Radio Priest

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 4

Radio Priest

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ANGRY IRISH-AMERICANS NEW YORK. Fob. 26. An invitation by telegram to “come to Washington and bo kicked down Pennsylvania Avenue, from tho Capitol to tho White House, in clerical garb, with the silver in your pockets which you got by speculating in Wall Street,’’ was issued to the Radio Priest, Father Coughlan, by Mr John O’Connor, chairman of the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives. It was sent in repiy to a broadcast by Father Coughlin, stating that Mr O’Connor had intimidated tho House during consideration of the priest’s demand that support be given to a huge inflation scheme for financing farm mortgages. “The truth is not in you,” Mr O’Connor telegraphed. “You are a disgrace to my church, or any other church, , and especially to tho citizenship of America, which you recently embraced. ”

Next day Mr O’Connor withdrew his references to ‘‘kicking’’ and “clerical garb,” but, amid howls of laughter, permitted tho remainder of his reply to the Radio Priest to stand. Another Irishman followed him, Mr Boland, of Pennsylvania, the Democratic Whip, who soared to far greater heights of abuse than Mr O’Connor had essayed. In burning eloquence, much of it directed toward the Press gallery, where Father Coughlin retains a special representative, Mr Boland challenged the priest to drive him from Congress. “Has not this silver-brick artist the understanding,’’ he shouted, “to see the inconsistency of his position, as he stands before the Altar of God, with one hand on the Gospel and the other engaged in counting the speculative silver he has acquired 1 ? “In his egotism he evidences every characteristic of the cruel, selfish and prejudicial dictator. God keep America safe and bless her representatives who have the moral courage to resist the demands of such unprincipled, self-seek-ing demagogues, who would betray the country as Judas betrayed tho Redeemer for pieces of silver.”

Father Coughlin, formerly of Canada, became a political power in the United States through broadcasting. At the outset his efforts were directed toward social reform.