being conducted in Rome."
O
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND gavo to tho Asso
ciated Press in Chicago a statement con
corning tho Fairbanks incident at Rome. Tho
archbishop's statement follows: "People in
America may easily misapprehend tho circum
stances In Romo which led tho Vatican to re
fuse an audienco with the ho'ly father to Mr
Charles V. Fairbanks after he, a former vice
president of tho United States would havo mado
a public address boforo tho Mothodist associa
tion of that city. Most likely Mr. Fairbanks
himself, did not fully realize the meaning which
Romans would attribute to his address. It was
not a question of Mr. Fairbanks being a Metho
dist or going to a Mothodist church in Romo
for Sunday devotions. It was a question of
appearing to give tho fullest approval to the
work of tho Mothodist association in Rome
Amorican Mothodists in Romo are active and
lr1V?y,rl,ulily s,ay pernicious proselyters. Tho
Mothodist association is not in Romo to servo
and meet American Mothodists, but to pervert
from tho Catholic faith all those whom they can
influence. 1 was in Romo last winter and mado
Lln? c,ulfir st"ly of this Mothodist pro
paganda. It has gone so far that Catholics havo
fig?nIfndfithif S0Ci,ty .r Ul Preservation of tho
faith to fight against it. Tho purpose of the
work of tho Mothodist association in Romo is
confessed openly. Tho means employed are by
no moans honorable. They take every advan
tage of the poverty of the poor of Rome Tho
books circulated and displayed in the windows
of their book stores are slanders ajrainT thl
Catholic faith, the holy pontiff at Rome and a
misrepresentation of tho whole CathoS system
The success of tho movement is far from adS'
quato to tho efforts put forth and tho L?
Now, a public address by a former vior ili?"
oyos of th Romim ..ubHc'fu'Ip'pVv
by America of the propaganda of tho Methodist
association. Had the holy father, guardian of
tho spiritual Interests of the Catholic church
of the world, smilingly welcomed Mr. Fairbanks
to an audience on the following day, in what
other position would he appear to bo than giv
ing his approval to the propaganda of the Metho
dist association, before which the address had
been given? It was simply impossible for the
holy father, in his official position as a sovereign
pontiff of the Catholic church to do aught else
than to say politely to Mr. Fairbanks: 'I can
not receive you and accord you the honors due
you in all other circumstances as an American
and a distinguished representative of a great
republic' I repeat I am most willing to believe
Mr. Fairbanks did not catch the full meaning,
in the eyes of the Roman people, of the address
he was to make to tho Methodist association.
One arm of combat which these Methodists em
ploy in Rome, as I know from personal obser
vation, is to create the impression that Metho
dism is the great faith of the American republic
and that the Catholic church is merely an Italian
institution. There are in Rome Protestant
American churches for the benefit of Americans
that put forth legitimate efforts, minding their
own business and make no war on the Catholic
church. What I have said of the Methodists in
Rome does not apply to the other churches there.
I have in mind the Protestant Episcopal chapel
on tho Via Nazionale and its former rector. Dr.
Nevins, a man whom I was pleased to call a
friend and whom I was always glad to meet.
I shall leave for New York tomorrow and I shall
be pleased to answer the Methodists here or in
tho east at any time. I can not make it too
plain that I am not attacking the entire Metho
dist church, but merely the Methodist associa
tion in Rome. I am not too old to enjoy a fight
when the occasion requires it."
F
ORMER VICE President Fairbanks gave out
at Rome the following statmrmnt! "Wimn
on Sunday I reached the American college, Mon
signor Kennedy said that he had been advised
from the Vatican that it would be impossible
for me to have a papal audience if I delivered
my contemplated address at the American Meth
odist church. I replied that I had agreed to
make an address and was obliged to keep, the
engagement; that I had always exercised the
privilege to speak to Catholics and Protestants
whenever they desired, and whenever it was
possible, and therefore, the arrangement for
audience I regarded as ended. I spoke to the
students of the American college along patriotic
and moral lines, giving the Catholic church a
full share of tho credit for the great work ac
complished by all the Christian churches. The
subject of tho papal audience was suggested
again by Monsignor Kennedy a little later.' He
had received further instructions in the mean
time and said that if I did not speak at the
Mothodist church the au'dience would hold good
I replied that I appreciated the intended cour
tesy, but the alternative was impossible I
would speak as announced and thus would be
obliged to forego the audience with the pope.
JY ?n dyiBOd Dr- TiPPle the pastor of the
Methodist church, he said that he was ready to
release me from the engagement, but I answered
that that was impossible. 'Under the circum
stances I felt obligated to the fulfillment of a
armng'ed." adG befr 'Papal audience was
A N INTERESTING story of Burbank and
jC-Jl Carnegie is told by the San Francisco 4tJr
in this way: "Tho Carnegie Institute has With
drawn the $10,000 annual grant to Luther Burl
bank, voted to him conditionally five years aK0
for a period of ten years. So Burbank is onle
more a free man. In regard to himself his
work and tho action of the Carnegie Institu I
Burbank says: 'The grant brought with it cares'
responsibilities, correspondence and visitors and
a full crop of envy and jealousy. But for tho
nHn f fGn?,S should have dissolved my con
nection with the institution last year I nm
Sw? I?6 J am willinS or noTand veS
much against my own wishes. I am not past
sixty years of age, have done good work and no
one is dependent upon my efforts. Personally
I have no desire for wealth or fame. A thirst
for these is the root of many evils. My ambition
has been to leavo the world the better for having
passed this way. To be misjudged is a passing
trifle; to havo lost a life of honest labor is a
tragedy.' In being exploited whether willing or
unwilling, and much against his will, Burbank
has plenty of company. He is a worker; liko
all other workers, he is exploited. Nevertheless,
his ambition 'to leave the world the better for
having passed this way" will be realized has
heeu realized. And how true it is that, 'To be
misjudged is a passing trifle; to have lost a life
of honest toil is a tragedy.' Certainly, when
Burbank passes away no one can say that he
has lost a life of honest, useful work, nor can
it be feaid that he has exploited his fellow men
and taken from them aught that he has not
earned. Burbank's life and work are an inspira
tion to other men, to the youth of our land. Ho
will be remembered as a man who worked for
men, while Carnegie will be remembered as a
man who worked other men."
O
FOLLOWING IS an Associated Press cable
gram from Rome: "The pope today person
ally considered the recent incident involving
Former Vice President Fairbanks, who was re
fused a private audience by the Vatican. because
he insisted upon keeping an earlier engagement
to address' the Methodist society here. The
pope said he regretted he had been unable to
receive Mr. Fairbanks, but could not depart from
the policy adopted, as to do so would appear to
give recognition to the 'disloyal interference of
certain Protestant denominations.' "
IT SEEMS THAT President Taft is not very
much afraid that Mr. Roosevelt will take a
stand against him. A Washington dispatch
carried by the Associated Press says: "John
A. Stewart, president of the New York League
of Republican clubs, arrived here today and will
confer with President Taft tomorrow regarding
the home-coming celebration in honor of former
President Roosevelt. A cablegram was received
In New York from Roosevelt, accepting the Re
publican club's proposition to form a reception
committee with representatives from all over
nheNcUnvy, ? Tet Roosevelt on his arrival
1 k ? 1 ork h.arbor some time between Juno
15 and 21 next. President Taft is giving his
rleecinJUPP?fto thG. Plan for a nationwide
reception. It has not yet been determined
whether or not President Taft will be able to
take any part in the reception. He has promised
to go to Alaska the latter part of May provided
congress has adjourned by that timeand if he
should take the trip he would not return to the
states until some time in July
Q ENATOR SHIVELEY, of Indiana, is opposed
O to the postal savings bank bill n the torn?
now presented in the senate. Speaking to
LSaP;?r corresPndent, Senator Shlvellydii
sected the measure and explained his position
in this way: "What about the postal savimS
plank n our last national platform? ThaTi&E
idefautof8 tho f Ttal savings' system 'only
tw SfJ e bank guaranty of deposits
That platform expressly limits anrt niifl Tu
owS leaSoonXSllSSf WUh"
of th?s SS
funds are deposed "n the o "hi? " thQ
be forwarded by the bJSk to New YorkVS
any other point where either nnrli to
lative prices for money : invite S Vpe,ST
creates a vast spongeby which rk 2 Tho bm
are to gather up the monlv S 00 postofflces.
three men in Washington shall P!f lt, 5Vhere
which the money is released o ??$ after
profits to the local depositors dictoh??i, Tvep
be sent. Human Ingenuity SJ?e hat Jt shaI1
devising a more cunnw 5m ay bo caPable of
ing and5 miff'rw
interests to exploit the country Jut it W?1
never has. What does thto Wfl mean, Vel
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